[ { "id": 217959, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-004 - Public Offices & Admiralty - 1843", "page_number": 240, "title": "CO129-004 - Public Offices & Admiralty - 1843", "content_text": "Four \n\nPAPERS RELATIVE TO EMIGRATION OF \n\nCHINESE of Mauritius on the subject of labour, dated 22nd January, 1842, which, on LABOURERS. the contrary, justly regards the permanent welfare of the enfranchised negroes as dependent upon the preservation of \"the fixed capital at present existing in the sugar colonies;\" and further declares that, \"without the aid to be drawn from a foreign supply of labour, much of that capital will become comparatively useless,\" and that in addition to the very serious loss attendant on such an extinction of property, would be the still greater evil that the colonies must retrograde in wealth and civilization beyond the power of recovery within any assignable period.\" Nearly two years have elapsed since that Despatch was presented to Parliament; the proprietors in these colonies, confidently trusting that the principles it so clearly explains would long ere now have been applied to their relief, have continued the struggle, at enormous sacrifices, to maintain their cultivation; and still the remedy is denied. It is possible, indeed, that the appear- ance of partial success, resulting from the costly efforts which have been made under this expectation, may have had some influence in retarding the concession; and it would almost seem that nothing short of the actual abandonment of their properties will prove that they have been cultivated at a loss. This Committee will now only add to the representations they have already made on this head, that they are prepared to furnish your Lordship with any evidence, or to enter upon any investigation, that may be required to confirm them. If it could have been believed that Her Majesty's Government would persist in the prohibitory policy hitherto pursued towards the West India Colonies, the capital and credit which have partially sustained them would at once have been withdrawn, and the truth rendered manifest. \n\nWhether immigration may be successfully encouraged, and from what sources immigrants may come, are questions separate from the permission to convey them. Adverting to the Despatch to which I have already referred, I beg to assure your Lordship that the West India body cordially accept the rule there laid down, that all emigrants shall be, in the fullest sense of the term, free agents.\" They cannot, however, regard Her Majesty's Indian subjects as enjoying this freedom of action while they are prohibited from entering into engagements which they con- ceive, and which certainly would be, for their advantage. Free agency should have the same meaning in the East as in the West Indies. Neither can the people of Africa, who are settled in the British possessions, or who are willing to resort thither for embarkation, be considered as free agents under the existing restrictions. With regard to Africa, I cannot but deeply regret to learn that the impression your Lordship has received from a perusal of the evidence taken last year is directly opposed to the conclusions which this Committee have drawn from it. In justification of my former reference to this subject, I beg leave to submit to your Lordship the accompanying brief abstract from the evidence. \n\nWith regard to the Order in Council, dated 4th January last, my only motive for alluding to it was, that a measure which might seem to be a relaxation of the general restriction imposed by the Order in Council of 7th September, 1838, should not be omitted in the enumeration I then made. The terms are- No contract of service shall have any force or effect, unless the same shall be signed in the presence of some officer or person in Her Majesty's service, previous designated for that purpose by one of Her Majesty's principal Secretaries of State.\" Until such designation should be announced, it was of course impossible to make any attempt to act upon the permission granted. In the communication now received in Mr. Hope's letter, no mention is made of the United States, where there appears to be greater probability that persons of\" African birth or descent\" may be found willing to enter into agreements for service in the West Indies. But these are not sources from which either immediate or extensive immigration can be expected. \n\nThis Committee having become acquainted with your Lordship's decision respect- ing the introduction of Chinese emigrants from the British settlements in the Straits of Malacca by the Circular No. 3, published by the Colonial Land and Emigration Commissioners, several of the parties who were anxious to attempt a cominence- ment of this emigration applied for licences; but, on carefully examining the regu- lations prescribed, it appears to be impracticable to enter into contracts without incurring considerable expense and risk. The licences have therefore, I under- stand, been transmitted, with instructions to use them only in case the people shall be disposed to proceed to the West Indies without any contracts, and suitable vessels, with medical officers, can be found to convey them at the rate fixed; which, \n\nCHINESE LABOURERS TO THE WEST INDIES. \n\nafter deducting the requisite advance to the labourers, it is feared will not present an adequate inducement. This source also will, therefore, probably remain un- available. \n\nThe momentous question, whether the staple products of tropical countries can be raised as effectually and as advantageously by the labour of freemen as by that of slaves,\" can never be brought to a fair trial, until the freedom of the em- ployer be as fully established as the freedom of the labourer,-and emancipation cannot be pronounced successful until that question be satisfactorily solved. In conclusion, I must acquit this Committee of their duty to those whom they repre- sent, by earnestly declaring to your Lordship their conviction-founded upon an intimate knowledge of the actual state of the West India colonies,--that without an immediate and extensive supply of labour their agriculture and trade must still further decline, and your Lordship's prediction touching their social condition be unfortunately verified. \n\nI have, &c. \n\nThe Right Hon. Lord Stanley, &e. &c. &c. \n\n(Signed) \n\nCHARLES CAVE, Chairinan. \n\nEnclosure in No. 19. \n\nABSTRACT of Evidence relative to the possibility of encouraging a successful Emigration from the West Coast of Africa to the West India Colonies.* Evidence of WM. HAMILTON, a Purser in the Navy, who was for upwards of three years in the Liberated African Department. \n\n4558. Thinks 20,000 people might be removed, with great advantage to the colony itself.\" \n\n5473. \n\nEvidence of H. W. MACAULAY, Judge of the Mixed Commission Court. \n\nI see no reason to doubt that a large number of the liberated Africans may eventually \n\nbe induced to remove to the West Indies.\" \n\nyears. \n\nCHINESE LABOURERS. \n\nEnel. in No. 19. \n\nEmigration from \n\nEvidence of LOGAN HOOK, Collector of Customs at Sierra Leone for fifteen 8231.\" As regards Sierra Leone, I think that we could spare from 10,000 to 15,000 of Sierra Leone. these liberated Africans with very great ease, and with benefit to themselves.\" \n\nIt appears, by Dr. Madden's report, which in that particular has not been questioned, that the managers of villages are not reluctant to employ any authority with which they are invested. He says, (at folio 5), \n\n\"If the liberated Africans were not a patient race, inured to suffering and accustomed to privation, it certainly would be impossible to keep the population that is located in the villages in their places. They would abandon their farms, (?) and flock to Free-town to look for bread.\" \n\nYet to the persons who keep the people in this state of bondage are they required to resort to give notices and receive explanations; and they are taught by the regulations of Her Majesty's Government to regard them as their protectors. \n\nEvidence of WM. HAMILTON, \n\n4607-4611. Thinks if wages were to rise in Sierra Leone, persons would come from up Emigration from the country to fill the places of those who went: they are a fine, healthy, strong set of countries adjacent people.\" \n\n4612. \"A great many do come in at present, both from Timmanee and the Sherboro country.\" \n\n4741. \"Sir John Jeremie expected the emigration to the West Indies would be more than made up by immigration from the interior.\" \n\nEvidence of LOGAN HOOK. \n\n8244. \"The Mandingoes, who inhabit the North Bank on the Bollam Shore, are indis- posed, I think, to emigrate.\" \n\nN.B. Several Mandingoes have since arrived in Trinidad, and are to return to make a \n\nfavourable report. \n\n* This abstract was purposely confined to the evidence of official persons, except as regards the Gambia, in respect to which such testimony could not be obtained; but the witnesses cited in that instance are con- firmed by the Report of Governor Huntley. \n\nto Sierra Leone. \n\n! \n\nPage 240Page 241", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-004 - Public Offices & Admiralty - 1843.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 222379, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-014 - Public Offices - 1845", "page_number": 37, "title": "CO129-014 - Public Offices - 1845", "content_text": "GENERAL ORDER\n\nBY\n\nTHE HONORABLE MAJOR GENERAL D'AGUILAR C.B. COMMANDING THE TROOPS SERVING IN CHINA.\n\nVICTORIA, 14TH OCTOBER, 1844.\n\nWith a view to the more effectual preservation of our amicable relations with China, the Major General Commanding has received the instructions of Her Majesty's Government, to impress upon all Officers and Soldiers and others serving under his orders the great desirability of respecting on all occasions the usages and Institutions of the Country, and of studying the wishes and feelings of the Chinese Authorities and People.\n\nThe Major General has no reason for supposing that any one under his Command has been wilfully deficient in respect for the Higher Classes or in kindly treatment of the lower, but it must be obvious that in a Country so peculiar as China, actions indifferent in themselves, or which among European Nations would lead to little or no inconvenience might produce an impression highly unfavorable to the British character.\n\nIt is under these circumstances the Major General desires to impress the utmost circumspection of Conduct, while he calls upon all under his orders to refrain even from things indifferent if likely to give occasion for misinterpretation.\n\nHer Majesty's Government have expressed their determination to discountenance any proceedings offensive to the Chinese Authorities and People, and if necessary to visit with the severest displeasure any persons under their immediate Control against whom Complaints of this kind should be substantiated; but the Major General is convinced that the Officers and men in this Command require no motives to determine the nature of their intercourse with the natives of China, so strong as those which are founded on their own sense of propriety and justice; and after the high reputation acquired by the Troops in the Field, he feels confidently assured, that they will be the last to detract from it, by any deficiency in those qualities of Courtesy and Kindness which give a permanence and a value to all amicable relations.\n\n(By order,)\n\nT.M. EDWARDS, Captain,\n\nAssist. Adjut. General.\n\nPrinted by JOHN CARR.\n\nPage 36", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-014 - Public Offices - 1845.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 224586, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-018 - Others - 1846", "page_number": 492, "title": "CO129-018 - Others - 1846", "content_text": "435\n\n43\n\n42\n\nREPORT ON\n\nPopulation, Character, &c.-The population of the island of Chusan is stated by the Rev. Dr. Gutzlaff to be at a maximum 270,000, exclusive of the islands. Lieutenant Sargent of Her Majesty's 18th Regiment was out four months with Captain D'Haviland, engaged in surveying the interior of the island, and indicated to me one hundred thickly-populated towns and villages as marked on his map, which are stated by Lieutenant Sargent to contain each from 1000 to 5000 inhabitants. He considers the island thickly peopled, and it appeared so to me in my excursions. The density of the population may be inferred from the circumstances of the females being equal if not exceeding the males in number, and from the great abundance of children everywhere observable.\n\nThere is now before me a census of the town or city of Tinghae, the capital of Chusan, made by the Rev. Dr. Gutzlaff in 1843; in which each house is numbered, the occupation of the proprietor stated, and the men and women, boys and girls, enumerated. According to this document, the inhabitants of Tinghae city are,-\n\nMen. Women, Boys, Girls. 9,842 7,870 4,961 3,477\n\nTotal 26,150\n\nThe number of houses is given at 4,556, which, divided among 26,150 inhabitants, would give nearly six persons to each dwelling ;--- a small average for China.\n\nIn robustness of form the men of Chusan, who are of an underset build, are quite equal to those of England, and they travel easily with a weight on their shoulders, slung from either end of a bamboo, which the strongest London porter would find it difficult to raise from the ground. They are industrious, civil, inquisitive, ready to supply any of our wants, and to imitate anything we require to be made.\n\nThe population is chiefly agricultural. There is much apparent comfort in the farm-houses; abundance of pigs, poultry, and goats round every farm. The people are comfortably clothed, lodged, well fed and housed. There is no extreme poverty, no beggars, and few large estates, the proprietorship of land being very much subdivided. There is great honesty among all classes, who are in general peaceable, orderly, and well conducted. Captain Bamfield, the magistrate of the island, to whom great credit is due for the preservation of social order, informs me that there has not been a case of homicide in the island since the peace of 1842, and that he does not know of any other part of the world where there is so little crime in proportion to the population. Indeed, the petty offences which take place are committed by strangers to the island; by persons from the mainland.\n\nThe police for the whole island does not cost 100 dollars a-month; and the amount of property stolen and not recovered does not amount to 150 dollars a-year. There is frequently a clear jail, and of the eighteen or twenty prisoners now there most of them are confined for selling samshu (spirits) to the soldiers. In civil cases regarding money or land the people cheerfully submit their suits to Captain Bamfield's arbitration, and almost without exception the defaulters admit the claims made on them, and readily consent to arrangements for liquidating the debt in time, according to their means. The debts of ancestors are always recognized.\n\nThe people seem attached to our rule; they imitate our customs, and have great confidence in our veracity*. In many parts of Tinghae the name and designation of the shopkeeper is neatly painted in English over his door. Our language is being acquired very rapidly; particularly by young people, and they take great delight in their proficiency. Idolatry or superstition seems to have little hold on them; veneration for the manes of their ancestors, and the performance of various funeral rites at picturesque or neatly sculptured tombs, constitute their principal religious creed and ritual.\n\nAlthough spies have been sent from the mainland by the mandarins to watch and intimidate those who might be friendly disposed towards us, yet many have not hesitated to avow their anxiety for our retention of the island, and to express their dread of the restoration of mandarin authority and all its \"squeezings\" and indefinable exactions.\n\nA revenue might easily be derived from Chusan, adequate at least to the payment of its civil government. It is stated that, during the Chinese occupation of the island, the land revenue was 13,500 leangs of silver annually; the leang at Ningpo is equal to 2000 cash. There was also paid 6 measures of rice at 23 cash per measure, and 15 catties of grain at 16 cash per catty on each mow of cultivated land. The tax was levied in coin, and paid into the imperial treasury. Among other taxes, there was a stamp on deeds, on the registration of property, &c. There was also a tax on the \"foundation of houses,\" which may be considered a ground-rent. There could be little difficulty in raising a sufficient revenue from such an extensive population, spread over a highly-cultivated country.\n\nAnimal Food, Fish, and Vegetable Productions.--Of beef, mutton, and pork, there is a regular supply, at an average price of fourpence per pound. The grazing ground is good, and under European management...\n\n* In a letter from Chusan, dated 30th May, 1845, from a very intelligent and close observer, who has the best means of judging of the feelings of the people, there is the following passage:-\n\n\"Nothing could exceed the peaceful and friendly disposition evinced by the natives. At Chusan, in particular, their favorable feeling is evinced by the extraordinary number of buildings, which, in the last seven months, have been erected in the immediate vicinity of the barracks. And to the eastward of Flag-staff Hill, a space extending 400 yards along the bund, and about 100 yards in depth, has been laid out in streets, covered with buildings, and is now a busy town, where nine months ago you saw a mere swamp.\n\n\"With regard to the health of the foreign residents, I believe there is nearly, if not quite, as little sickness among them, as in any community of the same size in England.\"", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-018 - Others - 1846.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 228177, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-027 - Public Offices - 1848", "page_number": 481, "title": "CO129-027 - Public Offices - 1848", "content_text": "Appendix.\n\nReport on the Tea Trade,\n\n[66]\n\nled to the craving desire for opium as a counter stimulant, is deserving of consideration; certain it is that strong coffee (coffeine) among the Turks, Persians, and strong tea (theine), (coffeine and theine are similar in their elementary qualities) among the Chinese are followed or preceded by the use of opium or similar deleterious stimulating narcotics. It is stated that in the manufacturing districts of Great Britain, where tea is very largely consumed at all meals, opium is now being introduced.\n\nThe statesman is bound to watch apparently minute and remote causes in their operating influence on the character of a nation, and to look more to the preservation of the physical strength and moral power of a people, than to any imaginary increase of revenue or trade from one branch of commerce. Since the commencement of the present century tea has increased in consumption per head in Great Britain more than sugar, wine, tobacco, &c., and it now amounts to more than 20 oz. per annum for each man, woman, and child. 28,000,000 people in the United Kingdom consume double the quantity of tea that is used by the whole population of Europe (including Russia), North and South America, Africa, and Asia (exclusive of China and Japan), although the duties in these countries are low, or, as in the United States, nil.\n\nIt is asserted that if the Government reduced the duty on tea, a diminution of price would follow and cause a still larger consumption of tea in England. But low prices (if such be desired) would probably not be obtained by any reduction of the Government revenue. Other causes will operate in the reduction of price. Competition among the European merchants at Canton, and the necessity for selling cotton goods and other manufactures for which tea is received in barter, has tended to maintain for that commodity high prices, but it is expected that the opening of ports contiguous to the tea districts will materially reduce the prime cost. Mr. Consul Alcock informed me at Foochow foo, that he ascertained tea could be shipped from that port at 20 per cent. less than the Canton prices. The commercial prospects of this capital of the Fokien province will be found under its distinctive head. Some tea has been shipped from Ningpo, and several cargoes from Shanghai direct for England (see Shanghai Consulate). The shipments from the latter-named port will probably increase in return for the large quantities of British manufactures sent thither. Competition will thus take place with the Cantonese, and the sale price be lowered materially. Considerable efforts have been made by the Chinese and former Hong merchants at Canton to confine the foreign tea trade to that city; and in this they have been aided not only by the possession of large capital, enabling them to make contracts with and advances to the tea cultivators and manufacturers, but also by an extensive credit which assists them to take off and dispose of a considerable quantity of our manufactures, and by the routine of old established channels which are not easily changed, and also by the promulgation of official documents and edicts arising partly from the Imperial policy of keeping foreigners at the extremity of the empire, and partly from a fear of losing the transit and other duties which tea pays during its conveyance from Fokien and Chekeang to Canton. Tea will ultimately be shipped from the most convenient port near to the place of growth, when our merchants are permitted to carry on a free and unrestricted intercourse with China, which would be far more beneficial for the Chinese than for ourselves. Chusan produces considerable quantities of superior tea, which is sent manufactured to Ningpo and other places for the use of the mandarins. Were Chusan or some contiguous island a British possession, tea would be brought from different ports of the adjacent sea coast, and thus shipped for England at a reduced cost. It is not our policy or interest to maintain the tea trade at Canton; on the contrary, we ought to promote this valuable commerce in the northern ports.\n\nThere has latterly been considerable fluctuations in the price of tea, in consequence of extravagant speculations. About the mouth of June 1839, when the intelligence of Commissioner Lin having issued prohibitory edicts against opium smuggling reached England, speculation began in tea, and was principally sustained by the operations of a wealthy retired opium dealer. Congou rose from 1s. to 1s. 5d. per lb., and this description of tea became the regulating price for all other teas.\n\nOn 1st August, news of trade being stopped at Canton reached London, and Congou advanced to 1s. 8d.; in October to 2s. in consequence of Captain Elliott's order that no British ship should go up the river to Canton. On 2d December Congou rose to 2s. 7d., it being known that hostile measures were to be forthwith adopted towards China. The stock of tea on hand in England, 31st December 1839, was 52,500,000 lbs., and the quantity delivered for 1839 was 32,366,412 lbs. On 16th January 1840, the speech from the throne announced that Her Majesty's Government considered the dispute with China national, and the price of Congou rose to 3s. 2d. per lb. The rumour of a treaty being arranged by Captain Elliott brought down prices to 2s. 9d., but on the refusal of Lin to ratify it, they rose to 3s. 2d. On the arrival of tea taken out of American ships at Hong Kong, and permission to land it, prices fell to 2s. 8d., but rose on 11th March 1840 to 3s. 2d., on rumour that a declaration of war against China had been issued by the Governor-General of India, in the name of the British Government. When it was known that no declaration of war had been issued, prices fell to 2s. Thus the fluctuation proceeded, affected by every true intelligence or false report artfully promulgated.\n\nAt the close of 1840 the stock on hand was 46,500,000 lbs., and the quantity delivered for home consumption during the year, 35,136,232 lbs., the highest prices during the year, 3s. 3d., lowest 1s. 11d. per lb. Throughout the year 1841, the speculations were continued, almost every day producing a new rumour and a rise or fall. On 17th August a dated letter was inserted in second edition of the Herald and Chronicle, which was said to have been received from Man, 27th April, and put on board the Bombay steamer after the mail and other despatches had been embarked. In this letter it was asserted that the Emperor had ordered the destruction of all teas, and that the order was rigidly obeyed, that hostilities had recommenced, and that\n\n[67]\n\nAppendix.\n\nReport on the Tea Trade.\n\nnot 1,000 chests of tea had found their way to the outer coasters by smuggling. This fraud rose prices immediately, but they fell again on the discovery of the forgery. On 31st August the stock in the United Kingdom was reduced to 29,000,000 lbs., the lowest which had taken place, and this aided the rage for speculation. The siege of Canton, its evacuation, the local truce, indemnity of $6,000,000 caused large operations in what were termed \"time bargains.\" A gambling called \"puts and calls\" arose, one person purchasing from another the right of buying or selling to him at a certain price, a defined quantity of tea on a given day. The announcement that although we were pushing the war on the east and north coasts of China, the truce was to exist with Canton, and trade to proceed as usual, almost entirely checked the speculation in November and December 1841. On 31st December 1841 the stock on hand was 36,000,000 lbs., and the quantity delivered for home consumption 32,262,905 lbs.\n\nPrices ranged for Congou from 1s. 4½d. to 2s. 9d. During 1842 speculation was slow and cautious, but the market nearly resumed its usual steady operations, and prices fell to 1s. 5d. on the arrival, 22d November, of the treaty of Nankin. The quantity consumed for the year was about 36,000,000 lbs., and the stock in hand 34,000,000 lbs.; range of prices, 1s. 5d. to 2s. per lb. for Congous.\n\nProbably at no period since the celebrated Mississippi scheme was there ever greater and more prolonged speculation in one article. Expresses were established between Marseilles and London; large sums paid for early official information; newspapers were fed for promulgating false intelligence. At Garraway's the speculators continued this gambling in tea throughout the evening, and for a part of the night. Monied interest was transferred from the Stock Exchange to the Jerusalem Coffee-house and to Garraway's Mart. The mania spread into the country among wholesale and retail dealers in tea, and fortunes were lost and made with marvellous rapidity. The usual results ensued; the steady pursuit of trade was abandoned for the wildest gambling. Men who rose wealthy in the morning were beggars at night, and suicide, bankruptcy, and ruin to many a hearth and home closed the scene.\n\nIt behoves the Government to avoid interfering with the routine into which the trade has now subsided. Some persons still hold inferior teas, almost rubbish, that were purchased at enormously high prices during the speculation. Their only prospect of sale is a reduction of the duty, and an alteration in the mode of levying the duty, by admitting inferior teas at a lower customs rate. These persons and their agents are therefore very clamorous for an alteration in the duty to suit their purposes; but Government can look only to the public interests, and these were considered as best served by an uniform rate of duty on all teas entered after 1st July 1836.\n\nIt was attempted in 1834, when the trade with China was thrown open by the abolition of the monopoly of the East India Company, to levy ad valorem duty of 1s. 6d. per pound on Bohea, 2s. 2d. per pound on Congou, 3s. per pound on Souchong, &c. This was deemed preferable to the mode adopted previous to 1834, viz. 96 per cent. on all teas sold at or under 2s. per pound, and 100 per cent. on all teas sold above 2s. per pound; but the levy of a discriminating duty on Bohea, Congou, &c. was, after two years' trial, found impracticable, and in 1836 the uniform rate of 2s. 1d. per pound on all descriptions of tea was levied, which, with the additional five per cent. imposed in 1840, makes the total duty now levied per pound 2s. 2¼d.\n\nThe present system of an uniform duty on all teas was adopted at the urgent request of the tea brokers and tea dealers in England; and it is impossible to examine impartially the evidence taken before the Select Committee of Parliament, appointed 6th May 1834, to inquire into the expediency of establishing one fixed rate of duty, without seeing the justice of such a proceeding, no less for the interest of the public than for the advantage of the revenue.\n\nSir George Staunton, who was on that Committee, and possessing the largest information, truly observed that he believed the present system of a rated duty had not the support of a single individual who ever was in China. Moreover, any rated duty as to quality or price would exceedingly disturb the simplicity with which the tea trade is now conducted at Canton, where the merchant is unfettered in his purchases by any other consideration than the intrinsic goodness of the leaf he is buying. If two or more rates of duty were levied in England, inferior qualities of tea would be produced, whereas when the duty is alike on all teas, good or bad, the merchant finds it his interest to export only the good.\n\nThe consumption of tea in the United Kingdom being estimated at 45,000,000 lbs. yearly, and sold at an average price to the consumer of 4s. 6d. per pound, the money expended for tea is £10,125,000.\n\nThe expenditure of this sum is distributed as follows:\n\n \n Net cost of 36,000,000 lbs. at 1s. 5d. per pound, or about 25 taels per picul, 717 taels to 1,000 dollars, or about 70d. per tael exchange dollar of 4s. 2d. to 4s. 3d. picul 133 lbs.\n £2,250,000\n \n \n Export duty in China, $3.37 per picul, or 1¼d. per pound, about\n £280,000\n \n \n Shipping charges, &c. in China'\n £25,000\n \n \n Freight, &c. China to England, 2d. per pound\n £375,000\n \n \n Insurance, a halfpenny per pound\n £93,000\n \n\n(continued)\n\nnot", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-027 - Public Offices - 1848.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 231392, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-036 - Sir Bonham - 1851 [1-5]", "page_number": 177, "title": "CO129-036 - Sir Bonham - 1851 [1-5]", "content_text": "HONG KONG,\n\n6\n\nREPORTS EXHIBITING THE PAST AND PRESENT\n\nConvicts.\n\nAn expenditure, amounting to 157. 3s. 3d. (Requisitions No. 42 of 1849, and 10 of 1850), was incurred in the purchase of stone-hammers, rope, and winch, for the use of the prisoners confined to hard labour within the gaol; these are mostly Europeans, and the total number employed during the year amounted to about 3,100, not working the whole day or regularly either; 300 tons of stone have been broken, the quantity I have used on the road does not amount to more than 180 tons, but I hope to dispose of all that may be broken in the present year, and thus be enabled to form a hard compact surface for most of the streets throughout the city.\n\nThe repairs to convict tools, wheelbarrows, shovels, pickaxes, &c., has amounted to the sum of 20l. 0s. 11d. I have been enabled with the labour of the convicts to keep in very fair repair almost the whole of the streets in the city, including the Queen's Road and the Wongneichung Valley Road alluded to before; upon the former in the ordinary surface repairs, and including a very extensive damage done to the embankment near Mr. Edger's house I have expended the labour of 3,047 men, valued at 63l. 9s. 7d., and upon the rest of the roads and streets in the city the number of 5,485 men, equivalent to an expenditure of 114l. 5s. 5d., forming the total amount of 8,532, equal to 177l. 15s., for a length of 84 miles, or nearly 3d. per yard per annum.\n\nSundry services to drains were completed by 57 men, equivalent to 1l. 3s. 1d.\n\nIn the transport of materials, viz., that of hard wood, stone, and tiles, from the Bungalow in the Wongneichung Valley to the store at the Government offices, and also for the repairs and alterations to the Central Police Station, as well as for the construction of the bridges in the valley, I have employed 3,343 men, valued at 69l. 12s. 11d.\n\nTwo of the streets in the city, viz., Elgin-street and Wyndham-street, were improved, the former at the turn leading to Hollywood-road, and the latter at the junction with Albert-road, by the labour of 1,078 men. I also formed two streets near Hollywood-road, to give access to some lots of land offered for sale: this service employed 432 men. Another service, under the head of Construction, was performed in clearing and levelling the ground between the Queen's-road and the sea, extending from the Main Guard-house to a drain crossing the area, employing thereon 758 men, valued at 15l. 15s. 10d.\n\nThis ground forms part of the plaza; the remainder of the area, from thence to Messrs. Lindsay's premises, is partly formed of the natural uncut ground, and partly by deposit of earth from the parade-ground and area of the Government offices and church. It is very irregular, and averages a height of 4 feet or more, containing about 10,000 cubic yards; and as the labour of its removal would involve a large expenditure of convict labour, probably the total number of convicts at my disposal for six months, the completion of the service has been delayed until a future period. The total number employed on these three services amounts to 2,435 men, equal to 50l. 14s. 7d.\n\nThe miscellaneous service performed by convict labour comprises clearing the ground, inland lot, No. 1, for police boat-shed, clearing sands at Pedder's Wharf, transplanting trees, work at Flag-staves, clearing weeds, &c., from Government ground, and scavengers for the city, amounting in the whole to 886 men, valued at 18l. 9s. 2d. 7¼d.\n\nThus the total number of men employed during the year out of the gaol amounts to 15,253, giving an equivalent value of work, amounting to 317l. 15s. 5d.; for the year 1849 the number employed was 17,846; for 1848, 18,151.\n\nThe prisoners who are condemned to hard labour within the walls of the prison have, as stated before, broken 300 tons of stone for the roads; it is certainly hard, and I now cause it to be broken very fine, and, estimating their labour at 5d. per diem, would give an amount of 64l. 11s. 8d., or about 4s. per ton, which is a very high price indeed, this work is an employment, and the stone is useful, but certainly no punishment. The tread-mill, when it arrives, will effect, I have no doubt, all that may be desired for that purpose.\n\nIn addition to this service a party of ten sailors were employed for three months in clearing and levelling the ground round the Debtors' Gaol. The value of their labour I estimate at 6d. per day, and amounts to 21l. 5s. Thus the total value of all convict labour that I can bring to account amounts to the sum of 403l. 12s. 1d.\n\nOn comparing the actual expenditure on account of the gaol with the value of work performed by the convicts, I must observe that at least two-thirds of the total number of persons confined in the gaol do not earn anything at all, and are consequently a burden upon the Government.\n\nRoad round the Island.\n\nHis Excellency having visited this road at the beginning of last year, instructed me to complete those portions of it between Aberdeen and Stanley which had been postponed or left unfinished. These works comprised four stone arches in the Staunton Valley, the foundations and abutments of which were finished, and the construction of two drains near Deepwater Bay. The first service was executed for the balance remaining due upon the original contract for the work, and cost 50l. 6s. 3d.; the other services I did not pay for until the termination of the year, and the expenditure will, therefore, be accounted for in my next Report.\n\nThe road, although it had no repairs for two rainy seasons, was in most places in very fair order, except on the sea-coast, near Aberdeen, and through Quarries near Aldrich Bay and Sowkewan, where extensive damages occurred, and where I have annually reported the difficulty of preserving it, both on account of its exposed position, and through the carelessness of the quarrymen in blocking up the drains and causing such an extensive deposit of silt to accumulate in the river-courses and land adjoining. For the general preservation of the road, that\n\nSTATE OF HER MAJESTY'S COLONIAL POSSESSIONS.\n\n7\n\nis, in clearing the side channels, and arranging for the natural and proper discharge of rain-water, as well as to repair some particular localities, to render the passage of horses and pedestrians secure, his Excellency was pleased to authorize an expenditure of 66l. 12s. 5d., of which I expended 63l. 19s. 2d., and arranged a contract for that purpose, obliging the party to execute the necessary work, as well as to keep the whole in repair until the 31st December 1850; and on visiting the line in the month of January of the present year, I was much gratified to find the whole road in very capital order, with the exception of those sea-coast parts, alluded to before, and some of the wooden bridges; several of these, however, I caused to be reduced in width, and was thus enabled to perform a satisfactory repair without any additional outlay, the sound portions of the abstracted timber being available for other bridges in the neighbourhood.\n\nI have to report the commencement of the new road to avoid the Gap-hill, commencing at the Albany Godowns, and terminating at the bridge in the Wongneichung Valley. This service will, I hope, be completed in March, and be of great advantage to the public, as giving a healthful promenade and agreeable driving-road for the hot season.\n\nThe trees planted along the sides of some of the roads in the city have in general thriven tolerably well; about one-tenth of them, however, have been much injured by goats and drunken sailors, and other wanton injuries have been done to them by other parties; but there are several varieties of the banyan, mango, bamboo, acacia, and other native trees extremely hardy, which grow very quickly, give considerable shade, and I should be very happy to see them extensively planted all over those parts of the city where the advantage of them would be felt.\n\nThe small plantation of fir-trees at the rear of the Albany Barracks, planted by myself in the year 1845, and which were then only one foot high, are now upwards of seven feet, and look very strong and healthy.\n\nI have, &c.,\n\n(Signed) CHARLES ST. GEORGE CLEVERLY,\n\nThe Hon. Major W. Caine,\n\nColonial Secretary.\n\n(True Copy)\n\n(No. 10.)\n\nSIR,\n\nW. CAINE, Colonial Secretary.\n\nSurveyor-General.\n\nHONG KONG\n\nEnclosure 3 in No.\n\nEncl. 3 in No.\n\nSurveyor-General's Office, Victoria, 12th February 1851.\n\nI HAVE the honour to forward, for the information of his Excellency the Governor, my Annual Report upon the state and progress of the department for the year 1850.\n\nFor the whole of the above period the entire duties connected with the supervision of labour, both for work under contracts and that performed by the convicts, has devolved upon myself with the assistance of the Chinese overseer and Coolies. In consequence of the reduction in the department of the civil engineer and road overseer during the previous year, I adopted measures for arranging that the supervision of all works performed by the department should be undertaken by the Chinese overseer, to whom I gave the requisite instructions and a short detail of the contracts; and he, together with his Coolies, when necessary, were always stationed on the work, to see that the services were properly performed, and my directions to the workmen or contractor fully complied with. Thus the road round the island was regularly visited, its state of repair constantly reported, as well as the progress made with the few works of construction ordered on the Aberdeen and Stanley Road; also, when repairing and improving the road to North Point, the same service was performed. In addition to this, I directed the overseer and his men to take a general charge of the roads and streets, drains, &c., in the city, to execute contingent repairs in such places where it was not necessary to send the gang of convicts. This arrangement, with the assistance of convict labour, I was enabled to keep the whole city by in repair, without disbursing any money whatever, which I have never been able to effect in previous years.\n\nThe overseer was ordered to attend the office every day for instructions, and at the same time give a written report of the previous day's work; thus during the year 30 days' labour were occupied in grassing slopes, 15 days in surveying, 288 days clearing drains and side-channels, 488 days repairing and weeding roads and streets, and 102 days in attending to the trees on the roads; this, together with attendance upon me in the mornings and evenings, when their services were demanded to lay out ground for sale, define boundaries of lots, or other miscellaneous work, comprised the whole of their duties, which have been very satisfactorily performed; and I have to report most favourably of their general good conduct, and particularly so of their overseer, Assow, who is a most valuable assistant to me, and (for a Chinaman) most deserving and exemplary man.\n\nThe expenditure on account of roads not in the city amounted to 38l. 2s. 1d., on account of bridges 156l. 1s. 11d., drains 41l. 7s. 3d., marine works 16l.\n\nBuildings.\n\nThe construction and repair of buildings I took entirely under my individual supervision (the overseer only reporting the number of men at work thereon); these comprised the completion of the church tower, the fittings and furniture, &c., to the Court-house, sundry contingent", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-036 - Sir Bonham - 1851 [1-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 240151, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 368, "title": "CO129-059 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [11-12]", "content_text": "Page 362\n\nNo. 132.\n\nGOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.\n\nThe following Document, being the substance of the Reply given to a Petition presented by certain of the Chinese Traders of this Colony, is published for general information.\n\nBy Order,\n\nW. T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary.\n\nColonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, Hongkong, 4th December, 1856.\n\nHis Excellency the Governor has received the Petition of the Le-Tae and other shops, several score in number, and in reference to their complaints, of which a list in seven sections is appended to the Petition, His Excellency desires Petitioners to be informed to the following effect.\n\n1. It is prayed that no more heavy fines be levied for the committing of nuisances, and that those levied in the last few days be returned. The nuisance ordinance was passed for the prevention of fires, and to the preservation of health. It had especially in view the advantage of the Chinese population, and was accordingly published in Chinese. Its provisions having been much infringed both by Chinese and others, the Magistrates proceeded to enforce its penalties. Many persons not Chinese having been heavily fined, on the 20th, and following days, the Chinese were also heavily fined. This was in perfect accordance with the law, and with punishments legally inflicted; it is not the province of His Excellency to interfere. It having been represented to him, however, in a petition numerously and respectably signed, that the poverty of some of the offenders was such as to make the fine a more than ordinary burden, His Excellency has caused the Tipo's to be summoned, and having instituted enquiry, has directed that certain sums be refunded as an act of grace.\n\nThis matter is thus disposed of, nor can further complaints regarding it be entertained.\n\n2. As to the seizure of vessels by Rebels in the harbour of Hongkong. This is an outrage of the gravest character. If unauthorized persons even board vessels lying in harbour, to the annoyance of their owners, &c., these should immediately give notice at the Police Office, or to Mr Caldwell, newly appointed Protector of Chinese, and the delinquents will immediately be seized and dealt with as pirates or robbers. His Excellency finds it difficult to believe what is asserted in the Petition, that applications made in the proper quarters have been unattended to. Should such in any instance be the case, the applicant has it still in his power to address the head of the Government.\n\n3. As to the interference of the Police with goods landing from boats, hawkers' wares, &c., the Police have orders carefully to abstain from any act of personal violence, unless where the resistance of persons lawfully arrested renders it necessary. Any one assaulted by the Police, or whose goods are injured by the Police, has undoubted right to bring the offender before the magistrates. But Petitioners must remember, that the regulations affecting the removal of goods, and the non-obstruction of thoroughfares by hawkers, are all enforced in the interest of the public. Prompt attention should therefore be given to the requisitions of the Police; if it be not, it is their duty to arrest the offender, and it is equally the duty of all good citizens to give every assistance to the Police to enable them to carry out the law—a duty which it is notorious that the Chinese generally neglect; whereby the Police are harassed and culprits escape.\n\n4. The proposition regarding the responsibility of streets, in cases where robbery is charged against shops or houses, appears reasonable, and petitioners will do well to submit their views and wishes on this point to Mr Caldwell, who, in addition to his duties as Protector of Chinese, has been also appointed Registrar General.\n\nPage 362\n\nNo. 132.\n\n(Continued)\n\n(The text is cut off here as the original scan likely ended. However, based on the instructions, we should keep the page numbering information if available.)", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-059 - Sir Bowring - 1856 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 259902, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-100 - Sir Robinson - 1864 [9]", "page_number": 110, "title": "CO129-100 - Sir Robinson - 1864 [9]", "content_text": "14\n\nIf I venture to offer some remarks on the proposition to claim a sum of £20,000 per annum from the Revenues of this Colony in aid of the Military Expenditure upon it.\n\n2.\n\nAs a year must elapse before this claim can take effect and as there may be somewhat in the following considerations (founded on local experience) calculated to influence the final decision, I cannot but think it my duty to put them forward.\n\n3. It seems to me that two principal questions present themselves—1. Is the claim equitable? and 2. Its equity granted, is its enforcement warranted by the financial condition of the Colony?\n\n4. The equity of the claim rests first on the use of the Troops. If these be required here for local purposes, such as the suppression of Civil tumult, or the preservation of internal order as in \"Ceylon, Mauritius, and the principal Australian Colonies,\" nothing more can be said, and we need only pass to the second question proposed.\n\n5. But ever since the foundation of the Colony, there has been only one instance in which the Colonial Authorities have applied to the Military for assistance. I allude to a riot in the City of Victoria in October 1856 when a Company of the 59th Regiment was called out, without, however, their more active service being required. This it must be remembered was during an exceptional state of things, which since our nearly four years' occupation of Canton and the altered demeanour of the Chinese provincial Government is not likely to recur.\n\n6. Services at fires have always been performed promptly and efficiently by the Troops, but these must be considered rendered by them as Citizens more than as Soldiers.\n\n7. There is no Police duty done by them; they are not put on Treasure Escort as to my recollection in Ceylon, and the only Colonial duty done by them is furnishing occasional guards of honor, firing Salutes of Ceremony, and mounting guard over two buildings the property of the Colonial Government.\n\n8. This last is the only service that can be said to be purely Colonial.\n\n9. On the other hand, Hongkong has always been (certainly for the last seven years) the Military point d'appui whence Troops have been sent to various parts of Chinese territory for the protection of Imperial interests. Our Military force furnished a Garrison for the Macao Fort in the Canton River when taken by Sir Michael Seymour in 1856; it supplied the principal part of the Land Force at the capture of Canton in the end of 1857; it was the feeder of the Garrison in occupation there till the evacuation of Canton in 1861. In 1860-1, the Peking expedition was organized here and ever since that time the Colony has been used as the Military Head Quarters from which the detachments at Shanghae, Tientsin, &c. have been stored and recruited.\n\n10. From recent advices, I may include Japan as a future service under this head.\n\nAll these services were strictly Imperial and had no local object or result.\n\n12. It would appear then that so far as the use of the Troops is concerned, there is little claim on the Colony for their support.\n\n13. Their intended transfer to Kowloon (see Secretary of State's Despatch No.94 of 18th July 1863) is to a certain extent proof of their not being urgently required in Hongkong.\n\n1\n\n14. These remarks regard the use of the Troops as an internal security to the Island, but as concerns protection from an external enemy, the principal source of danger, we have it laid down by Lord Stanley at the foundation of the Colony (November 1843) that this is dependent mainly on our Naval superiority, while the Committee on Colonial Military Defences have said that \"so far as assistance from the Mother Country is concerned, the chief thing which most of our Colonies must look to for defence against Foreign enemies is our Navy.\"\n\n15. Moreover, Hongkong being the only British territory on the Coast of China, and the presence of a Naval Squadron here being a permanent and not a temporary necessity, as is the case with the Military, one half of whom are at this moment engaged on foreign soil, it follows that Hongkong must be the Head Quarters of the Navy in the China Seas, and hence a closer connection must exist between the Colony and the Navy than between the Colony and the Army.\n\n16. My inference from this is that if a claim on Colonial Funds be advanced, it should be made on account of the Naval Squadron rather than the Military Garrison.\n\n17. In support of this view, I may mention that when it became necessary in June last to look to the defences of the Colony, it was to the Admiral and not to the General that I applied, and the only branch of the Military Service which it was proposed to employ was the Artillery to man the Batteries suggested and selected by the Commanding Royal Engineer, of which I shall say more presently.\n\n18. But putting aside the use of the Troops, or rather granting that they are here for local purposes or that they will be in future made more use of locally (in which case I presume the same control over them would be given to the Governor as is given in Ceylon), it yet forms a question in view of the two facts—1. that the Colony was founded in furtherance of an Imperial purpose and its Garrison is maintained for \"general national objects\" [Mr Elliot's memorandum]. 2. that the Imperial trade for the encouragement of which it was founded, is so important financially to the Mother Country that one item alone (the Tea Duties) furnishes, or did recently furnish a tithe of the whole Imperial Revenue—whether the local resources of this Colony should be impounded to the certain hindrance of its advancement and success.\n\n19. Before proceeding to the second point, I would remark on the argument used that Hongkong has cost the Mother Country £273,000 during the first fourteen years of its existence. If the Mother Country wanted an establishment like Hongkong and by establishing it, it is proved that she did want it, she could only get it by paying for it or by making others pay for it, and this last she did. Up to the end of 1846, the (necessarily nominal) Parliamentary Grants were really stopped out of the Indemnity Fund extracted from the Chinese Government under the Nanking Treaty. Though nominally voted by Parliament, no portion of it came out of the pocket of the Taxpayer of the British Isles, and in the years that intervened from 1846 to the date of the cessation of the Parliamentary Grant, the sums voted were insignificant compared with the enormous Revenue derived by Great Britain and India from the China Trade, for the encouragement of which, as I have said before, the Colony of Hongkong was established.\n\n20. Earl Grey when Secretary of State for the Colonies (Despatch No.94 of 3rd February 1849) distinctly absolved the Colony from all responsibility for the sums expended on it previously to 1st April 1848, and since then the sums granted have amounted only to £130,900, or less than half of what is now brought up against it.\n\n21.\n\nLet us now turn to the second principal question which I have proposed. Is this Military contribution warranted by the financial condition of the Colony?\n\n22. Our estimated Surplus at the present moment is a little over $440,000, while the Surveyor General has handed me the enclosed memorandum of the works in progress and under contemplation; it will be seen that they, amounting to $482,371, more than absorb the entire surplus and still have no reference to Kowloon, necessary extension of Roads, Drains, Repairs, &c., on each and all of which the expenditure will be considerable.\n\n23. But it may be said this is the existent surplus, and as it has grown, it doubtless will grow; I enclose in correction of such a notion a Return showing the Premium on Land sold during the last ten years, and this, it must be borne in mind, is the main source of the Surplus; it will be seen that the large amount in hand is the produce of Premium during the 3 years 1860, 1861, and 1862, while during the current year 1863, so completely has this source of Revenue been exhausted that the following result is shown.\n\n1860. 1861. 1862. 1863.\n\n$94,342. $167,536. $142,602. $6,490.\n\n24. I should add that the Estimate for 1863 from Premium on Land was $72,000; and I presume that this high figure was calculated with reference to Kowloon, no intelligence of the settlement of which has reached the Colony up to this date; but however this may be, the fact is evident that less than an eleventh of the Estimate for the year has been realized, and that Premium on land will not henceforward be so profitable a source of Revenue as it has been.\n\n25. Thus much as to Receipt; as to disbursement, I would note that the Surplus in past years has not been used principally owing to the inadequacy of the Surveyor General's Department for undertaking the necessary Public Works; the money therefore has remained in hand (or I should say at interest) but it has not the less been forestalled and unavailable, and is still so.\n\n26. And here I may call attention to the memorandum above enclosed of Public Works proposed and certainly required, and especially to the Mint and to the two Gaols in Victoria and on Stone Cutters Island. Of the Mint, I would only say that the benefit to be derived from it, so far as I can see, though I admit I write without a perfect knowledge of the subject, will be entirely or mainly Imperial, while as to the Gaols, I would point out that their inmates are not properly speaking people belonging to the Colony, but chiefly pirates, and Chinese belonging to the mainland and that while their punishment is a sequence of our accidental position, and in aid of those general public interests for the conservation and furtherance of which I assume the Colony to have been originally founded, the heavy expense of the custody and maintenance of these criminals falls altogether upon the Revenues of Hongkong.\n\n15\n\n107", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-100 - Sir Robinson - 1864 [9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 266294, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-114 - MacDonnell - 1866 [7-8]", "page_number": 187, "title": "CO129-114 - MacDonnell - 1866 [7-8]", "content_text": "here in the event of its becoming\n\nNecessary\n\nto increase the Revenue.\n\nI mention this more especially\n\n8\n\nbecause I\n\nwas not then aware of the\n\nrecommendation contained in\n\nand security of property.\n\nas well as\n\n184\n\nfor\n\nextension and preservation of Sanatory\n\nworks- appears to me not merely pressing\n\nbut on\n\na\n\nlarger\n\nScale than is usual\n\nelsewhere.\n\ndespatch & 168 of 1864 suggesting | 1/216\n\n10\n\nI did not hesitate therefore to\n\ncome to a\n\nStamp Act. Similar to\n\nthat of Singapore\n\nIt is satisfactory\n\ntherefore to feel that the remedy proposed\n\nis one\n\nwhich so naturally recommends\n\nitself.\n\nYou\n\nwill observe from\n\nthe~\n\nNo.\n\nan\n\nenclosed that I have not for\n\nmoment attempted to equalise the\n\nexpenditure\n\nand Revenue by diminishing\n\nThe exigencies of the\n\nExecutive here\n\nfor\n\nmaintenance of order\n\nNo 2\n\nadditional\n\npropose meeting the crisis\n\nby additional taxation or rather by the imposition of the first tax payable in this Colony within the ordinary meaning of the\n\nword tax.\n\nAt the same time that I made\n\nthe financial\n\nstatement alluded to\n\nI laid\n\nthe table several Bills which\n\nwere read for a\n\nfirst time - and some\n\nwith matters of very\n\ngreat importance - such as the registration\n\nCorrected version in HTML format as requested. I made the following corrections:\n1. Corrected spelling errors (e.g., \"reemmendation\" to \"recommendation\", \"purservation\" to \"preservation\", \"appens\" to \"appears\", \"rcome\" to \"come\", \"equiatise\" to \"equalise\", \"mainten\" to \"maintenance\", \"ade\" to \"additional\", \"wew\" to \"were\").\n2. Fixed spacing issues (removed extra spaces, added missing spaces).\n3. Rejoined broken sentences where necessary.\n4. Preserved original paragraph breaks and page numbering lines.\n5. No translation or rephrasing was done.\n6. No comments were added to the text.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-114 - MacDonnell - 1866 [7-8].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 279359, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-139 - Sir MacDonnell - 1869 [8-12]", "page_number": 395, "title": "CO129-139 - Sir MacDonnell - 1869 [8-12]", "content_text": "2390\n\nable; which course he thought was more convenient and would cause less alarm on the native mind. A great many of the new provisions were not absolutely necessary for the public welfare. It was a nice thing to get the city, built in a uniform style, and if we had a M. Haussman here we might have a boulevard; but he saw little use for all the clauses beyond those to prevent accidents.\n\nH. E. wished some of the objectionable clauses pointed out. Any inspection by the Surveyor General he defied them to provide for so that it would not have a harsh look. But not to make some provision, in the face of the public safety from fire, etc., would not do.\n\nThe A. Chief Justice drew attention to Section 9, which he thought ought to be altered in its terms. It said “All works shall be under the survey and inspection of the Surveyor General, and shall be commenced, resumed, prosecuted and completed with due observance of this Ordinance,\" and of rules. This had given rise to the idea that the Surveyor General inspected everything; and although he had not the power which it was thought he had, those words were calculated to mislead.\n\nHon. Mr. Gibb observed that it was not so intended, and he hardly thought it would convey that meaning.\n\nThe A. C. J. said that it was the general idea that the S. G. was omnipotent in those building matters, and the public ought to know exactly, before they began to spend their money, what they were to do and what they were not to do.\n\nHon. J. B. Taylor remarked that it was intended to restrain, not to add to, the power of the Surveyor General.\n\nHon. Mr Keswick also spoke of the absence of such intention.\n\nThe A. C. J. suggested that they should look through the sections.\n\nThe Colonial Secretary observed that he thought the public were unnecessarily alarmed at the length of the new ordinance. Now, of the new clauses, what were they but a few definitions, one or two exemptions, and a few rules regarding verandahs (the great cause of the spread of fires), sun-shades, cook-houses, dressing stones in the street. They were very simple, and he thought there was really nothing to be alarmed about.\n\nH. E. remarked that, as to the preservation of property, they were entitled to see that the general security should be maintained, and to insist upon all persons regarding rules for the public safety, which latter could not be sacrificed to individual convenience.\n\nMr Keswick said that, as to the alarms spoken of, he had heard nothing of it out of the Council, and believed it did not exist. The whole objection was that of inconvenience, and much latitude ought to be allowed so long as the public safety was endangered. As to the Surveyor General, by defining his functions, they could easily see what could and what could not be done. He was well acquainted with the Ordinance, but he had not detected anything in its intention and meaning which could be seriously objected to; a great deal in the new ordinance had previously been done illegally; and the question should be settled, so as to show clearly what rules were to be observed in building in regard to the public safety.\n\nHon. Mr. Rowett said he had just received some valuable notes from Mr Diach, of the Engineer Department; and if the Council would adjourn the consideration of the ordinance, he would have these notes circulated. If they did not adjourn, he would take the liberty to remark upon each section, as new suggestions appeared on the notes.\n\nH. E. asked what the main points of objection were.\n\nMr Rowett replied that there were a few leading points, one of which was the extension of power to the Surveyor General. In Section 9, rule 1, even the \"stone or some other hard and incombustible substance\" of any wall had to be approved of by the Surveyor General. So long as a wall was made of some hard and incombustible substances why should it require the approval of the Surveyor General?\n\nH. E. fancied that was necessary.\n\nMr Rowett instanced the solid building of any cross-wall as another matter which did not require the S. G.'s approval.\n\nH. E. hinted that some walls fell outwards, and often injured the public.\n\nThe Col. Secry. asked, was Mr B. going through the bill section by section?\n\nH. E. remarked that he admitted it was very useful to take all objections possible before the bill became law.\n\nThe A. C. J. observed that, as every section had been regarded as necessary, he supposed that with a few technical alterations, the bill might stand. The word \"owner,\" for instance, was very obscurely defined.\n\nThe Colonial Secretary admitted that was a section the Commission did not like.\n\nThe A. C. J. said the \"owner\" ought certainly to be the man who builds or lets a house and he alone ought to be the man to make any alterations required by the Surveyor General.\n\nMr Rowett begged to move that the bill be submitted to the consideration of a sub-committee, including the Acting Chief Justice, the Colonial Secretary and the former committee of non-official members.\n\nThe Colonial Secretary suggested that Mr Rowett's own name should be added; which was accordingly done.\n\nHon. Col. Treasurer seconded the motion; and the measure was accordingly referred, H. E. remarking that it was a large committee, and he hoped they would meet as soon as possible.\n\nORDER IN PUBLIC ASSEMBLAGES.\n\nThe Governor then brought forward for second reading the ordinance giving power to the superintendent of Police on shore, and the Harbor master on water, corresponding with that held by the Commissioner of Police in England respecting processions, &c. It was a power much wanted, as things had been done hitherto without that power.\n\nMr Keswick thought it might alarm the Chinese: could notice of any regulation or order not be given in the Government Gazette?\n\nH. E. was of opinion they might kill the Chinese by over-protection of this sort: there would frequently not be time for such notice, but the Governor would always have a veto on any regulation.\n\nThe A. C. J. took objection to the title; so many things were appearing under the title of Good Order, &c.\n\nH. E. demurred, but agreed to modify it by specifying the reference to public assemblages, &c. The Governor then remarked that it was now a model ordinance; and it having been read a second time and passed, it was numbered 10 of 1869.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-139 - Sir MacDonnell - 1869 [8-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 281232, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-143 - Sir MacDonnell - 1870 [1-2]", "page_number": 271, "title": "CO129-143 - Sir MacDonnell - 1870 [1-2]", "content_text": "Enclosure to to im Governor in Richard G. June Donnell's Deiß: No 857 of 24 \n\n1870. \n\nJanuary \n\nTHE CHINA MAIL. \n\nHONGKONG, SATUrday, Jan. 22, 1870. \n\nMEMORIAL OF THE HONGKONG COMMUNITY. \n\nTo the Right Honorable \n\nTHE EARL OF Clarendon, K.G., \n\nHer Majesty's Principal Secretary \n\nof State for Foreign Affairs. The Humble Memorial of the Inhabitants of the Colony of Hongkong, \n\nSHEWETH; \n\nIntroductory.---1. That on the 3rd day of January instant, at a Public Meeting of this Community, called to take into consideration the convention for the revision of the Treaty of Tientsin recently signed by Sir Rutherford Alcock, Her Majesty's Minister to China, it was unanimously resolved that measures should be taken to remonstrate against the ratification of the convention by Her most Gracious Majesty, in so far as certain articles thereof, more peculiarly affecting the welfare and prosperity of this Colony and its Community, are concerned. \n\n2. Your Memorialists now, in pursuance of such resolution, beg to state the reasons which appear to them to render it not only inexpedient, but highly injudicious, that the Convention shall be ratified, so far as regards those clauses which they believe to be injurious in their tendency or effect to the prosperity of the Colony and its trade, and almost certain materially to diminish the Revenue now accruing to the Crown from the Colony and they trust that Your Lordship will take them into your serious consideration, before advising Her Majesty to ratify any provisions which this Community unanimously consider as most prejudicial, not only to their own interests, but to the larger interests involved in placing the relations between Great Britain and China upon a satisfactory footing. \n\nSpecial Interests of Memorialists, -3: Your Memorialists, while craving Your Lordship's best consideration of the despatch addressed to you by the Chamber of Commerce of this Colony, would point out that, as Colonists, they represent interests which, though in the main identified with those represented by the Chamber of Commerce, sometimes cease to be perfectly identical with the latter, and which are, by some of the clauses of the convention, more particularly affected than is the trade with China as a whole; and Your Memorialists believe that it is quite possible not only to maintain and preserve existing rights affecting trade, but also to extend and develop general commercial interests in China, without sacrificing or prejudicing this Colony in order to attain those ends. \n\nClauses of Convention commented on. --~1. The clauses of the Convention which, in the opinion of Your Memorialists, more immediately concern and affect their interests, are the 2nd, 4th, 5th and 6th, \n\n5. Of these by far the most important is the 2nd clause, under which the Chinese Government will claim to place a Consul at Hongkong; and Your Memorialists propose to state, firstly, why they conceive the Government of China have no shadow of reason to claim such a concession, and, secondly, why it is that the granting of such a privilege will be injurious to their interests; and in this connection they would respectfully urge that, if they can satisfy Your Lordship that the right of the Chinese Government to such a concession is untenable, or even doubtful, Your Lordship will be bound to give great weight to the deliberate conviction of a whole Community, as to the doing so being fraught with great peril to the only interests at stake,-their own. \n\nInternational Usage as regards appointment of Consuls-6. Your Memorialists would first ask Your Lordship to consider the question of the usage, for it is usage and not a right, with regard to one Power allowing another Power with which it is in amity to place Consuls in its Ports. \n\nThis privilege of placing Consuls, or \"National Agents,\" at places in the territory of another nation, is accorded to all Nations who recognize and act upon the principles of Public Law, and are in unrestricted commercial communion and intercourse with each other, and who grant the same or reciprocal privileges. By unrestricted it is not meant that the trade is not subjected to certain imposts, or restrictions, of a purely fiscal or protective character, or to limitations as to \"contraband\" traffic, but that the right to go into and travel through a country, and to reside anywhere in its territory is never prohibited, and where the capital, products, and manufactures of another country are allowed (subject to revenue or protective imposts or restrictions) free ingress and transit to every mart in its dominions. This general rule applies not only to all Christian and Civilized Countries, but also to other nations where, for divers reasons, it has been thought right to insist upon a preservation to Great Britain of ex-territorial jurisdiction over its subjects resident or commorant within the dominions of the other Power, as for example, Turkey and other Countries bordering on the Mediterranean. If this then be, as Your Memorialists believe, the rule and the reason for granting this privilege, it is necessary to see whether China complies with the requirements exacted from every other Power with whom Great Britain is in Treaty, before Exequatur is granted to its Consuls; and if she does not, is there any reason why she should be made an exception? \n\nEarl Clarendon's Opinion to Sir George Bonham.7. On this head Your Memorialists would refer to the admirable exposition of the status of China as a nation, appearing in Your Lordship's despatch of 24th June 1863 to Sir George Bonham (covering H M's. Order in Council of 13th June 1863), p. 3. \"In ordinary cases of British Subjects resorting to a foreign country, their persons and property are entrusted to the protection of the Laws and Institutions of the country to which they resort, in the full assurance that those Laws will be duly administered, and that the Institutions of such country, although they may differ from those of England, are substantially in harmony with the general principles of jurisprudence recognized amongst Christian Communities. But the case is different as regards China; and there the British Crown has found it necessary to require that British Subjects shall be entirely exempted from the jurisdiction of the local Tribunals ;\"--a description that all residents in China feel to be singularly expressive of the position of this Nation, and which has frequently been affirmed by successive Ministers in China, including Sir R. Alcock. \n\nOpinion of Law Officers of the Crown. --8. Your Memorialists would also refer Your Lordship to an opinion of the Law Officers of the Crown, given upon a question as to certain seizures for breach of the blockade of the Canton River during the War of 1856-57, involving a right of the highest and gravest kind known to Public Law, or required by the comity of nations, viz: The right to have such seizures adjudicated upon by a duly-constituted Prize Tribunal and a formal condemnation as lawful Prize, before the property in vessels and their cargoes can be divested out of the original owners. \n\nIn 2.477/70 \n\n270", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-143 - Sir MacDonnell - 1870 [1-2].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 281658, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-144 - Sir MacDonnell & Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1870 [3-5]", "page_number": 220, "title": "CO129-144 - Sir MacDonnell & Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1870 [3-5]", "content_text": "# VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONGKONG.\n\n## No. 2 OF 1870.\n\n### WEDNESDAY, 30 MARCH, 1870.\n\n**PRESENT:**\n\nHis Excellency Governor SIR RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL, C.B. \nThe Honorable the Chief Justice, (JOHN SMALE.) \nThe Honorable the Colonial Secretary, (JOHN GARDINER AUSTIN.) \nThe Honorable the Attorney General, (JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE.) \nThe Honorable the Colonial Treasurer, (FREDERICK H. A. FORTH.) \nThe Honorable HUGH BOLD GIBB. \nThe Honorable PHINEAS RYNIÉ. \nThe Honorable WILLIAM KESWICK. \nThe Honorable RICHARD ROWETT.\n\n**ABSENT:**\n\nThe Honorable the Auditor General, (WILLIAM H. RENNIE), absent on leave.\n\nThe Council meets this day at 3 P.M. by Special Summons.\n\nThe Minutes of the Council held on the 25th February last, are read and confirmed.\n\nThe Bill for the Preservation of Birds is read a Second time, amended in Committee, and passed, bearing the Title of “An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, for the Preservation of Birds,”-being \"No. 1 of 1870.\"\n\nThe Bill to co-operate with the Chinese Authorities for the Suppression of Piracy is brought forward for the Second reading, and His Excellency states that this Bill had been introduced in pursuance of Instructions from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, which directed the re-enactment of Ordinance No. 2 of 1868, now expired. The Despatch (No. 148 of 14 September, 1869,) conveying the above Instructions, is then read and considered. After which, the Bill is read a Second time, committed, and passed, bearing the Title of \"An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, to co-operate with the Chinese Authorities for the Suppression of Piracy,”-being \"No. 2 of 1870.\"\n\nOn the representation of the Attorney General, who states that upon further consultation with the Members of the Profession he is desirous to submit a more comprehensive measure which he has prepared on the subject of the Admission of Attornies, and the Council concurring, the Bill relating to the Admission of Attornies is withdrawn by order of His Excellency.\n\nThe Bill for the Establishment of a Chinese Hospital is read a Second time, amended in Committee and passed, bearing the Title of \"An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, for establishing a Chinese Hospital to be supported by Voluntary Contributions, and for erecting the same into an Eleemosynary Corporation,”-being \"No. 3 of 1870.\"\n\nHis Excellency lays on the Table the Emigration Bill which was read a First time at a Meeting of the Council held on the 25th February last, together with Despatch No. 174 of 19th October, 1869, from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, respecting further Legislation on the subject. His Excellency then fully explains to the Council the future Policy of Her Majesty's Government as to Emigration from Hongkong, which the Bill is intended to carry out.\n\nDiscussion follows.\n\nAfter which, the Bill is read a Second time, amended in Committee, and passed, bearing the Title of \"An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, to make further Regulations respecting Chinese Passenger Ships,”-being \"No. 4 of 1870.\"\n\nHis Excellency then lays on the Table the Annual Report for 1869 from the Acting Captain Superintendent of Police, and calls attention at considerable length to the Statistics of Crime in the Colony, just completed, from 1865 to 1869, by which a great decrease in 1869, amounting to 22.6 per cent, is evidenced in Serious Offences as compared with 1868, and 51 per cent as illustrated by Comparative Returns of the latter half of 1865, and the latter half of 1869.\n\nHis Excellency concludes by stating that this Meeting of the Council may possibly, for some time at least, be the last over which he will be able to preside, as he is compelled by the state of his health to avail himself of the Leave of Absence to proceed to England, which had been accorded to him by the Secretary of State, though if possible, he would return from Japan for a short period to assist in passing the Estimates for 1871, before finally leaving for Europe.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-144 - Sir MacDonnell & Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1870 [3-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 282718, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-146 - Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1870 [10-12]", "page_number": 356, "title": "CO129-146 - Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1870 [10-12]", "content_text": "# THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 16TH APRIL, 1870.\n\n## VOTES AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL OF HONGKONG.\n\n### No. 2 of 1870.\n\n#### WEDNESDAY, 30TH MARCH, 1870.\n\n## PRESENT:\n\n* His Excellency Governor Sir RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL, C.B.\n* The Honorable the Chief Justice, (JOHN SMALE.)\n* The Honorable the Colonial Secretary, (JOHN GARDINER AUSTIN.)\n* The Honorable the Attorney General, (JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE.)\n* The Honorable the Colonial Treasurer, (FREDERICK H. A. FORTH.)\n* The Honorable HUGH BOLD GIBB,\n* Honorable PHINEAS RYRIE.\n* Honorable WILLIAM KESWICK.\n* Honorable RICHARD ROWETT.\n\n## ABSENT:\n\n* The Honorable the Auditor General, (WILLIAM H. RENNIE), absent on leave.\n\nThe Council meets this day at 3 P.M. by Special Summons.\n\nThe Minutes of the Council held on the 25th February last, are read and confirmed.\n\nThe Bill for the Preservation of Birds is read a Second time, amended in Committee, and passed, bearing the Title of \"An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, for the Preservation of Birds,\"--being \"No. 1 of 1870.\"\n\nThe Bill to co-operate with the Chinese Authorities for the Suppression of Piracy is brought forward for Second reading, and His Excellency states that this Bill had been introduced in pursuance of Instructions from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, which directed the re-enactment of Ordinance No. 2 of 1868, now expired. The Despatch (No. 148 of 14 September, 1869,) conveying the above Instructions, is then read and considered. After which, the Bill is read a Second time, committed, and passed, bearing the Title of \"An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, to enable the Governor to co-operate with the Chinese Authorities for the Suppression of Piracy,”-being \"No. 2 of 1870.”\n\nOn the representation of the Attorney General, who states that upon further consultation with the members of the Profession he is desirous to submit a more comprehensive measure which he has prepared on the subject of the Admission of Attornies, and the Chief Justice concurring, the Bill relating to the Admission of Attornies is withdrawn by order of His Excellency.\n\nThe Bill for the Establishment of a Chinese Hospital is read a Second time, amended in Committee and passed, bearing the Title of \"An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, for establishing a Chinese Hospital to be supported by voluntary Contributions, and for erecting the same into an Eleemosynary Corporation,\"-being \"No. 3 of 1870.\"\n\nHis Excellency lays on the Table the Emigration Bill which was read a First time at a Meeting of the Council held on the 25th February last, together with Despatch No. 174 of 19th October, 1869, from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, respecting further Legislation on the subject. His Excellency then fully explains to the Council the future Policy of Her Majesty's Government as to Emigration from Hongkong, which the Bill is intended to carry out.\n\nDiscussion follows.\n\nAfter which, the Bill is read a Second time, amended in Committee, and passed, bearing the Title of \"An Ordinance enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the Advice of the Legislative Council thereof, to make further Regulations respecting Chinese Passenger Ships,\"-being \"No. 4 of 1870.”\n\nHis Excellency then lays on the Table the Annual Report for 1869 from the Acting Captain Superintendent of Police, and calls attention at considerable length to the Statistics of Crime in the Colony, just completed, from 1865 to 1869, by which a great decrease in 1869, amounting to 36 per cent, is evidenced in Serious Offences as compared with 1868, and 51 per cent as illustrated by Comparative Returns of the latter half of 1865, and the latter half of 1869.\n\nHis Excellency concludes by stating that this Meeting of the Council may possibly, for some time at past, be the last over which he will be able to preside, as he is compelled by the state of his health to avail himself of the Leave of Absence to proceed to England, which had been accorded to him by the Secretary of State, though if possible, he would return from Japan for a short period to assist in passing the Estimates for 1871, before finally leaving for Europe.\n\n## THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 16TH APRIL, 1870.\n\nWhereupon, the Honorable the Chief Justice reads the following Address to His Excellency:\n\n\"As this is probably the last occasion on which I shall have an opportunity of addressing Your Excellency in public, I ask permission to say a few words before the business of this sitting is closed, to express the regret we feel that a long and most arduous tropical service has caused a break-down--we hope only a temporary break-down--of your strength, compelling you to seek restoration in quiet in England. We trust that whether in higher office, to which on restored health we may anticipate your elevation, or in a prolonged life of hardly earned and dignified ease at home, you may find renewed enjoyment of life. It has been the misfortune of some, at least of one of us, to have differed from the policy of the Executive in some very important particulars. Divergencies in opinion are daily incident to public life, even in England, much more do honest differences, (occasionally expressed in too warm a manner,) necessarily arise here, where there is so much that is to us unprecedented and anomalous. It would be inopportune and improper on this occasion to comment on the policy of the Government, but there is a great merit in an able and vigorous carrying out of a policy, and if we may be permitted to say so, to this great merit Your Excellency's Government is pre-eminently entitled. Guarding myself individually from expressing concurrence in--indeed, having dissented from some of the measures adopted, I am bound to state what I think all will concur in, that on the results--the increased security to life and property, and great decrease of crime to which I have elsewhere referred, the extent of which is confirmed by the Statistics which Your Excellency has this day laid on the table--the material improvements in roads, in buildings and in water supply--and also the increased educational advantages for the Chinese--on the foundation of a Chinese Hospital by Chinamen, helped by the Government, which we have this day established by Ordinance,--and on the display by the Chinese of increasing interest in public affairs, Your Excellency's Government may well be congratulated. The traffic, which having been so designated by one of Her Majesty's Ministers, I individually may be excused for calling the Coolie slave trade, has been watched and regulated with jealous care, ever since your attention was first directed to it. That watchfulness has culminated in the Ordinance No. 4 of 1870, the last, the crowning act, of this day's Legislation, which will render, as we hope, enforced labour of Coolie Emigrants from this colony impossible. A generous liberality on all occasions, especially during the recent Royal Visit, has well sustained the dignity of your high office as the Representative of Her Majesty. We should be wanting in the due expression of our own sentiments--the sentiments of the whole Community--did I omit to add that Lady MacDonnell has filled her exalted station with an urbanity of manner, and a kindness of heart, which will leave a grateful remembrance of the gentle courtesies which she has extended to all. No Lady who has presided at Government House, will have left the Colony, more deeply, or more generally regretted, than Lady MacDonnell.\"\n\nThe Honorable HUGH BOLD GIBB next rises, and on behalf of himself and the Unofficial Members of the Council, says:—\n\n\"I was not aware when entering this Chamber, that the Chief Justice had prepared an address to Your Excellency, or following the same course, I should perhaps have more distinctly stated what I wish now to say on behalf of my Non-official colleagues and myself. We endorse most heartily the expressions of good-will towards you that have fallen from the Chief Justice, for although we have sometimes found it our duty to differ from, and oppose the measures that have been brought forward in this Council, we have always felt that Your Excellency has been actuated with an honest desire to promote the well-being of the Colony. Apart, however, from the deliberations that have taken place around this table, having had an opportunity of becoming acquainted with the nature of some of your correspondence with Her Majesty's Government, I cannot help thinking and am glad to have this opportunity of saying so, that this Colony has great reason to be thankful for the manner in which you have guarded its interest. I refer more particularly to the establishment of the Chinese Cruisers and Revenue Stations around this Island, and further the proposed appointment of a Chinese Consul within the City, both matters, in my mind, affecting very seriously the interests of this Colony, and although your efforts in preventing their existence have not in the one case been so successful as could be wished, yet we owe you a deep debt of gratitude for your exertions to that end. Again we have more lately to thank you for the able manner in which you have backed up the Memorial by this Community, in reference to the Convention lately made by Sir RUTHERFORD ALCOCK, and the Chinese Government. I trust, Your Excellency, that you are leaving us but for a short time, and most deeply are we concerned that ill-health should have attacked you on the eve of your leaving to avail yourself of your well-earned leave. As regards the expressions of regard and esteem made by the Chief Justice towards Lady MACDONNELL, we most sincerely and cordially concur, and whether to return to this place or in the more genial climate of home, we trust she may enjoy a long and happy life.\"\n\nHis Excellency, addressing the Chief Justice, Mr. Gibb, and the other gentlemen, said that there were times when words to express one's feelings did not occur readily; and as he had no notice of these friendly intentions until he was just entering the Council room, he confessed he was...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-146 - Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1870 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 300423, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-178 - Governor Hennessy - 1877 [6-8]", "page_number": 165, "title": "CO129-178 - Governor Hennessy - 1877 [6-8]", "content_text": "# OFFENCES AND NUMBER OF CASES\n\nTHE CASES CONSISTED OF:-\n\nOFFENCE. | NO. OF CASES | NO. OF PRISONERS\n\nAbduction and Sale of Women and female Children | 14 | 28\n\nAbsent from Ship without Leave (see \"Desertion\") | | \n\nAbusive Language (see Breach of the Peace) | | \n\nAccessory after the Fact to Felony (see \"Felony \") | 4 | 7\n\ndo. before do. | | \n\nAccusing of Crime--Conspiracy for (see “Conspiracy”) | | \n\nAiding and Abetting in Felony (see Felony \") | 31 | 46\n\nAlms-soliciting (see \"Mendicancy \") | | \n\nAnimals Cruelty to | * | 3\n\nArms-Chinese not Holders of Night Passes found carrying | 21 | +3\n\nArmy and Navy-Desertion from H. M's (see \"Desertion\") | | \n\nArson, Artificers | | \n\nand Artizans---Misconduct as (see \"Workmen \") | | \n\nAssault--At or in connection with riotous Assemblages, | 47 | 65\n\n-Accompanied with Damage to Property, ... | 1 | 1\n\n-Common, | 162 | 190\n\n-Indecent, * | | \n\n-On Police in the Execution of their Duty, and obstructing and resisting Police, | 55 | 65\n\nWith Intent to rob. | 2 | 2\n\ndo. to commit an unnatural Offence,. | | \n\nWith wounding, ... | 18 | 22\n\nAttempting to commit Felony (see Felony \") | 11 | 11\n\nother Offences, | | \n\nextort by Threats, Menaces, &c., (see Threats, &c.\") | | \n\nbribe Police Constables (see \"Bribery\") | | \n\nAuctioneer Unlicensed, | | \n\nBanishment--Returning after (see also \"Conditional Pardon \"), | | \n\nBankrupt Fraud by, | 2 | 2\n\nBegging (see \"Mendicancy\") | | \n\nBreach of the Offences\") | | \n\nBestiality (see \"Unnatural Offences\") | | \n\nBirds-Breach of Ordinance for Preservation of, | | \n\nBirths and Deaths-Breach of Ordinance for Registration of | 12 | 13\n\nBoats-Larceny in the Harbour on board (see \"Larceny\") | | \n\n-Exposing Night Soil along the Praya in open (see \"Nuisances\") | | \n\n-Obstruction of Wharves by (see \"Obstruction \") | | \n\n-Refusing to pay Tare of... | | \n\n-Unlicensed Plying of,... | 371 | 495\n\nBoarding Houses for Seamen--Unlicensed, | | \n\nBrought forward,......... | 1,237 | 1,479\n\nDeaths and Births--Breach of Ordinance, for, (see \"Births, &c.\") | | \n\nDeportation from Canton to the Colony under H. M.'s Order in Council, 1865,... | | \n\nfrom Japan | | \n\nfrom Shanghai | | \n\nReturning from, (see \"Banishment\") | | \n\nDeported Persons-Harbouring, ... | | \n\nDesertion from Foreign Ships, | 86 | 86\n\nH. M.'s Army and Navy, | | \n\nBritish Merchant Ships.... | 918 | 918\n\nAssisting in the-of Soldiers and Seamen, | | \n\nDestitutes--see Vagrants, under \"Rogues and Vagabonds, &c.\"; | | \n\nDiseased Cattle--Bringing into the Colony, (see \"Unwholesome Provisions\") | | \n\nDisorderly Behaviour,-Accompanied with Damage to Property, | 21 | 21\n\nDrunkenness, Fighting, &., | *** | ***\n\nDistilling--Illicit | | \n\nWasting Water at public Hydrants,... | 11 | 11\n\nDogs-Allowing muzzled ferocious, to be at large, &c., | | \n\nStealing, | 77 | 77\n\nDomestic Servants-Misconduct as, | L | 1\n\nDredging in the Harbour at Anchorage for Ships of War, (see \"Harbour \") | | \n\nDriving furiously-see\" Furious driving \") | | \n\nDrags-Administering, | it | 1\n\nDrunkenness(see Disorderly Behaviour) | + | +\n\nDucks-Selling in the Streets, (see Breach of Markets Ord.\") | | \n\nDust Bins-Neglecting to clear out, (see \"Nuisances \") | | \n\n(see Nuisances \") | 12 | 15\n\nDwelling | | \n\nHouses Found by Night with Dangerous and Offensive Weapons with Intent to break into, (see \"Night\") | | \n\nFound by Night in with Intent to commit Felony, (see Night\"> | 31 | 32\n\n-Larceny in a (see\" Larceny \") | 347 | 351\n\nEarth-Cutting from prohibited Places, [see \"Trespass on Crown Land\"] | | \n\nEmbezzlement, | 23 | 23\n\nEmbracery, | | \n\nEnclosed Places and Gardens-Larceny of Vegetables and Fruits from, [see \"Larceny\") | | \n\nEncroachment on Crown Land, [see \"Trespass \"J. | | \n\nEscape of Prisoners from Gaol, | 10 | 10\n\nfrom Custody of Police, | 2 | 2\n\nNegligently allowing..... | *** | ***\n\nEvidence Giving wilful false, see \"False Charge, &c.\") | | \n\nExplosive Substances--Breach of Ordinance for Storage of, | | \n\nExtortion by Colour of Office, | 4 | 4\n\nby Menaces, | * | *\n\nby Threats, [see Threats. | | \n\nFalse Charge-Preferring or giving wilful false Evidence, ... | 4 | 4\n\nImprisonment, | J | 1\n\nPretences-obtaining Goods and Money by,... | | \n\nStatements-Seamen presenting false Characters and making, [see \"Seamen \") | | \n\nTrade Marks and Labels--Fraudulently using, (see \"Trade Marks\") | | \n\nFelony-Accessory before the Fact to, | | \n\nAiding and abetting in........ | | \n\nCarried forward.... | 3,441 | 4,521\n\nHouse Setting Fire to, (see \"Arson\") | | \n\nUncooled Coolie Lodging, (see \"Unlicensed \") | | \n\nSeamen's Boarding, (see “Unlicensed \") | | \n\nHydrant-Wasting Water at public, (see \"Disorderly Contact\") | | \n\nInciting a Person to commit a Misdemeanor, (see \"Misdemeanor\") | | \n\nIndecent Assaults, [see \"Assault\"} | | \n\nIndecent Exposure of Person by Bathing or otherwise, and Lewdness, | *** | ***\n\nInquests-Jurors disobeying Coroner's Summonses for Attendance at, [see \"Jurors *1. | | \n\nJapan-Deportation to this Colony from [see \"Deportation\"] | | \n\nJuror Neglecting to answer Coroner's Summons to attend Inquests,..... | | \n\nKidnapping, (see Child Stealing\" \"Abduction and Sale of Women and Female Children | | \n\nLabels and Trade Marks-Fraudulently using false, [see Trade marks, .\"] | | \n\nLarceny Cattle, [see Cattle Stealing\". | | \n\nChildren, [see Child Stealing\"], | | \n\n--Dogs, [see \"Dog Stealing \") | | \n\n-Common in | | \n\n-from Ships or Boats in the Harbour, | 32 | 32\n\n-from the Person, | 445 | 481\n\n-from Wreck,... | | \n\n-in a Dwelling House, | | \n\nof Vegetables and Fruits from Gardens and enclosed Places | 142 | 142\n\nLewdness, (see Indecent Exposure, &c.\") | | \n\nLibel, | 1 | 1\n\nLights-Chinese not carrying at Night, | | \n\nLodging Houses, unlicensed coolie, | | \n\nMails-Detention of H.M's, [see Post Office | | \n\nMalicious Injury to Property, ... | 12 | 12\n\nManslaughter.... | 3 | 3\n\nMine Store Dealers-Breach of Ordinance for, | | \n\nMarkets Ordinance-Breach of, ... | | \n\nMendicancy, | 2 | 3\n\nMendicants--Bringing into Colony, | | \n\nShip-of-War Anchorage--Dredging at, see Harbour | | \n\nMerchant Seamen-Desertion of (see Desertion \"]. | | \n\n-Refusal of Duty by British, [see Seamen,\" | | \n\nMilitary Law-Breach of, | | \n\nMisdemeanor Attempting to commit, | | \n\nInciting a Person to cominit ... | | \n\nMoney Changer--Unlicensed, | | \n\nMurder, | 7 | 7\n\nPiracy with, (see Piracy\") | | \n\nNight-being out without Lights at, (see \"Light\") | | \n\nCarried forward,... | 7,811 | 9,068\n\nPrisoners Negligently allowing the Escape of, (see Escape\") | | \n\n-Rescuing from Custody of Police, (see \"Police\") | | \n\nProvisions--Exposing for Sale or bringing into the Colony unwholesome. (see \"Unwholesome Provisions, &c.\") | | \n\nPublic Ways-flinging wet Clothes, &c., to dry over, (see \"Nuisances, &c.\") | 21 | 25\n\n-Obstruction of, (see \"Obstruction \") | | \n\nQuarantine Regulations-Breach of, | 17 | 17\n\nRape, | 2 | 2\n\nReceiving Stolen Goods, ... | 39 | 39\n\nRecognizances Breach of, ... | 11 | 11\n\nRegimental Clothes, &c., Purchasing or receiving, (see “Military Law | | \n\nRegistration of Births and Deaths-Breach of Ordinance for (see Births and Deaths\") | | \n\nfor, (see \"House\") | | \n\nReligious Ceremonies-Chinese carrying on without Authority, | | \n\nRendition of Chinese, (see Crimes, &c.\") | | \n\nRescuing Prisoners from Custody of Police, (see Police \") | | \n\nResisting Police-Assaulting, obstructing, or (see \"Police, &c.\") | | \n\nRiotous Assemblages, | *** | ***\n\nin connection Assault at, or in | | \n\nRegistration of Householders and Servants-Breach of Ordinance (see \"House\") | | \n\nwith, | 22 | 25\n\nRobbery from the Person, | 427 | 449\n\nOn the Highways with Arms or with Violence.... | 1 | 2\n\nRogues and Vagabonds--As Street Gamblers and Watchmen to Gamblers | | \n\nAs suspicious Characters... | | \n\nAs Vagrants (Europeans and Indians), | | \n\nRubbish and Filth-Allowing Accumulation in House, or immediate Vicinity thereof, of, (see “Nuisances\") | | \n\nRubbish and Filth-Throwing into the Streets, (see \"Nuisances\") | | \n\nRubbish and Filth-Trowing into the Harbour or on the Beach, (see \"Nuisances\") | | \n\nSaflors-Assisting in the Desertion of, (see \"Desertion \") | | \n\nSemmer-Harbouring deserted, | | \n\nRoads and Streets-Obstruction of, (see \"Obstruction, &c.” | | \n\nlibbery Assault with intent to commit (see “Assault, &e.”) | | \n\nwith Wounding, | 5 | 5\n\n-Desertion of Merchant, (see \"Desertion.\") | | \n\nRefusal of Duty by British Merchant, | 16 | 16\n\nSeamen's Boarding House, unlicensed, | | \n\nEffects, Dabution of | | \n\naking false Statement as to Ships in which they served, and presenting false Characters, | 5 | 5\n\nServants Breach of Ordinance for Registration of Householders and, (see House | | \n\n-Found at, armed with Dangerous and offensive Weapons, with intent to break into Dwelling Houses, f | | \n\n-Found in Dwelling Houses by-with intent to commit | | \n\ntherein,... | 2 | 2\n\nServants--Misconduct as Domestic, (see Domestic Servants | | \n\nShip or Boat in the Harbour- Larceny on board, (see “Larceny\",)] | | \n\nShooting with Intent to Murder, ... | € | 1\n\nFelony | | \n\ntherein,... | | \n\nNoises by | | \n\nStopkeepers-Obstruction of Roads by, (see \"Obstruction\") | | \n\nSoldiers-Assisting in the Desertion of, (see\" Desertion\") | | \n\nSpirituous and fermented Liquors--Breach of Ordinance for | 55 | 55\n\nRetail of | 1 | 1\n\nStamp Ordinance-Breach of | | \n\nStealing Cattle, [see Cattle Stealing. | | \n\nChildren, Case Child Stealing \"]. | 10 | 10\n\nplaying at the Game called “Chai-Mui”. | 24 | 34\n\nWatchmen, | | \n\nPasses-being out without, (see\" Passes \") | | \n\n-Chinese carrying Arms, not being Holders of Night | | \n\n(see \"Arms\") | | \n\nNuisances--Allowing Dirt and Filth to remain on Premises or | 14 | 14\n\nBreach of Ordinance for Cargo (see Cargo Boats\") | | \n\nBodily Injuries Cutting and wounding and inflicting (see “Cal-ting, &c) | | \n\nBonfires-Firing Crackers or making, | 847 | 847\n\nBribery,....... | 4 | 4\n\nBritish Merchant Seamen-Refusal of Duty by (see Seamen \") | | \n\nBrothels-Unlicensed (see\" Contagious Diseases Ordinance\") | | \n\nBuggery (see Unnatural Offences\") | | \n\nBuildings Breach of Ordinance for, | A | 3\n\nBurglary. | 10 | 10\n\nBurial of Chinese elsewhere than in a Cemetery,... | 1 | \"1\"\n\nCargo Boats-Breach of Ordinance for, | 3 | 11\n\nCattle-Bringing into the Colony diseased (see Unwholesome Provisions\") | | \n\n-Turned loose on Public Ways, | 54 | 54\n\nStealing, | 2 | 2\n\nChairs and Vehicles-Breach of Ordinance for Street, | 190 | 190\n\nChair Coolies-Obstruction of Public Ways by (see \"Obstruction\") | | \n\nChair Hire--Refusing to pay Vehicle or (see Chairs and Vehicles\") | | \n\nAttempting to commit, | | \n\n-Conspiracy | | \n\n\" | | \n\ncommit. [see \"Night, &c.\") | | \n\nFighting, [see\" Disorderly Behaviour \"1. | | \n\nIsee Conspiracy \"3. | | \n\na Cemetery (\"see Burial\") | | \n\nFire Arms-Discharging, | | \n\nFish-Selling in the Streets, [see Breach of Markets Ord.\") | | \n\nForgery,***** | | \n\nForcible Entry,... | | \n\nFowls-Selling in the Streets (see \"Breach of Markets Ord.\") | | \n\nFraud by Bankrupt (see \"Bankrupt\") | | \n\nConspiracy to commit (see Conspiracy\") | | \n\nof (see Furious | | \n\nChai Mai--Night Noises by playing at the Game called (see \"Night\") | | \n\nChild Stealing. | | \n\nChinese--Burial of. elsewhere than in | | \n\nBurial) | | \n\n-uot Holders of Night Passes found carrying Arm (see \"Arms\") | | \n\n-Offenders found in the Colony after Banishment under Ordinance 9 of 1857 and in Branch of Conditional Pardon under Ordinance i of 1860, (see \"Banishment and Conditional Pardoa\") | | \n\nChinese Passengers' Act, 1855. Breach of | | \n\nChinese Territory-Crimes and Offences écnumitted in, | | \n\nClothes-Hanging to dry over Public Ways, wet, (see \"Nuisances\") | | \n\n-Purchasing or Receiving Regimental (see \"Military Law\") | | \n\nCoin-Offences relating ta, ... | | \n\nCommon Assault, (see \"Assault\") | | \n\nLarceny, (see Larceny\"} | | \n\nConditional Pardon-Breach of | | \n\nConfederating with Pirates, free Piracy\") | | \n\nConspiracy to accuse of Crime, | 11 | 11\n\nto commit Felony, | 19 | 32\n\nto defraud, | 7 | 7\n\nF | | \n\nFruits and Vegetables in Gardens and enclosed Places--Larceny of | | \n\nGambling\" | | \n\nof Ordinance for Suppression of, | 2 | 2\n\nin the Streets, treated as Obstruction of Public Ways, | 152 | 248\n\nBegistered Householder permitting, in a House (see \"Householder, &c.\") | | \n\nof Ordinance | | \n\nfor, | | \n\nGaol-Breach | | \n\nfor, | | \n\nGardens and enclosed Places-Larceny of Vegetables and Fruits from (see \"Larceny \") | | \n\nGunpowder-Breach of Ordinance for Storage of, | | \n\nHarbour and Coasts Ordinance-Brezok of, | 21 | 21\n\nDredging at Anchorage for Ships of War in the,... | | \n\nLarceny on board Boat or Ship in the (see \"Larceny \") | | \n\nRegulations Breach of, | 11 | 11\n\n** Throwing Rubbish on the Beach or into the (see \"Ruisances\") | | \n\nHawkers calling out in the Sale of their Wares (see \"Street | 684 | 684\n\nDogs, see Dog Stealing \"1. | | \n\nin immediate Vicinity thereof, ... | | \n\nStolen Good-Receiving, Isee\" Receiving, &c.\"] | 27 | 27\n\n-Exposing Night Soil in the Streets in uncovered Buckets and in open Boats, | 20 | 20\n\nStones and other Missiles--Discharging to Damage of Persons | 10 | 10\n\nor Property. | 4 | 4\n\n-Hanging wet Clothes, &c., to dry over Public Ways | | \n\nPigs without a Licence, | 49 | #49\n\nStragglers from British and Foreign Ships (see * Desertion\") | 25 | 20\n\nCoolies and Shopkeepers, ... | | \n\ngerous | 15 | 15\n\nWeapons Found at Night with Dangerous and | | \n\nBearing Possession of, (see Weapons \").... | | \n\npared, | | \n\n--- Rubbish, &, into the Streets.... | | \n\nCalls of Nature in the Streets, | | \n\nDust Bins,... | | \n\nE Kablish into the Harbour or on the Beach, | | \n\nObscene Pictures, exposing for Sale, | | \n\nObstruction or Resisting Police, (see \"Police \" | | \n\nof Bonds and Streets, &c., by Hawkers, Chair | | \n\nof Wharves by Boat People,... | | \n\nOffensive Trades-Carrying on Dangerous and (see \"Dangerous and Offensive Trades\") | | \n\nwith Intent to break into a Dwelling House (see \"Night\"), | | \n\nOpium-Breach of Ordinance for Preparation and Sale of pre-pared, | | \n\nPassengers Act of 1855--Breach of Chinese, (see \"Chinese, &e.\" | | \n\nPasses-Chinese carrying Arms, not being Holders of Night, (see\" Arms\") | | \n\nChinese out at Night withunt.... | | \n\nPawning--Ilegally, | | \n\nPawnbrokers---Breach of Ordinance for, | T- | 1\n\nPerjury (see also Preferring false charge and giving wilful false Testimony\") | | \n\neglecting to clean out Dust Bins, and throwing i | 118 | 118\n\n118 | 118 | 37 | 37\n\n87 | 87 | 10 | 10\n\n82 | 82 | 1 | 1\n\n788 | 738 | ŠU | 50\n\n>1 | | | \n\nStremas Defiling, ... | | \n\nStreet Chairs and Vehicles-Breach of Ordinance for, [see \"Chairs and Vehicles\") | | \n\nObstraction of itoads and, see \"Obstruction\"] | | \n\nGamblers and Watchnen to Gamblers, [see Rogues and Vagabonds\"] | | \n\nStreet Gambling, treated as Obstruction of Pablie Ways, Lee Gambling \"1 | | \n\nby Hawkers, t | | \n\nStreet Noises by | | \n\nSuspicions Charreters, see Rogues and Vagabonis \"]. | | \n\nTheats--Attempting to extort by Menaces, itd... | | \n\nof Violence to the P'erson, *** | | \n\nwith Intent to extor! Money, | | \n\nTrade Marks and Labels-Fraudulently using falur, | 12 | 12\n\nTrees, &c.—Cutting and destroying. | 248 | 190\n\n--Unlawful Possession of Shrabs, R., see Unlaw-ful Possession 1 | | \n\n18 | 18 | | | \n\nTurf-Cutting from Crown Land without Permit. [see \"Tres-pass on Crown Land \"3. | | \n\nTrespass on Crown Lead, | 94 | 9.1\n\nUnifiem, &c.Soldiers disposing of, [see \"Alitary Law \"1 | | \n\nUnlawful Possession of Poperty, | 28# | 9900\n\n291 | 791 | | | \n\nof Trees, Shrubs, Acc., | 71 | 71\n\n10 | 11 | | | \n\nFnatural Offence, | | \n\nAssault with Intent to commit an, [see | | \n\nAssaults\") | | \n\nUnwholesome Provisions-Exposing for Sale or bringing into) the Colony,... | 26 | 36\n\n17 | 2 | | | \n\nVehicles and Chairs Breach of Ordinaree for, [see-Chies, &c.\" | | \n\nWatelinen to Gunblers, Lee hogues and Vagabonds \"2. | | \n\nMisconduct as Private, | 12 | 12\n\n11 | 34 | | | \n\nConstables of Police Assuait, &c., on, (see Assaults\") | | \n\nAssuming name & Designation of (see \"Police\" | | \n\nAttempt to bribe (see \"Bribery\"}, | | \n\nMisconduct as (see \"Police\") | | \n\nContagious Diseases Ordinance-Offences against. ... | | \n\nContempt of Court, | | \n\nCoolie Lodging Houses-Unlicensed (see \"Unlicensed. &c.\"), | | \n\nCoroner's Sntamouses to attend Inquests-Disobedience of by Juror, [see Jurors \"1. | | \n\nCrackers--Making Bonfires or Firing, see Bonfires, &c.\"] | | \n\nCrime--Conspiracy to accuse of, see \"Conspiracy\") | | \n\nCrimes and Offences committed in Chinese Territory [Sce \"Chinese”) | | \n\nCrown Land--Trespass c, [sco Trespass \") | | \n\nCruelty to Animals, see \"Arimals\") | | \n\nCutting and Wounding with intent, &c., | 16 | 41\n\nDamage to Property-reec\" Malicious Injuries\") | | \n\nDangerous and offensive Trades,-Carrying on, | 6 | B\n\nNeises\") | | \n\nObstruction of Public Ways by (see \"Obstruction\"), | | \n\nHawkers-Unlicensed, ... | | \n\nPies-Unlicensed Keeping of, (see \"Nuisances, &c.\") | | \n\nPiracy, | 722 | 722\n\nConfederating with Firates, | | \n\nHouse Breaking, | 4 | 4\n\nHouseholder. Registered, permitting Gambling in a House (see \"Gambling\"), | 37 | 7\n\nHouseholders and Servants-Breach of Ordinance for Registra-tion of,... | | \n\nHouse-Larceny in a (see \"Larceny \") | | \n\n-Registered Householder permitting Gambling in a (sec \"Gambling\"); | | \n\n-Found by Night in a-with Intent to commit Felony therein (see Night\") | | \n\nHouse--Found by Night with Daugerous and Offensive Weapons with Intent to break into a Dwelling (see \"Night, &c.\") | | \n\nWeapons--Found by Night with, with Intent to break into a Dwelling House (see Night) | | \n\nCarried forward.... | 7,811 | 9,068\n\n• One Prisoner was convicted of three separate Offences, and was sentenced separately for each,\n\nCarried forward.... | L | 3,441 | 4,521\n\nPiracy, with Murder, | | | \n\nPlacards-Posting. | | | \n\nPolice-Assaulting, obstracting or resisting, (see \"asnault\") | 19 | 19\n\nAssuming Name, Designation, &n, of Constable of, | 3 | 3\n\n-Escape of Prisoners from Custody of (see \"Escape, &e=”) | | | \n\n-Rescuing Prisoners from Custody of, | | | \n\nPolice Constables-Bribery, or attempting to bribe, (see “Bri-bery, &\") | | | \n\nMisconduct as,.**. | | | \n\nPosting Bills on Walls, &c., (see Placards\") | | | \n\nPost Office-Breach of Ordinance for, | | | \n\nPoultry--Selling in the Streets, (see \"Breach of Markets Ordi-hance\") | | | \n\nPreservation of Birds-Breach of Ordinance for, (see \"Birds, &c.\") | | | \n\nPrisoners-Escape from Custody of Police of, (see Escapo \") | | | \n\nGaol of, (see Escape\") | | | \n\nCarried forward,.. | 7,811 | 9,068\n\nMagistracy, Hongkong, 19th February, 1877.\n\nfree Night \"1. | | | \n\nNight Noises by, (see | | | \n\nWeapons--Found by Night with dangerous and offensive, with Intent to break into Dwelling Ifenses, Esco Night \"3. | | | \n\nWeapons-Having Passession of dangerous aut fensive, | | | \n\nWeights and Measures-Breach of Odinauce for, | | | \n\nWitnesses -Intimidating, see \"Einbracery \"). | | | \n\n* | | | \n\n12 | 12 | 3 | 3\n\n૩ | | | \n\n-Orderni to give Security for Appearance.... | | | \n\nBeat People of, see Obstruction\") | | | \n\nWharves-Ostuction by | | | \n\nWork:en-latinailating.... | | | \n\nMiscondnet as,... | | | \n\nWounding-Assault with, (see Assault \") | | | \n\n1+ | | | \n\n-Cutting and inflicting bodily injuries, (see \"Cut-ting. Scc.\") | | | \n\nWounding Robbery from the Person with, (see \"Robbery \") | | | \n\nWreck-Larceny from, (seo Larceny \") | | | \n\n7,811 | 9,068 | | | \n\nTOTAL... | # | 9,108 | 10,426\n\n+ Some of the Prisoners in these cases were also convicted of mulieansed Hawking.\n\nC. MAY, 1st Police Magistrate.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-178 - Governor Hennessy - 1877 [6-8].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 302020, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-181 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [1-8]", "page_number": 181, "title": "CO129-181 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [1-8]", "content_text": "# THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 16TH FEBRUARY, 1878.\n\ncannot be far short of 200 Portuguese trained in the school, and that all these, practically speaking, leave the school able to speak English more or less.\"\n\n## Me 33.\n\n17. If His Excellency will take the same reply from me now, I can give it, without hesitation or reservation, as regards the boys at the Central School.\n\n18. That more can be done at the Central School as it is, than is being done, to teach English, I believe to be impossible: that more could be done at the school as I should like to see it, than is done now, it would be impossible to deny; but, to reach that stage, the new school must be built, more accommodation provided, smaller classes formed, a stronger staff of teachers obtained, and a playground supplied as the most practical of all forms of teaching the boys to speak English.\n\n19. I have repeatedly referred to all these matters in my Annual Reports, but it is now necessary to repeat and emphasize them; and, as much evil must result to the school from the currency given to the impression that is now prevailing, I venture to request that His Excellency will permit the publication of this letter in next Saturday's Gazette, in order that this serious public misapprehension may be authoritatively removed on the earliest possible occasion.\n\nI have the honour to be,\nSir,\nYour most obedient Servant,\n**FREDERICK STEWART**,\nInspector of Schools,\n\nThe Governor to the Colonial Secretary.\n\nAs the Colonial Secretary was with me when I put the questions to Mr. STEWART about the amount of English spoken in the double class-room where there were one hundred and fifty boys being taught by three Chinese teachers, and about the amount of English spoken by the six hundred and ten pupils in the whole school for 1877, I should be glad if he would record his recollection of Mr. STEWART's answer.\n\n# THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 16TH FEBRUARY, 1878.\n\n## GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.\n\nThe following Return, received from Mr. JOHN JACK, of the quantity of Spirits distilled at the Hongkong Distillery, is published for general information.\n\n| Proof Gallons |\n| --- |\n| Spirits manufactured during the quarter ending 11th February, 1878,..........................14,520 |\n\nBy Command,\n**J. GARDINER AUSTIN**, Colonial Secretary,\nColonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 15th February, 1878.\n\n## No. 34.\n## GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.\n\nThe following Return of Convictions under the Cargo-boat Ordinance, No. 15 of 1860, is published for general information.\n\nBy Command,\n**J. GARDINER AUSTIN**, Colonial Secretary.\nColonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 15th February, 1878.\n\nConvictions under Ordinance No. 15 of 1860, namely, the Cargo-boat Ordinance, for the Year ending 31st December, 1877.\n\n| DATE | NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO THE SUIT | OFFENCE | SENTENCE | REMARKS |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| 1877. April | 6 R. at complaint of James H. Grimes, Inspector of Police, European, Plaintiff, Chang-a-Kau, Boatman of a Cargo-boat, Chinese, Defendant. | Plying an unlicensed Cargo-boat on the 5th April. | Bail forfeited. | Defendant was bailed out at the Water Police Station in the sum of $5, and failed to put in an appearance. |\n| May | 14 R. at complaint of William McClellan, Inspector of Junks, European, Plaintiff, 1. Wong-a-Yeung, Owner of Cargo-boat No. 361, 2. Lo-a-Tai, Boatwoman of Cargo-boat No. 109, 3. Chau-tin-Hi, Owner of Cargo-boat No. 138, Chinese, Defendants. | Employing unregistered persons on board their Cargo-boats on the 11th May. | Fined $5 each, in default 14 days imprisonment with hard labour. | Fines paid. |\n| May | 14 R. at complaint of William McClellan, Inspector of Junks, European, Plaintiff, 1. Leung-a-Ming, Master of Cargo-boat No. 160, 2. Ching-Tun-Ip, Master of Cargo-boat No. 202, 3. Leung-a-Sam, Master of Cargo-boat No. 299, Chinese, Defendants. | Employing unregistered persons on board their Cargo-boats on the 10th May. | First and second Defendants fined $5 each, in default 14 days imprisonment with hard labour. Third Defendant fined $10, in default 14 days' imprisonment with hard labour. | Fines paid. |\n| July | 14 R. at complaint of William McClellan, Inspector of Junks, European, Plaintiff, Tang-a-Ling, Master of Night Soil Boat No. 11, Chinese, Defendant. | Carrying cargo in his boat without a Licence on the 14th July. | Fined $2, in default 7 days' imprisonment. | Fine paid. |\n| Oct. | 1 R. at complaint of William McClellan, Inspector of Junks, European, Plaintiff, 1. Hu-a-Sing, Owner of Cargo-boat No. 75, 2. Ho-a-Kau, Owner of Cargo-boat No. 96, 3. Leung-Hoi-Wan, Owner of Cargo-boat No. 305, 4. Leung-Kau-Yau, Owner of Cargo-boat No. 111, 5. Leung-a-Kau, Owner of Cargo-boat No. 372, Chinese, Defendants. | Making alterations in their Cargo-boats on or about the 27th September. | Cautioned & discharged. | |\n\n## Minute by the Colonial Secretary.\n\nThe information given to Your Excellency by Mr. STEWART conveyed an impression to my mind that only 50 or 60 of the boys knew anything of English. Indeed when these figures were given in Your Excellency's speech I understood Mr. STEWART to say, when turning round to me, that he feared they were in excess.\n\nI must confess that in consequence I left the school with an unfavourable impression as to the extent to which instruction was being given in English, as I hold that political and commercial interests render the study of English of primary importance in all Government schools.\n\nI quite agree, however, with Mr. STEWART that we should obtain better results with more accommodation, smaller classes and a stronger staff of teachers.\n\n**J. GARDINER AUSTIN**, Colonial Secretary.\n13th February, 1878.\n\n## Minute by His Excellency the Governor.\n\nSend copies of these Minutes to Mr. STEWART, and say I should be glad if he would prepare an approximate estimate of the total cost of the whole scheme of Government Education, assuming that the Legislative Council will concur with Mr. AUSTIN in thinking that political and commercial interests render the study of English of primary importance in all Government Schools, and that as regards the principal Government School (the Central School) smaller classes be formed, and a stronger staff of teachers be obtained.\n\nAs regards providing increased accommodation, I signed warrants last year for over ten thousand dollars for this object, in addition to more than forty thousand spent by my predecessor; and in this year's Estimates, I have taken a further vote on account of the new Central School of $25,000.\n\n## No. 32.\n## GOVERNMENT NOTIFICATION.\n\nApplications will be received at this Office for the appointment of Fourth Master at the Central School during the absence on leave of the Head Master, Mr. STEWART.\n\nSalary $120 per month and an Allowance of $30 per month for House Rent. Applications to be addressed to the Office of the undersigned.\n\nFor further particulars, apply to F. STEWART, Esquire, Head Master, Central School.\n\nBy Command,\n**J. GARDINER AUSTIN**, Colonial Secretary.\nColonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 15th February, 1878.\n\nHarbour Department, Hongkong, 14th February, 1879.\n\n**H. G. TROMSETT, R.N.**, Harbour Master, &c.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-181 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [1-8].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 302577, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 98, "title": "CO129-182 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [9-12]", "content_text": "## 94\n\n14. The simple fact however is quite otherwise. Every boy in the Central School is taught English during four hours every day, a period which I think it impossible to extend with any good result. In addition to this teaching of English, but in subordination to it, the boys are also taught their own language by non-English-speaking masters; for I hold that no boy can master a foreign language without a competent knowledge of his own, unless he resides in the country in which the foreign language is spoken.\n\n15. When I said to His Excellency that only 50 or 60 of the boys spoke English, I referred to those who had been some years in the school, and who were about to leave it on obtaining employment. When I used the word \"imperfectly,\" I did so in contradistinction to the facility with which one speaks a foreign language from actual experience in life, as apart from the slow and imperfect speaking of it which one acquires by learning it only from the lips of a master: and I did not for a moment intend to suggest that none of the others knew anything of English.\n\n16. In the \"China Mail's\" account of the proceedings already referred to, His Excellency is reported to have said, \"I asked His Lordship when I came in this morning what was the number of Portuguese in the school, and what number left the school, able to speak English. He answered, first, that there cannot be far short of 200 Portuguese trained in the school, and that all these, practically speaking, leave the school able to speak English more or less.\"\n\n17. If His Excellency will take the same reply from me now, I can give it, without hesitation or reservation, as regards the boys at the Central School.\n\n18. That more can be done at the Central School as it is, than is being done, to teach English, I believe to be impossible: that more could be done at the school as I should like to see it, than is done it would be impossible to deny; but, to reach that stage, the new school must be built, more accommodation provided, smaller classes formed, a stronger staff of teachers obtained, and a playground supplied as the most practical of all forms of teaching the boys to speak English.\n\n19. I have repeatedly referred to all these matters in my Annual Reports, but it is now necessary to repeat and emphasize them; and, as much evil must result to the school from the currency given to the impression that is now prevailing, I venture to request that His Excellency will permit the publication of this letter in next Saturday's **Gazette**, in order that this serious public misapprehension may be authoritatively removed on the earliest possible occasion.\n\nI have the honour to be,\nSir,\nYour most obedient Servant,\n**FREDERICK STEWART, Inspector of Schools**.\n\nThe Governor to the Colonial Secretary.\n\nAs the Colonial Secretary was with me when I put the questions to Mr. STEWART about the amount of English spoken in the double class-room where there were one hundred and fifty boys being taught by three Chinese teachers, and about the amount of English spoken by the six hundred and ten pupils in the whole school for 1877, I should be glad if he would record his recollection of Mr. STEWART's answer.\n\n**J. POPE HENNESSY**.\n\n12th February, 1878,\n\n**Minute by the Colonial Secretary**\n\nThe information given to Your Excellency by Mr. STEWART Conveyed an impression to my mind that only 50 or 60 of the boys knew anything of English. Indeed when these figures were given in Your Excellency's speech I understood Mr. STEWART to say, when turning round to me, that he feared they were in excess.\n\nI must confess that in consequence I left the school with an unfavourable impression as to the extent to which instruction was being given in English, as I hold that political and commercial interests render the study of English of primary importance in all Government schools.\n\nI quite agree, however, with Mr. STEWART that we should obtain better results with more accommodation, smaller classes and a stronger staff of teachers.\n\n**J. GARDINER AUSTIN, Colonial Secretary**.\n\n13th February, 1878.\n\n**Minute by His Excellency the Governor**\n\nSend copies of these Minutes to Mr. STEWART, and say I should be glad if he would prepare an approximate estimate of the total cost of the whole scheme of Government Education, assuming that the Legislative Council will concur with Mr. AUSTIN in thinking that political and commercial interests render the study of English of primary importance in all Government Schools: and that as regards the principal Government School (the Central School) smaller classes be formed, and a stronger staff of teachers be obtained.\n\nAs regards providing increased accommodation, I signed warrants last year for over ten thousand dollars for this object, in addition to more than forty thousand spent by my predecessor; and in this year's Estimates, I have taken a further vote on account of the new Central School of $25,000.\n\n[No. 29.]\n\n**J. POPE HENNESSY**.\n\n14th February, 1878.\n\n**GOVERNMENT CENTRAL SCHOOL, HONGKONG**, 1st March, 1878.\n\nSIR--I have the honour to inform you that this school was re-opened to-day after the Chinese New Year holidays. There were 218 applicants for admission, and only 40 vacant seats.\n\nI have the honour to be,\nSir, Your most obedient Servant,\n**FREDERICK STEWART, Head Master**.\n\nThe Honourable J. GARDINER AUSTIN, C.M.G., Colonial Secretary.\n\n**Minute by His Excellency the Governor**\n\nRequest Mr. STEWART to have a list made out of all the pupils now on the books of the Central School, marking with red ink the names of the pupils who can speak English.\n\n**J. POPE HENNESSY**.\n\n**Minute by the Inspector of Schools**\n\nIn accordance with His Excellency's request, I enclose a list of the names, 453 in number, of all the scholars on the books of the Central School at this date. They compose the nine English classes into which the scholars are divided.\n\nAs the \"speaking of English,\" that is, the ability to converse in the English language, is a term of variable application, I have thought it advisable to arrange the list under the following headings, namely:\n\n1. Those marked A, numbering 8, who are English or other European boys speaking English idiomatically.\n2. Those marked B, numbering 33, who are European and Indian boys speaking English with considerable fluency.\n3. Those marked C, numbering 18, who are Chinese boys speaking English with considerable fluency.\n4. Those marked D, numbering 58, who speak English with diffidence.\n5. Those marked E, numbering 336, who cannot be said to \"speak English\" at all.\n\n**Government Central School**, 5th March, 1878.\n\n**Minute by His Excellency the Governor**\n\n1. Publish in the **Gazette** Mr. STEWART'S report on the result of his own examination of the pupils in the Central School as to their capacity for speaking English.\n2. To the register number of each pupil should be added his nationality, his age, length of time at the Central School, and (using in every case the words of Mr. STEWART) his power of speaking English.\n3. In the list as copied by one of my clerks a mistake was made respecting No. 255 who was actually only twenty-two months at the School, whereas in the copy put into my hands he was stated to have been 10 years and 2 months at School.\n\nBefore sending Mr. STEWART's report and the list of pupils to the printer, I should be glad if Dr. EITEL would be good enough to have the list carefully compared with the results obtained by Mr. STEWART at his examination in last March and with the records of the Central School.\n\n**J. POPE HENNESSY**.\n\n30th April, 1878.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-182 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [9-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 302696, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 218, "title": "CO129-182 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [9-12]", "content_text": "## SUPPLEMENT TO THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS.\n\nMr. W. Ledes-We have had his resolution before the meeting, seconded by a member of the bar, who understood what he was saying, and further.\n\nMr. Maura-I would like to put a rider to the amendment, if I have a right to do so.\n\nThe CHAIRMAN-A perfect right.\n\nMr. Marra-I propose that the amendment proposed by the Government officials present at this meeting, Messrs. Francis and Hayllar, be not accepted.\n\nThe CHAIRMAN-Gentlemen, I want your approval or disapproval of this amendment. Those in favour of the amendment will be good enough to hold up their hands.\n\nMr. HAYLLAR (M.L.C., Q.C.) said--Perhaps, gentlemen, as a man who took part in a commission of some importance some years ago, I may be permitted to make one or two observations.\n\nThe CHAIRMAN-I think we have no reason to go any further.\n\nMr. Francis advanced to the table and, having a copy of the resolution given to him, struck out from it the words \"which in the opinion, etc.\" He then said--They came prepared to protect their own lives. They came to take life doubtless if they were attacked.\n\nGentlemen, I am very much obliged to you for leading me a little closer to the point, and that is this--We find a body of about eighty men, armed and prepared to take life if they were attacked.\n\nMr. Maura-I don't suppose there is any doubt in the mind of any gentleman present as to the state of insecurity in the colony. Property is in great danger and life is in great danger.\n\nThe CHAIRMAN-Gentlemen, I put it to you whether, when these men came here, they in the least degree considered whether, if caught, they were going to be whipped on the breech or on the back.\n\nMr. HAYLLAR-Well, gentlemen, I don't think that is a thing that could enter into their consideration.\n\nTwo hands were held up.\n\nThe CHAIRMAN-Now, I must put the resolution, which is \"that during the last eighteen months, etc.\"\n\nCarried with three dissentients.\n\nMr. Ng CHOY-The Chinese cannot hear what is going on.\n\nThe CHAIRMAN-Why do they not come forward? We must go on with the meeting.\n\nMr. Ng CHOY-I want the resolution to be put again.\n\nThe CHAIRMAN-I cannot put a resolution which has been carried; we must go on with the meeting.\n\nMr. Lowcock-We cannot help it. My amendment is substantially that the two questions should be separated.\n\nThe CHAIRMAN-You gave me a resolution which has been seconded by Mr. Hayllar.\n\nThe CHAIRMAN-Gentlemen, the amendment being \"That during the past 18 months, life and property in this colony have been seriously jeopardised and a feeling of insecurity, the result of recent events, has been engendered.\"\n\nMr. GRANVILLE SHARP-I have been requested to second this resolution. I am very thankful that, owing to a favourable North-east wind, I am able most thoroughly and heartily to protest against this party character being thrown into this loyal meeting.\n\nMr. FRANCIS made an attempt to speak again but was met with a cry of \"You don't know what you are talking about.\"\n\nThe CHAIRMAN-Am I to put the resolution to the meeting?\n\nMr. FRANCIS-My amendment is that the resolution as made be put.\n\nThe CHAIRMAN-Allow me to call you to order.\n\nThat in the opinion of this meeting there is no necessity for any change in the laws and police regulations of the colony, but that the remedy for the existing state of affairs is in a firm and unfettered administration of the laws as they stand.\n\nThe CHAIRMAN-What did I read out?\n\nMr. FRANCIS-You read out the first words, which I left standing.\n\nMr. HAYLLAR-Pray, let me say that Mr. Gibb put to the meeting the resolution I seconded, as I understood it.\n\nThe CHAIRMAN-Order, gentlemen, please.\n\nMr. HAYLLAR-Now, gentlemen, Mr. Francis has moved an amendment to a resolution as to undue leniency.\n\nThe CHAIRMAN-I think if I put it here it meets the case.\n\nWe are surrounded by a native population of one hundred to one, and it is only by a preservation of that superstitious veneration for the prestige of the British character by which we are enabled to keep the masses of the Chinese in check.\n\nA Voice-For boys and girls.\n\nMr. HAYLLAR-I have no doubt the honourable gentleman in his childhood has often experienced it.\n\nMr. FRANCIS-May I be allowed to state my amendment in my own words?\n\nThe CHAIRMAN-They are your words. A gentleman has seconded your resolution.\n\nThe Chinamen then, at a signal from Mr. Ng Choy, moved off the ground, cheering as they went.\n\nMr. W. H. FORBES-The second resolution, which I propose, is...\n\nMr. RUTTONJEE-The next resolution has been truly described by Mr. Keswick to be the most violent and the most demoralised of the whole Chinese empire.\n\nMr. FRANCIS-Another observation that might be made is that no burglar in the existing state of the law could be punished by flogging unless he was caught with weapons in his hand.\n\nThe CHAIRMAN-This has nothing to do with it.\n\nMr. Keswick-The resolution says nothing about the numbers of the police force.\n\nMr. FRANCIS-My suggestion with reference to that is that the laws want altering and the police force re-organising.\n\nThe CHAIRMAN-Will any gentleman move an amendment, or does any gentleman wish to make any remarks on the resolution?\n\nMr. T. I. BOWLER-As it is evident that attempts have been made to cause dissension between the Chinese and Europeans, I move \"That this meeting views with annoyance and displeasure the efforts which have been made to bring about dissension between the Chinese and Europeans.\"\n\nThe CHAIRMAN-You are not speaking to the resolution, Mr. Bowler.\n\nThe resolution was then put and was carried, no hands being held up against it.\n\nMr. FRANCIS-I am simply speaking to the resolution. I believe that for many of the offences committed it is the only proper punishment.\n\nThe CHAIRMAN-You should move a resolution.\n\nMr. FRANCIS-I should like to speak on the subject of the resolution. With many of the assertions contained in that resolution I concur.\n\nThe resolution was then put and carried.\n\nMr. FRANCIS-Well, gentlemen, if you want anything like fair play in the discussion of this, you must admit the police force of this colony wants re-organising.\n\nMr. H. H. NELSON (Justice of the Peace and Vice-Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce)--Gentlemen, I have to propose the fourth resolution.\n\nMr. FRANCIS-It is not the fault of the present Governor, who proposes alterations and who is dependent on the approval of the Home Authorities.\n\nThis meeting views with great apprehension the opinion of the Colonial Surgeon with regard to the effect of the use of cat-o'-nine-tails on the backs of criminals and the action of His Excellency the Governor in respect thereto, and proposes that a commission of medical men be appointed to inquire into the matter.\n\nMr. HAYLLAR-The only thing I would say about that is that a commission has been appointed, and has been sitting for a long time.\n\nThe resolution was then put and carried unanimously.\n\nMr. FRANCIS-Well, gentlemen, if you want fair play... The police force wants reorganising. There ought to be semi-military duties on the borders of the colony and the Water Police must be strongly reinforced.\n\nMr. NELSON-Gentlemen, I have to propose the fourth resolution. To do so I will say for myself that it is not in any captious spirit I come here to propose the resolution.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-182 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [9-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 302928, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 450, "title": "CO129-182 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [9-12]", "content_text": "The soldiers and sailors did remarkably well on the whole, considering that the fire occurred on Christmas night, and most of them were at the time on leave and--to use a mild phrase--remarkably jolly. With the exception of a few men left in care of the vessels, we understand that the whole of the crews of the Victor Emanuel and the other gunboats in harbour were, or had leave to be, on shore, and it would assuredly be expecting more from the blue jackets and soldiers than could be expected from civilians on Christmas day if the precision and smartness of every-day life was anticipated on their part on Wednesday night. As it was, there was a considerable amount of laxity about \"Jack\" and his military bon frère during the night, which we feel confident would not have been observable on any other occasion. Many of the seamen, and the bulk of the soldiers, did their duty in a very creditable manner--remembering that, as servants of their country, one of their first duties should be the preservation of order, and exertions for the public good. The fire-brigades worked hard and manfully, although there can be no two opinions upon the point that their general direction was bad. It is most important that the command on such occasions as these should be vested in one competent individual, and that his word should be absolute law, while he should be at all times in a position to receive advice, information, and assistance from the military and possibly naval authorities. The jets of water used in the course of this conflagration were also something contemptible. Whether this was the fault of the water supply or of the engines we are unable to say, but it is certain that the fire brigades here can never be regarded as efficient until they can, at a reasonable distance from the Praya, reach the tops of moderately lofty houses with their streams of water.\n\nIf it be true that the Tung Wah Hospital Committee has refused an offer of the Captain of the Perusia to accommodate seven or eight hundred of the homeless Chinese on board his vessel, that refusal should sound the death knell of the influence of the semi-official body in question. We are certain that the offer was made, and equally positive that the offer was refused. Had the Tung Wah Hospital Committee undertaken to substitute other accommodation for that which they refused, some excuse might be found for their conduct. But as a matter of fact, we can assert from our own observation that many Chinese families passed the night in the open air, exposed to the cold blasts across the Praya and up Wyndham Street, with no other protection from the chills of the night than that afforded them by the few miserable coverings that they were able to save from the flames. The wail of the poor children of these unfortunate people must have been noticed by everyone walking in the neighbourhood of the Clock Tower last evening. On board the Perusia, these people would have been comfortably housed; excellent arrangements would have been at their disposal for the cooking of their food, and the storage of the household effects that have been left to them. At the same time, it must be admitted that the Chinese are \"peculiar\" in this as in other matters. We know of several cases where offers of assistance were flatly declined; blankets were refused by women whose children were crying in the cold; and the feeling of true charity, which looks for no return save the satisfaction of having helped a fellow-man, seems to have no place in many of the Chinese sufferers. They trust no one, and fancy that every offer made them has merely its commercial value, either to those who offer or their domestic servants.\n\nWe most unaccountably omitted to make any mention of the fact that H.E. the Governor arrived on the spot about three o'clock in the morning, he having till that hour been quite unaware of the calamity that had turned out the Christmas feasters to fight against a sort of pandemonium of fire and confusion. From that hour, the Governor, accompanied by Major Palmer, A.D.C., was to be found at nearly every point of the conflagration; and it would seem that Mr Creagh is the better for H.E.'s consideration. Last night, we stated that Mr Creagh's quarters were \"looted\"; but as this operation was carried on by H.E., the proceeds were safely stowed at Government House, and there found to-day, to the no small satisfaction of the Fire-Master, who had himself given up his goods and chattels as lost. Mr Price, the Surveyor General, was most energetic in his efforts during the entire progress of the fire; and many of the officers, naval and military, were praiseworthily prominent in everything that, under the circumstances, could be done. It would be invidious to give names, where so many were working so hard and so willingly. A word, however, must be said in praise of the Hongkong Volunteers, over forty of whom turned out for guard and patrol duty during last night. The Hongkong Bank (which was the headquarters) and the Post office were the public institutions placed under their care, and patrols were kept up in various districts of the city. Considering that most of the members spent an almost sleepless night while the fire was at its height, this duty was no empty formality on the part of our gallant Volunteer Corps. To this fact, as well as to the readiness shown by the military authorities to assist the Police in preserving order, we may attribute the absence of any serious occurrences during the night--most of the 180 prisoners dealt with at the Magistracy to-day being Chinese who were taken up while the fire raged.\n\nWhile we cannot give anything like an idea, at least as yet, of the loss sustained by individual property-holders, especially those who sought not safety in insurance policies, a pretty accurate estimate can be given of the losses sustained by the various Insurance Offices, home as well as local. The Hongkong Fire sets down its losses at $150,000, and we understand they may come within that figure. We are informed that the China Fire will cover their losses by $70,000 or $80,000--a sum much less than was at first expected it would be. It will therefore be seen that our local underwriting companies will not suffer so heavily as the picture of desolation and destruction would lead one to suppose. We ought to add that the On Tai, the Chinese company, will lose a little over $20,000. The Home Offices, as is but right, share the loss, as follows--Phoenix Fire Insurance Co., and Liverpool London & Globe, $80,000 (Douglas Lapraik & Co.); The Trans-Atlantic Fire Insurance Co. of Hamburg, $50,000 (Lemssen & Co.); Imperial Fire Insurance Co., $30,000 (Gibb, Livingston & Co.); Lancashire Insurance Co., $17,000 (Arnold Karberg & Co.); and Royal, $10,000 (Melchors & Co.). Mr Fisher, in whose house the fire originated, is insured in the Lancashire to the extent of $5,000.\n\nPage 439\nPage 450\nPage 451", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-182 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [9-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 303001, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 523, "title": "CO129-182 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [9-12]", "content_text": "## Step-by-Step Guide to OCR Proofreading for Historical Hong Kong Records\n\n### Understanding the Task\n\nAs a professional editor specializing in proofreading OCR output of historical records relating to Hong Kong, the primary task involves reconstructing sentences and paragraphs from the OCR output while preserving the original structure and content.\n\n### Key Steps in Proofreading\n\n1. **Preserve Paragraph Breaks**: Maintain the original paragraph breaks as they are meaningful. Do not merge paragraphs unless the OCR has incorrectly merged them.\n\n2. **Rejoin Broken Sentences**: Within paragraphs, merge sentence fragments back into complete sentences.\n\n3. **Restore Column Reading Order**: Ensure that text originally in multiple columns is reordered to read logically from left to right and top to bottom.\n\n4. **Fix Spacing Errors**: Correct extra or missing spaces between words and fix hyphenation errors resulting from line breaks.\n\n5. **Correct Unambiguous OCR Errors**: Fix clear spelling mistakes, garbled characters, and typos.\n\n### Additional Guidelines\n\n6. **Preserve Original Content**: Avoid adding, removing, or rephrasing substantive content. Corrections should be limited to obvious errors.\n\n7. **Handle Missing Text**: Indicate clearly missing text due to OCR damage with `...`.\n\n8. **Page Numbering**: Retain page numbers as they appear in the original scan.\n\n9. **Format File References**: Ensure file references are formatted correctly without unnecessary spacing.\n\n10. **Language Preservation**: Do not translate text; preserve the original language.\n\n11. **Handling Chinese Text**: For Chinese text originally written right-to-left, reverse it to left-to-right for modern readability.\n\n12. **Reconstructing Tables**: Use Markdown table syntax to recreate data that was originally in a table format.\n\n### Output Requirements\n\n- Use Markdown formatting.\n- Apply headers (`#`, `##`, `###`), **bold** for labels and titles, and Markdown tables for tabular data.\n- Wrap file references and codes in backticks.\n- Do not add commentary or explanations.\n\nBy following these guidelines, the proofread text will be presented in a clear, readable format while maintaining the integrity of the original historical records.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-182 - Governor Hennessy - 1878 [9-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 305709, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 450, "title": "CO129-187 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [1-4]", "content_text": "# THE DAILY PRESS.\n\n## HONGKONG, MARCH 10TH, 1880.\n\n### THE DISTRESS IN IRELAND.\n\n#### PUBLIC MEETING IN THE CITY HALL.\n\nA public meeting was held in the City Hall, on the 8th inst., for the purpose of inaugurating a subscription for the relief of the distress in Ireland. His Excellency the Governor presided, and the attendance was large and enthusiastic. Amongst those present were His Excellency Major-General Donovan, Sir John Smale, Chief Justice; Bishop Burden, Hon. W. H. Marsh, Colonial Secretary; Hon. H. O'Malley, Attorney-General; Hon. P. Ryrie, Hon. Ng Choy, Mr. T. Jackson, most of the leading members of the mercantile community, and a large number of military and civil officers. Mrs. Hennessy and one or two other ladies were also present.\n\nThe GOVERNOR said, \"My Lord Bishop, ladies and gentlemen, the announcements which have appeared in the public press have informed you that I took the liberty to summon a preliminary meeting of some Irish gentlemen at Government House, to consider what steps we might recommend to our friends in this colony for dealing with the distress in Ireland. I may say that, although correct in the main, the report which appeared in the evening paper paid me this compliment, that it attributed to me the speeches of four or five other gentlemen who spoke at that meeting. We resolved to ask you to come together to-day, for the purpose of raising subscriptions to be sent to the Duchess of Marlborough's fund for the relief of the distress in Ireland. Now, you are men of business, and my first duty is to endeavour briefly to explain to you how it comes to pass that we have to ask you for subscriptions. I cannot deny that the loss of the crops took place in England as well as in Ireland, and that, in fact, the loss of the crops in England was actually greater than that in Ireland, but, nevertheless, the fact remains that the distress in Ireland is far more severe, and threatens a far more dangerous future, than the distress in England. Ireland, unfortunately, is a country subject to famines, and the special reason why Ireland suffers so much when distress of this kind occurs has been explained in a letter from the Duchess of Marlborough, which puts the whole case so clearly that, with your permission, I will read it.\"\n\nHer Grace says: \"The class whom I and those associated with me are endeavouring to assist is chiefly composed of small farmers holding from two to ten acres of land, extremely numerous in Ireland, as you are perhaps aware. These sorely tried people are excluded by law from obtaining relief under the poor rates unless they first give up their land, and, rather than yield to this necessity, it is well known that they will submit to inconceivable privations. Every caution is taken by the Committee of which I am president to obtain information from local sources of the most trustworthy character, in order that only the truly deserving shall receive aid from the funds at our disposal. Relief is administered, irrespective of creed, through the agency of local Committees, composed of resident proprietors, ministers of all persuasions, and the dispensary medical officers, who are intimately acquainted with the circumstances of the people. Not only has present starvation to be contended with, but also the preservation of the land from barrenness, by the distribution of seed, will be a future source of care to this Committee, and you will be able to form some idea of the extent of our operations and our needs when I state that we are now engaged in supplying funds to 37 local Committees, working in an area occupied by eight counties; and the demands for relief from other districts come thickly upon us every day. It cannot be doubted that the want throughout this land, if not promptly responded to by the voice of charity, will culminate in a famine, with the usual concomitants and successors of sickness and epidemics. Earnestly hoping that you may find it in your power to aid us in this crisis, I beg to remain, yours faithfully, FRANCES ANNE MARLBOROUGH.\"\n\nThe fact is, as the Duchess puts it in that letter, the Poor Law in Ireland is different from the poor law in England. According to the English poor law, it is sufficient if the relieving officers of the Board of guardians should be of opinion that any man is destitute; that gives him a claim on parochial relief. But unfortunately, in Ireland, there exists the addendum that the occupiers of small holdings, though the whole of their crops may have failed, though they may be absolutely starving, cannot get relief according to law. Perhaps I may mention here that an attempt was made some years ago to remedy this state of the law, and to assimilate the law of Ireland to that of England. A bill to that effect passed in the House of Commons. It was proposed by the Earl of Kimberley in the House of Lords, but, owing to the late period of the session, it did not pass. Subsequently, it was again pressed on the attention of the House of Commons, and again was passed after repeated debates and divisions. It was then moved in the House of Lords by the late Duke of Newcastle. He described that provision of the Irish poor law as a harsh and unjust provision, a provision which would always be fatal to the people of Ireland when distress arose. But, by a small majority of four, the bill was unfortunately thrown out. We therefore see that the poor rates of the country provided by the law of Ireland are not available for a considerable portion of the population. And if these rates are not so available, what is the meaning of an Irish famine, what are its consequences, what is it in reality? On looking around here to-day, I see some countrymen of mine, but perhaps there are few present who actually remember the events of the great famine of 1846 and 1847. I am sorry to say that I am old enough to remember them; and, though I was only twelve years of age at the time, I have a vivid recollection of the fact that I then saw in the streets of Cork one morning seven dead bodies lying not far from the residence of my father, a sight which has remained ever engraved on my memory. They were in two groups, one a group of five people lying dead, and another of two—a woman, apparently a young woman, and what appeared to me to be a very old but diminutive woman, but, on looking closely, I saw that it was in reality a dead child; it had died of starvation. Similar scenes were witnessed week after week by those who were in the south and west of Ireland. Some months rolled on, and another event occurred which struck me forcibly. I was walking not far from the city of Cork, and I came close to an old grave-yard where I saw a group of people collected round an open grave. Suddenly, there arose near at hand the lamentation for the dead, and a peasant who was standing in the road said to me, \"That, sir, is the pleasantest music that has fallen on my ears for many a day,\" for the preceding twelve months had beheld so many dead in Ireland—the famine-stricken people buried without coffins—that even the accustomed weeping for the dead was suspended, and the Irish peasant was delighted to hear once more the cry of lamentation. Well, years rolled on, but the effects of that famine were still felt in Ireland, and I have myself seen at Queenstown, stopping into the emigrant ships, strong men shedding tears on quitting their country, and carrying with them, wrapped up in their pocket handkerchiefs, little bits of green sod. What for? So attached to the soil are the Irish peasants that, when they leave the country and know they will never return—going to Canada or the United States—they carry with them little particles of their native earth to have them placed upon their graves. There is no man present but knows that the effects of the famine then afflicted the country might have been prevented, or at least mitigated. What we are engaged upon to-day is this; we are now meeting to do that which was not done with respect to the famine of 1846 and 1847; that is, we are meeting to prevent the famine.—(Applause) Prevention is better than a tardy and ineffectual cure, and if the Government of that day had but battled with the impending famine in Ireland towards the end of 1845 and in the year 1846, Ireland would not have lost three millions from her population.(Applause) Her population was then eight and a half millions; she has now five millions and a half. And, more than that, if her population had gone on increasing in the same ratio as the population of England and Scotland, Ireland would now contain twelve millions of people; and I believe that her fertile soil would provide ample food for that population. Now, with respect to the present distress, what evidence have we? We have, to begin with, the various letters which have been received from our friends, and the statements in the public press; and especially I may refer to...\n\nPage 450\nPage 451", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-187 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 323134, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-211 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1883 [8-9]", "page_number": 491, "title": "CO129-211 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1883 [8-9]", "content_text": "The Daily Press.\n\nHONGKONG, SEPTEMBER 13TH, 1883.\n\nTHE ANTI-FOREIGN RIOT AT CANTON.\n\nThe river steamer Hankow arrived from Canton yesterday afternoon, and by her we learn further particulars of the disastrous outbreak on Monday. About half-past four on that morning a Chinaman came up the Hankow's gangway and wanted to get on board. The Portuguese watchman told him it was too early and stepped forward, stretching out his arms to bar the way. The man gave a step backward, and accidentally fell overboard. No violence whatever was used. Such was the account we received on board the steamer as that given by the watchman, but there were no witnesses of the occurrence. Some time afterwards the body was brought on board the steamer by the man's friends, and the British Consul was informed of the affair. The Consul passed the information on to the Viceroy, and it was seen that there was a possibility of trouble, but no steps to avoid it were taken by the authorities. There was no actual outbreak, however, until about a quarter past eight. At this time Capt. Ogston was talking to the man who appeared to be in charge of the body, endeavouring to induce him to remove it off the steamer quietly. Meanwhile the crowd had been increasing, and at a quarter past eight they commenced to throw stones and bricks at the vessel, and a few minutes afterwards Captain Ogston saw two men with torches. On seeing this he considered there was no time to be lost and he got his vessel away from the wharf as speedily as possible, slipping one of his hawsers to save time. Hardly had the steamer got off before the wharf was fired, kerosine having been brought from a neighbouring shop. As the Hankow steamed away the crowd continued to pelt her, and the upper deck of the steamer was covered with stones and brickbats, but no material damage was done. Mr. Christy, the chief engineer, had a narrow escape of being hit on the head, as a brick came flying past him as he was at work in the engine room. Most of the Chinese passengers the Hankow had on board at the time transferred themselves afterwards to the Honam and came down in that steamer on Tuesday. The Hankow yesterday brought down about 150 Chinese passengers; she had also on board two European ladies and two gentlemen.\n\nAs to the occurrences on Shameen on Monday, our report of yesterday seems to have covered almost the whole ground, as we were able to learn but few additional details of importance. It should be mentioned, however, that the Chinese authorities sent fire-engines on to the concession in the afternoon, to play on the burning buildings, but this assistance was too late to be of any avail, as the houses were already gutted.\n\nThe Canton Dispensary, Rev Mr. Masters's house and other houses occupied by foreigners on the Canal-road were threatened by the mob, but on the Chinese occupants of the adjoining houses representing to them that if they set fire to these the flames would extend to the Chinese shops, the rioters showed themselves so far amenable to reason as to acknowledge the force of the argument and leave these places alone. As may be imagined, however, the foreigners did not feel inclined to trust their forbearance implicitly, and Mr. and Mrs. Masters and their children, and Mr. and Mrs. Brant, of the Dispensary, found refuge in a Chinese house at the back of their own premises, whence they were subsequently taken to the Ningpo by a steam launch, a small party of foreigners and a number of Chinese soldiers giving them a safe escort through the mob from the house to the water. The Rev. Dr. Happer, who lives in the same neighbourhood, thought it safe to remain in his own house, and some other missionaries, we believe, also adopted the same course.\n\nOn Tuesday everything was quiet, and the settlement was guarded by the Chinese troops. The Swift arrived about 8.30 p.m., and the Consuls were notified. Two of the Consuls wished to have the marines landed, but the English Consul considered this unnecessary, and declined to make the request to the Commodore. Previous to the arrival of the Swift the residents had held a meeting and it was decided to patrol the settlement during the night. The first watch, under command of Mr. von Pustau, did duty from seven to nine o'clock. The second watch went on at nine and was to be relieved at eleven, but at half-past ten it was decided that there was no further necessity for the patrol being kept up by foreigners. It was said at one time that a raid was to be made about eight o'clock, but nothing of the sort occurred, and all the approaches were guarded by a sufficient force to repel any attack that might have been attempted. Most of the ladies remained on the Ningpo on Tuesday night, but several slept at the German Consulate, and a few, we believe, at their own homes. During the day official inquiries were made by the Chinese authorities as to the welfare of the foreigners, and an intimation was given that they need not give themselves any further trouble in connection with the preservation of order. In the evening the Viceroy sent word that he had ordered 500 additional troops to be stationed in the streets and roads near the settlement. Yesterday morning everything seemed to be quiet.\n\nMr. von Pustau came down by the Hankow yesterday and was the bearer of dispatches from the German Consul to the German Naval authorities. Mr. Pustau was not in a position to give any information as to the contents of the dispatches, but he said Dr. Mollendorff had expressed the opinion that the presence of a gunboat of another nationality would have a good moral effect. Mr. Pustau, to whom we are indebted for many of the details above given, further informs us that the statement that the Chinese merchants had decided to suspend business with foreigners for a fortnight was inaccurate. The merchants called on their foreign friends, expressed their concern at what had occurred, and evinced friendly feelings, but the silkmen appeared to be somewhat alarmed. Mr. Pustau agrees with our other informants as to the pusillanimous bearing of the Chinese soldiers, and says that when the foreigners charged the mob the soldiers simply opened out and allowed the roughs to pass through. It is said that thirteen of the Chinese soldiers were killed, it is supposed by the bullets which the foreigners fired over the heads of the mob.\n\nThe Portuguese watchman, who had been detained in custody on the Hankow, was taken off to the settlement on Tuesday evening by a boat from the Swift, and lodged in the Gaol of the British Consulate pending the arrival of the Portuguese gunboat. It is said the captain of the Swift refused to have him taken on board that vessel. The Hankow on her way down passed the Portuguese gunboat Tamega going up, and no doubt the man would be placed on board her on her arrival. The Espoir was not seen, but the Latin was passed about twelve o'clock. Kiungchow was passed about ten miles below Whampoa.\n\n485", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-211 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1883 [8-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 323761, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-213 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1883 [12]", "page_number": 192, "title": "CO129-213 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1883 [12]", "content_text": "(3.)\n\n(4.)\n\nF\n\n191\n\nrequiring to send word for reinforcements from Hongkong, was met by a flat refusal, based upon an order just received from the Viceroy of Canton forbidding the forwarding of any English message. A joint note has been signed by the representatives of all the foreign powers, holding the Chinese Government responsible for the incendiarism, robbery, and violence, and it is to be hoped that a full indemnity and the exemplary punishment of the offenders will be firmly insisted on.\n\nBut if \"Foreigners\" (the name by which all others than native Chinese are described) are to be influential with China for the furtherance of commerce and civilisation, they must hold together. It surely is not well that differences should be fomented in Europe in order that France may be distracted from her purpose in Cochin China. Yet it would appear to be the sole purpose of some writers to endeavour, if possible, to bring about a renewal of hostilities between Germany and France, and destroy the amicable relations between France and Spain. This is not at all as it should be. A renewal of the struggle in Europe would be a scandal and disgrace to civilisation.\n\nA serious contest between France and China upon this Cochin China affair is improbable in the last degree. Its issue is certain beyond a shadow of doubt. Further subjugation and acquisition of territory seems the natural and unavoidable sequence of the juxtaposition of civilisation and barbarism. The British settlers have felt this necessity in all quarters of the world. It is, at the present moment, forced upon us in Australia, and Government will have to yield to it, sooner or later, however unwillingly. Why may not France do the same?\n\nFrench newspapers may well complain that the opposition which France receives in Cochin China, from the influence of the Chinese Government in Pekin, is owing to the encouragement given in England to China, and the disencouragement which our former allies are receiving at our hands. The Chinese Government would probably be able to make out a much better title to the possession of the British Islands than they can to any right or interest in Cochin China. The records simply show the receipt at sundry times of friendly presents which it has suited the Chinese Government to set down as tribute paid. Just in the same way, presents from the British Government to the Chinese have been entered to our credit in account as tribute humbly offered.\n\nThough the high officials know full well that Britain is not a tributary of China, they constantly and persistently endeavour to instil this notion into the minds of the people, and every concession which is made to native prejudices and every effort upon our part to meet the wishes of the Chinese is distorted from its true meaning, and interpreted into an act of becoming submission.\n\nOn the last occasion of serious trouble in China, it was deemed the part of wisdom on the part of Great Britain to take sides with the Chinese Government against her subjects and to permit Colonel Gordon to lead on to victory the Chinese troops, which there is little doubt would, but for his marvellous influence, have been defeated in their struggle against the Taepings. This action on the part of the British Government was a matter of deep sorrow and regret to the whole of the foreign communities in China; and they have had good reason to deplore it ever since.\n\nWe indeed can but feel ashamed of any participation in a fiendish slaughter, which in its immediate and more remote consequences has cut short the lives of over 100,000,000 of China's inhabitants. It may well be hoped that, whatever our interests in China may be, the British Government will pause before it again commits itself to such a companionship in arms. The fault was not with Colonel Gordon, than whom few men have shown themselves so nobly disinterested, but the fault lay with the Government which permitted its soldiers to render aid to a power as capable to-day as it was twenty years ago of perpetrating the most cowardly, shameful, and inhuman atrocities.\n\nThe same condition of things may arise to-morrow. Some of the war correspondents now in Tonquin have expressed themselves in terms of the highest admiration on witnessing the courage and determination manifested by the Black Flags upon the field of battle. Those Black Flags, so called from the huge black banners by which their troops are distinguished, are the remnant of the old crushed-out Taepings, whose members still exist in large numbers throughout the Empire, though concealed like other secret societies. Of these, the White Lily is the most formidable. There are also the Yellow Flags. Of the Mohammedans, who have in times past been a terror to the Government, it is estimated that there are 20,000,000.\n\nIt is impossible to see, even with the best information, what will be the future of China, and the most obvious thing of all is the narrow limit of our knowledge of this wondrous country and its more wondrous people. One thing, however, is clear: that a day of fearful reckoning will surely and may soon and suddenly come between China's rulers and, if not from foreign aggression, this will come about from within. It is the present policy of the Chinese Government to stave off by all possible means this catastrophe. Enormous interests in the preservation of the status quo unfortunately render it very difficult for us to take a dispassionate view of the position.\n\nWhen the time does arrive for a struggle with the present effete and unprincipled government, it is to be hoped that the spread of popular information upon the subject may serve to save us from repeating the crime of strengthening a false government in fastening fetters on its people.\n\nSeabreez\n\n50\n\n1474", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-213 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1883 [12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 325071, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-215 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1884 [1-4]", "page_number": 331, "title": "CO129-215 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1884 [1-4]", "content_text": "Enclosure 3.\n\nHONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.\n\nThe session of the Legislative Council was opened yesterday afternoon. The Chief Justice took the chair and called upon the Clerk of Councils to read the proclamation summoning the meeting. This having been done, the Clerk of Councils was directed to inform the Governor, who shortly afterwards entered and read the speech given below. The opening ceremony was attended with more formality than has hitherto been the case on similar occasions in Hongkong. The road from Government House to the Public Office was lined with Sikh policemen, and a guard of honour and the Band of the Buffs was posted in the hall of the Public Office, and saluted the Governor on his arrival. In the Council Chamber there was a large attendance, including a considerable number of ladies, the Consuls and Military Officers in uniform, and a large number of the general public. His Excellency wore the uniform of his office and the scarf and order of the Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George. The Colonial Secretary, the Attorney-General, and the Surveyor-General also wore the Civil Service Uniform. The Council was composed as follows:-\n\nHis Excellency the GOVERNOR, Sir GEORGE FERGUSON Bower, G.C.M.G.\n\nHon. Sir GEORGE PHILlIPPo, Chief Justice.\n\nHon. W. H. MARSH, C.M.G.\n\nHon. E. L. O'MALLEY, Attorney-General.\n\nHon. A. LISTER, Colonial Treasurer.\n\nHon. J. M. PRICE, Surveyor-General.\n\nHon. F. STEWART, Registrar-General.\n\nHon. P. RYrie.\n\nHon. F. B. JOHNSON,\n\nHon. T. JACKSON.\n\nHon. F. D. SAXTON.\n\nHon. WONG SHING.\n\nTHE GOVERNOR'S SPEECH.\n\nHonourable Gentlemen of the Legislative Council,\n\n1. It is with feelings of much pleasure and interest that I now open the first session of the re-constituted Legislature of Hongkong, and have recourse to your advice and assistance in the administration of the Government.\n\n2. It will always be one of the most satisfactory reminiscences of my long public career that I have been able to procure a more adequate representation in this Council of the community at large. I am confident that the Government will derive valuable aid from the local knowledge and experience of the unofficial members, and I also believe that you will all agree with me that there neither is, nor ought to be, any antagonism between the official and the unofficial element in this Legislature. All the members alike can have no other object but to secure the general welfare, and to advance the progress of the colony.\n\n3. For obvious reasons, it is in the highest degree important that this Council should adhere to the constitutional forms followed by the Legislatures of the other principal Crown Colonies. The address of the Governor at the opening of each annual session will contain, here as elsewhere, a general view of the financial and social condition of the Colony, and a statement of the Legislative and other measures, and of the public works proposed. So the address of the Council in reply will afford the Members of the Legislature the usual constitutional opportunity of expressing their opinion of the conduct and proposals of the Government.\n\n4. Further, in accordance with the practice elsewhere, I recommend you to appoint a Committee of Finance (which should be a Committee of the whole Council), a Committee of Laws, and a Committee of Public Works, which should respectively examine in the first instance the details of every proposed vote and measure.\n\n5. After this brief explanatory preface, I will proceed to state generally the principal subjects to which your attention will be directed during the present Session. Full details will be found in the papers which will be laid before you, and in the statements of the several Heads of Departments.\n\n6. In the first place, with regard to the paramount question of Finance, it is very gratifying to be able to inform you that our position is satisfactory. The Revenue of the year 1883 amounted to $1,294,500; and the Ordinary Expenditure to $1,165,700; leaving an excess of revenue over Ordinary Expenditure of $128,800. The Extraordinary Expenditure of 1883 was defrayed from the accumulated balance, and included the Tai-tam water works, Break-water, Causeway Bay reclamation, Purchase of houses and land for the New Central Market, and Sanitary works.\n\n7. The estimated balance to the credit of the colony on the 31st December, 1883, was $1,095,505. Hongkong is probably the only state or colony of importance which at the present day is not only without a public debt, but which possesses invested assets nearly equal to its annual revenue. However, the existing balances will not be sufficient to carry out several public works which are urgently required by this community, in addition to those \"strong and complete measures of sanitation\" which Mr. Chadwick (the Civil Engineer recently sent out from England) has reported to be absolutely necessary \"for the immediate benefit of the public health.\" Under these circumstances, I concur with the Executive Council in what appears to be the general opinion of the colony, viz., that the present generation of colonists ought not to be deprived of the advantages referred to, while it cannot of course be expected to defray the entire cost of works of a permanent and reproductive character; and that consequently, it will be expedient to raise, on the exhaustion of the existing assets, a moderate loan, not much exceeding the revenue of a single year. This question will not have to be decided in its details during the present Session; but I desire to elicit the opinion of the Council on the principle involved.\n\n8. The Estimates for 1884 have been already voted. The Estimates for 1885 will be laid before you in next November, which seems to be the most generally convenient period for the opening of the annual Session.\n\n9. With regard to Legislative measures, the following Ordinances, among others, have already become law since I assumed this Government in the spring of last year, viz.: Ordinances to provide for the better Regulation of Vehicles and Public Traffic; To organise the construction of certain lines of Tramways; To constitute a Sanitary Board; To amend Merchant Shipping Law and provide for the enforcement of Quarantine; To continue the operation of the French Mail Steamers Ordinance; To authorise the construction of certain Piers and Wharves. The principal Bills which will be laid before you during the present session will be the following:-\n\n(1.) To regulate Weights and Measures.\n\n(2.) To consolidate and amend the Ordinance relating to Opium.\n\n(3.) To establish a Savings Bank.\n\n(4.) To consolidate and amend the laws relating to Stamp Duties.\n\n(5.) To provide for the Registration of Medical Practitioners.\n\n(6.) To regulate Prisons and Prison Discipline.\n\n(7.) To amend the Dangerous Goods' Ordinance, 1873.\n\n(8.) To amend the Preservation of Birds' Ordinance, 1870.\n\n(9.) To amend certain Ordinances relating to Criminal Procedure.\n\n(10.) To amend the law relating to the punishment of criminals.\n\n(11.) To amend the Bankruptcy Ordinance of 1864.\n\n(12.) To regulate the Post Office and Postal Service.\n\n(13.) To Amend Ordinance No. 10 of 1867.\n\n(14.) To provide for the more effectual protection of Chinese female children.\n\n10. The report of the Commission on Smuggling, and an able and exhaustive memorandum by Mr. Justice Russell on the so-called Blockade of Hongkong by Chinese Revenue Cruisers, are recommended to your attention. I have discussed this important question with the present British Minister at Peking, who will, I am confident, lend his aid towards carrying out an equitable settlement.\n\n11. Turning to the vital subject of the Public Health, I am glad to inform you that the recent organisation of a Government Sanitary Board under Ordinance No. 7 of 1883, and the promulgation of new Rules and Regulations under that Ordinance, together with the introduction of improved contracts for the removal and disposal of waste products, have been followed by a marked improvement in the practical sanitation of the Colony. Much, however, remains to be done, both in respect of legislation and of structural sanitary work; but I am confident that the necessary reforms and improvements will in due course be effected by the zeal and ability of the officers to whom this branch of the Public Service has been entrusted, and by the cheerful acquiescence of all classes of our population in such measures and restrictions for the safety of the Public Health as may, with...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-215 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1884 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 326448, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-217 - Governor Sir Bowen Administrator Marsh - 1884 [7-10]", "page_number": 483, "title": "CO129-217 - Governor Sir Bowen Administrator Marsh - 1884 [7-10]", "content_text": "# Surveyor-General, the price of them being paid to the owners; or if the owners think fit, they can compel the Government to take this alternative in preference to any other.\n\nSurveyor-General, the price of them being paid to the owners; or if the owners think fit, they can compel the Government to take this alternative in preference to any other. Then there is a provision for making the sale of arms illegal, and providing punishment for selling them. That, I think, is all I need say as to the provision for having or carrying arms. There is one thing, however, I would mention. It has been directed by the Secretary of State that an Ordinance shall be introduced under which the provisions of the pass system, so far as it refers to the carriage of arms, shall be extended, in accordance with the recommendation of the Smuggling Commission, the report of which was made some time ago, so that it shall apply throughout the colony in the same way and as fully as it has been hitherto applied to the district of Victoria. The Ordinance, as it has been interpreted by the magistrates—I believe the question was never carried to the Supreme Court—has been held not to apply beyond the district of Victoria as defined by the Registration Ordinance. It has been pointed out, however, in that report, and by circumstances repeatedly referred to by the police, that it is desirable the restrictions of this Ordinance, at all events as far as the carriage of arms is concerned, should be extended to the other parts of the colony, and in particular to the district of Kowloon. Therefore, by the provisions of this Ordinance, the provisions of the existing Ordinance will be extended to the whole colony.\n\nThen with reference to the powers of deportation, I have mentioned that there is no power at present, under Ord. 8 of 1882, to arrest and detain the person who is to be banished pending the time he has to leave the colony. The Ordinance provides that if the Government thinks fit, he shall be subject to police supervision during that time, provided that he shall have an opportunity of arranging for his departure and settling his affairs, &c. Then it is provided also that the names of all persons who have been deported shall be published in Chinese notices from time to time, so that additional opportunities of detecting persons returning from banishment will be afforded to the police.\n\nI think this is a substantial summary of the whole of the provisions of the Ordinance. It is provided that any person acting in contravention of the Ordinance, or the regulations made under it, shall be liable to imprisonment with hard labour for a period not exceeding three months, or at the discretion of the magistrates, to a fine not exceeding $500.\n\n## The ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded the motion.\n\nHon. T. JACKSON—Your Excellency, I heartily approve of the urgent measure taken to-day for the better preservation of law and order in this colony. I am sure it is patent to every one of us the position of things here is very far from satisfactory. Beyond all doubt, there is a very large number of lawless characters at large in Hongkong prepared to prey on property and seize any opportunity for plunder. These ought to be dealt with as, I believe, they are very effectively dealt with in the Straits Settlements, by a deportation Ordinance. People of this class ought to be sent from among us, sent to their own country, to be dealt with according to the laws of their own land; at all events, we should have nothing more to do with them. I heard some days ago, on what I considered good authority, that there are at present 10,000 members of the Triad Society in the colony. The presence of these people constitutes a real danger to law and order, and the Executive cannot take too strong measures to put down the present state of things with a high hand. Weakness and indecision on the part of the Government are twin brothers to violence and lawlessness on the part of the governed.\n\nThere is another matter I think ought to be noticed in connection with these recent troubles. I think it ought to be publicly stated that beyond all doubt there is but one Government in this colony, and that is the Executive—that there is no body of Chinese gentlemen between the Government and the Chinese people. I believe it is stated in the Chinese prints that the settlement of the disorder the other day was in consequence of the representations made by one or more members of the Tung Wah Hospital, and promises have been held out by these gentlemen which they are not in a position to fulfil in shape or form. I think it should be publicly stated this day in Council that these gentlemen of the Tung Wah Hospital are merely members of a charitable organisation and their powers begin and end there. They appear to wish to arrogate to themselves something more and to assume a position which is not permissible and which they are certainly not entitled to. I hope we will hear no more of the gentlemen of the Tung Wah Hospital in connection with matters of this kind.\n\nHon. P. RYRIE—I rise to heartily support the remarks of my hon. friend. I have myself received information from various sources that there are these dangerous persons here, and, moreover, that the dangerous persons are not the lower classes but are persons belonging to the so-called respectable classes who are badly disposed towards the Government of the colony. Whether they belong to these societies themselves or are merely influencing them I do not know, but I myself heard a conversation on the Praya on Sunday afternoon which shows that at least one ex-member of the Tung Wah Hospital Committee, who is a very active man though not a member of the Committee at present, has something to do with the recent disturbances. A Chinese was being spoken to by Captain Dempster and was asked why he had not kept his promise to send cargo boats and coolies to commence work that morning. This man replied that \"he had first to go to the Tung Wah Hospital to see the gentlemen there, and that when he got there—\" He had got as far as this when this gentleman stopped him with a strong Chinese exclamation to shut his mouth. This was heard by two gentlemen, and it convinces me that these people are interfering in a way in which they ought not be allowed to do.\n\nAnother suggestion I heard made was—and I think it would have a very good effect on the Chinese portion of the community—that the whole of the European members of the community should be enrolled as special constables. I think if the Chinese knew that every single European, or nearly every European, was supporting the Government they would be careful what they were about. That was done on a former occasion, and the effect was a very good one. There were in the colony a number of emissaries of a patriotic organisation called the Taung Kwan, who had their head-quarters at Kam Tow. Their object was to operate against the peace and good order of the colony. The Chinese, we all know, are very reluctant to commit themselves in any way or make themselves the mark for the vengeance of any one. Therefore, they merely say there are a lot of bad people in the colony, and there they end. The measures taken at the time I have mentioned were to show them the Europeans were able to defend themselves, and the effect was to make matters so uncomfortable for them that very soon these bad people were got away. I am referring to what took place in 1857 or 1858, and those measures were effectual in course of time.\n\nThe Ordinance was then read a first time.\n\n479", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-217 - Governor Sir Bowen Administrator Marsh - 1884 [7-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 326454, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-217 - Governor Sir Bowen Administrator Marsh - 1884 [7-10]", "page_number": 489, "title": "CO129-217 - Governor Sir Bowen Administrator Marsh - 1884 [7-10]", "content_text": "435\n\nThe Council met on the 22nd instant. The minutes of the last meeting having been confirmed,\n\nThe Bill On 22 of 1884, entitled \"An Ordinance to amend the Peace Preservation Ordinance\", considered by the Executive Council on this day, was introduced. \"Whilst it is desirable that the Ordinance should be made applicable, and those against whom warrants have been issued should be brought to justice, His Excellency The Administrator suggests that an urgent measure ensuring that the warrant is brought into immediate operation is necessary.\n\nThe Administrator gives his assent to the Bill accordingly.\n\nThe Deputy Captain Superintendent (Captain Dempster) in reply to 15 petitions tabled the Council.\n\nRead a report from Police Inspector Quinsy containing a list of criminals and names of persons dangerous to the peace and good order of the Colony, and reporting the capture of certain of those named, who had been absconding.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-217 - Governor Sir Bowen Administrator Marsh - 1884 [7-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 327315, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-219 Foreign Office 1884", "page_number": 103, "title": "CO129-219 Foreign Office 1884", "content_text": "# ARTICLE V\n\n4 officially communicated by the Corean authorities to the British Consul at the port concerned, but shall not remain longer in force than is absolutely necessary.\n\n7. All British ships shall pay tonnage dues at the rate of 30 cents (Mexican) per register ton. One such payment will entitle a vessel to visit any or all of the open ports in Corea during a period of four months without further charge. All tonnage dues shall be appropriated for the purposes of erecting lighthouses and beacons, and placing buoys on the Corean coast, more especially at the approaches to the open ports, and in deepening or otherwise improving the anchorages. No tonnage dues shall be charged on boats employed at the open ports in landing or shipping cargo.\n\n8. In order to carry into effect and secure the observance of the provisions of this Treaty, it is hereby agreed that the Tariff and Trade Regulations hereto annexed shall come into operation simultaneously with this Treaty. The competent authorities of the two countries may, from time to time, revise the said Regulations with a view to the insertion therein, by mutual consent, of such modifications or additions as experience shall prove to be expedient.\n\n## ARTICLE VI\n\nAny British subject who smuggles, or attempts to smuggle, goods into any Corean port or place not open to foreign trade shall forfeit twice the value of such goods, and the goods shall be confiscated. The Corean local authorities may seize such goods, and may arrest any British subject concerned in such smuggling or attempt to smuggle. They shall immediately forward any person so arrested to the nearest British Consul for trial by the proper British judicial authority, and may detain such goods until the case shall have been finally adjudicated.\n\n## ARTICLE VII\n\n1. If a British ship be wrecked or stranded on the coast of Corea, the local authorities shall immediately take such steps to protect the ship and her cargo from plunder, and all the persons belonging to her from ill-treatment, and to render such other assistance as may be required. They shall at once inform the nearest British Consul of the occurrence, and shall furnish the shipwrecked persons, if necessary, means of conveyance to the nearest open port.\n\n2. All expenses incurred by the Government of Corea for the rescue, clothing, maintenance, and travelling of shipwrecked British subjects, for the recovery of the bodies of the drowned, for the medical treatment of the sick and injured, and for the burial of the dead, shall be repaid by the British Government to that of Corea.\n\n3. The British Government shall not be responsible for the repayment of the expenses incurred in the recovery or preservation of a wrecked vessel, or the property belonging to her. All such expenses shall be a charge upon the property saved, and shall be paid by the parties interested therein upon receiving delivery of the same.\n\n4. No charge shall be made by the Government of Corea for the expenses of the Government officers, local functionaries, or police who shall proceed to the wreck, for the travelling expenses of officers escorting the shipwrecked men, nor for the expenses of official correspondence. Such expenses shall be borne by the Corean Government.\n\n5. Any British merchant-ship compelled by stress of weather or by want of fuel or provisions to enter an unopened port in Corea shall be allowed to execute repairs, and to obtain necessary supplies. All such expenses shall be defrayed by the master of the vessel.\n\n## ARTICLE VIII\n\n1. The ships of war of each country shall be at liberty to visit all the ports of the other. They shall enjoy every facility for procuring supplies of all kinds, or for making repairs, and shall not be subject to trade or harbour regulations, nor be liable to the payment of duties or port charges of any kind.\n\n2. When British ships of war visit unopened ports in Corea, the officers and men may land, but shall not proceed into the interior unless they are provided with passports.\n\n3. Supplies of all kinds for the use of the British navy may be landed at the open ports of Corea, and stored in the custody of a British officer, without the payment of any duty. But if any such supplies are sold, the purchaser shall pay the proper duty to the Corean authorities.\n\n4. The Corean Government will afford all the facilities in their power to ships belonging to the British Government which may be engaged in making surveys in Corean waters.\n\n## ARTICLE IX\n\n1. The British authorities and British subjects in Corea shall be allowed to employ Corean subjects as teachers, interpreters, servants, or in any other lawful capacity, without any restriction on the part of the Corean authorities; and, in like manner, no restrictions shall be placed upon the employment of British subjects by Corean authorities and subjects in any lawful capacity.\n\n2. Subjects of either nationality who may proceed to the country of the other to study its language, literature, laws, arts, or industries, or for the purpose of scientific research, shall be afforded every reasonable facility for doing so.\n\n## ARTICLE X\n\nIt is hereby stipulated that the Government, public officers, and subjects of Her Britannic Majesty shall, from the day on which this Treaty comes into operation, participate in all privileges, immunities, and advantages, especially in relation to import or export duties on goods and manufactures, which shall then have been granted or may thereafter be granted by His Majesty the King of Corea to the Government, public officers, or subjects of any other Power.\n\n## ARTICLE XI\n\nTen years from the date on which this Treaty shall come into operation, either of the High Contracting Parties may, on giving one year's previous notice to the other, demand a revision of the Treaty or of the Tariff annexed thereto, with a view to the insertion therein, by mutual consent, of such modifications as experience shall prove to be desirable.\n\n## ARTICLE XII\n\n1. This Treaty is drawn up in the English and Chinese languages, both of which versions have the same meaning, but it is hereby agreed that any difference which may arise as to interpretation shall be determined by reference to the English text.\n\n2. For the present all official communications addressed by the British authorities to those of Corea shall be accompanied by a translation into Chinese.\n\n## ARTICLE XIII\n\nThe present Treaty shall be ratified by Her Majesty the Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, Empress of India, and by His Majesty the King of Corea, under their hands and seals; the ratifications shall be exchanged at Hanyang (Soul) as soon as possible, or at latest within one year from the date of signature, and the Treaty, which shall be published by both Governments, shall come into operation on the day on which the ratifications are exchanged.\n\nIn witness whereof the respective Plenipotentiaries above named have signed the present Treaty, and have thereto affixed their seals.\n\nDone in triplicate at Hanyang, this twenty-sixth day of November, in the year eighteen hundred and eighty-three, corresponding to the twenty-seventh day of the tenth month of the four hundred and ninety-second year of the Corean era, being the ninth year of the Chinese reign Kuang Hsü.\n\n(L.S.) (L.S.)\n\n**HARRY S. PARKES**\n\nSignature in Chinese of MIN YÖNG-MOK, the Corean Plenipotentiary.\n\n## Regulations under which British Trade is to be conducted in Corea\n\n## I-Entrance and Clearance of Vessels\n\n1. Within forty-eight hours (exclusive of Sundays and holidays) after the arrival of a British ship in a Corean port, the master shall deliver to the Corean Customs authorities the receipt of the British Consul showing that he has deposited the ship's papers at the British Consulate, and he shall then make an entry of his ship by handing \n\n[107] \n\nPage 102", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-219 Foreign Office 1884.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 328853, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-222 - Acting Governor Cameron Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [7-10]", "page_number": 112, "title": "CO129-222 - Acting Governor Cameron Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [7-10]", "content_text": "## \nwith quick-lime the interior and exterior of the latrines once a week (every Saturday). They shall cleanse and scrub the night-soil buckets, the seats and the surrounding wood-work of the closets every morning with a solution of carbolic acid or other disinfectant to be provided for the purpose by the Sanitary Board.\n\n9. The Sanitary Board shall order from Canton adequate quantities of quick-lime, to arrive in instalments, and shall provide the necessary storage for the same.\n\n10. The Sanitary Board shall, immediately on the Cholera taking an epidemic form, take the necessary steps to order by telegraph from England or nearest available market adequate quantities of disinfectants.\n\n11. A gang of one hundred coolies shall be set to dig trenches 6 feet deep by 4 feet wide near Sandy Bay and at Caroline Hill to expedite the speedy burial of the dead. Every choleraic body shall before burial be treated with quick-lime. Stores of quick-lime shall be accumulated on the sites of the burial-grounds.\n\n12. The Sanitary Board shall cause all wells and other sources of water supply to be examined, and shall close, by filling with earth, all such wells, public or private, as may be found tainted by sewage or other impurities. The Board shall also ensure the preservation from impurity of such public water supplies as they may consider in any way affected by the manurial cultivation of gardens in their vicinity or by other causes of pollution.\n\n13. The Sanitary Board shall enter into such arrangements with the undertakers of the town as may ensure the speedy removal and burial of the dead. A reserve of fifty coffins and an adequate supply of mats shall be kept on hand at the public expense. In the absence of coffins, bodies shall be wrapped in mats, so as to avoid delay in removal and burial. Permanent gangs of coolies shall be conceded at the public expense to Messrs. BROWN, JONES & Co. or such other undertakers as may contract with the Sanitary Board in order to ensure despatch in the removal of corpses from European houses.\n\n14. The Registrar General shall issue a notification to the Chinese people calling upon them, in addition to the scavenging, cleansing and purification of their tenements, to report at his Office or at the nearest Police Station any cases of Cholera or Choleraic Diarrhea, distinguishable by violent purging and vomiting, occurring in their houses or coming under their cognizance. Such reports shall be made by them without loss of time, and due care shall be taken to impress upon the people, the importance of promptitude in making such reports.\n\n15. All cases of Cholera coming to the knowledge of any Colonial Officer shall be immediately reported by him to the Colonial Surgeon, and to the Sanitary Inspector, whereupon an Inspector shall be detailed to visit and inspect the infected tenement, and if he shall find the same to be overcrowded or the patient without proper lodging accommodation, he shall cause the said patient, if Chinese, to be removed to the Tung-Wa Hospital, and the tenement to be properly disinfected. Should the Inspector find that the patient may be treated in his own house, he shall make the best arrangements possible to clear the sick room of other tenants and shall supply the tenement with the necessary disinfectants and instruct one of the coolies attached to the Sanitary Staff in the use and application of such disinfectants, and in the event of the patient dying, the said coolie shall lose no time in reporting the death to the District Inspector with a view to the immediate removal of the body.\n\n16. Bottles of Cholera Medicine shall be prepared by the Colonial Surgeon at the public expense, and shall be furnished to the Inspectors labelled with printed instructions in English and Chinese for the use of such medicine. The Inspectors shall endeavour to induce the natives to give the medicine a trial.\n\n17. The Sanitary Board shall procure ambulances for the conveyance of the sick and litters for the removal of the dead.\n\n18. All registered brothels shall be scavenged, cleansed and lime-whited by their owners under Government inspection as often as the Sanitary Board shall deem necessary.\n\n19. The Sanitary Board shall frame sanitary instructions for the guidance of Police Inspectors in charge of Villages.\n\n20. Organization similar to that proposed for the city of Victoria, shall be extended to the Villages. Each of the following Villages shall have a temporary Volunteer Inspector to assist the Village Police in Sanitary matters, viz.: \n| Village | \n|--------------- |\n| YAUMATI |\n| HUNGRÒM |\n| SHAUKIWÁN |\n| ABERDEEN |\n| APLICHAU |\n| STANLEY |\n| PORFULAM |\n\nIn the foregoing shall be included the rural districts and hamlets falling within the present Police jurisdiction of each Village respectively.\n\n21. The Volunteer Inspectors shall be authorized by the Sanitary Board to enter any house suspected by them of containing a Cholera case, and to take such steps therein as they may deem necessary for the removal of the patient or the disinfection of the tenement.\n\n22. There shall be a temporary European Inspector of markets attached to each public market for the continuous supervision of the food supplies of the city; and the Inspectors shall take due care to destroy any food which may be found to be in an unwholesome condition.\n\n23. Butchers in Villages shall be allowed to store meat only in such sheds and places as may be specially erected and set apart for the purpose in each Village by the Sanitary Board.\n\n24. With a view to avoid the delays, inseparable from the payment of bills in the usual way, the Sanitary Board shall receive from Government a credit of $10,000. This amount shall be advanced by the Colonial Treasury and lodged in the Bank to the credit of the Board.\n\n25. The operation of these sanitary provisions shall extend to all ships, other than men-of-war, and to all junks, boats, and other craft in the harbour of Victoria, or in the waters of the Colony. In respect of the harbour of Victoria, one or more Officers shall be appointed to act as Volunteer Inspectors afloat, and shall be provided with steam-launches for the purpose, and with all the necessary men, boats, materials, appliances and disinfectants which they may require for giving assistance to Cholera stricken persons afloat, or for the speedy removal and burial of corpses.\n\n26. Any ship other than a man-of-war, having a case of Cholera on board, shall hoist the yellow flag Q of the Commercial Code at the main, and shall report the case immediately to the Health Officer, or to the Inspector, or at the Harbour Master's Office, and the Inspector upon seeing the signal flying, or receiving intimation of such case go on board and take such steps as he may deem necessary for assisting the patient, or for the removal and burial of the corpse, and the destruction or disinfection of the bedding and clothing.\n\nPage 109", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-222 - Acting Governor Cameron Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [7-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 332100, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-229 - Acting Governor Marsh & Public Offices - 1886 [11-12]", "page_number": 83, "title": "CO129-229 - Acting Governor Marsh & Public Offices - 1886 [11-12]", "content_text": "81\n\nlegislation on the subject has been long recognized, and is shown by the fact that at the present moment there are nearly 200 girls of tender age who are being taken care of under the direction of the Registrar General, assisted by the Po Léung Kuk, and who, but for that care, would probably be consigned sooner or later to a life of infamy. The powers which the Registrar General possesses are however considered inadequate for the purpose in view. Difficulties of a legal and constitutional nature have hitherto prevented the introduction of the Bill. But these difficulties have been now overcome, and it only remains for the Legislature to deal with the Bill, the principle of which has been approved by the Secretary of State.\n\n7. The Secretary of State has also expressed his approval of a suggestion made by the Superintendent of the Gaol in his annual report, that prisoners who have earned a remission of sentence should be placed, as in England, under the supervision of the Police, so that if found returning to a criminal career they might at once be sent back to prison to complete their original sentences. A Bill giving effect to this recommendation will be laid before you.\n\n8. A Commission appointed by me to report on representations made by the Superintendent on the overcrowded state of the Gaol has recommended the infliction of whipping for certain offences. I have no authority for introducing a change in the law of such importance, but a Bill embodying the recommendations of the Commission has been prepared and sent home for consideration by the Imperial Government.\n\n9. I have also forwarded for the consideration of the Secretary of State a Bill which was read a first time last Session entitled the European Vagrancy Ordinance. This Bill proposes to deal with those Europeans who are frequently landed or discharged from vessels in this port and who are either destitute or become so after a short period. As International questions are involved in this measure, it was withdrawn after the first reading, in order that it might be submitted for consideration by the Imperial Government before it was passed.\n\n10. The Sanitary Board, which has been enlarged by the appointment of four additional Unofficial Members, have had under their consideration for some time past the provisions of a Draft Public Health Bill which were included by the Surveyor General in a general Ordinance relating to Buildings, prepared by him a year ago. It has now been decided that it would be more convenient that the provisions originally proposed to be contained therein should be dealt with separately in two Bills, one confined to technical building matters only and the other relating to purely sanitary matters. I hope that both these Bills will be laid before the Council during the present Session.\n\n11. Besides the Bills already referred to the following Draft Ordinances have been prepared by the Law Commission or by the Acting Attorney General, and are ready for consideration by the Council.\n\n1. An Ordinance for enabling the Legislative Council and any Committee thereof to compel the attendance of and to administer oaths to witnesses.\n\n2. An Ordinance to enable the Governor of Hongkong to appoint Commissions under the Seal of the Colony and to confer certain powers on Commissioners so appointed necessary for conducting inquiries.\n\n3. An Ordinance to amend the Laws relating to Wills.\n\n4. An Ordinance to amend the Law respecting defamatory words and Libel.\n\n5. An Ordinance to amend and consolidate the Law of Evidence.\n\n6. An Ordinance to amend and consolidate the Laws relating to Jurors and Juries.\n\n7. An Ordinance to consolidate the Laws relating to good order and cleanliness.\n\n8. An Ordinance to promote the revision of the Statute Law.\n\n9. An Ordinance to amend the Companies Ordinances 1865 to 1886.\n\n10. An Ordinance relating to Bills of Lading.\n\n11. An Ordinance to consolidate the Laws relating to the Post Office.\n\n12. An Ordinance for the better preservation of Books printed in the Colony.\n\n13. An Ordinance for the regulation of Markets and the importation of cattle.\n\n14. An Ordinance consolidating and amending the Laws relating to St. John's Cathedral.\n\n15. An Ordinance to facilitate the incorporation of Religious, Educational, and Charitable Institutions.\n\n16. An Ordinance to amend the Law relating to the registration of Trade Marks.\n\n12. The following Bills are also under consideration or preparation, and will, it is hoped, be introduced this Session:-\n\n1. An Ordinance to consolidate and amend the Criminal Law Procedure.\n\n2. An Ordinance to amend the Law relating to Pawn Brokers.\n\n3. An Ordinance to amend the Law relating to Coroners.\n\n4. An Ordinance to consolidate and amend the Magistrates Ordinances.\n\n13. The Commission appointed under Section 3 para. 7 of the Chefoo Agreement of 1876, and the additional article of July, 1885, has met and agreed conditionally to the terms of an arrangement, which however will not have effect, unless it is ratified by the Imperial Government as well as by that of China. I am unable therefore at present to enter into any explanations.\n\n14. The representations of the Chamber of Commerce on the necessity of constructing a Lighthouse for the Southern approach to the Colony will be transmitted to the Secretary of State, as soon as I have received all the reports on the subject which have been called for. The Gap Rock is, in the opinion of those qualified to judge, the best situation for this Lighthouse, although it is more difficult of access than some of the other Islands in the immediate vicinity. This objection is, however, I believe, not insuperable.\n\n15. I regret to say that the prospect of carrying out the scheme for the extension of the Praya, in order to connect the Eastern and Western parts of the City seems as remote as ever. The original estimate of the cost of this work made by the Surveyor General was £45,000. This had to be raised subsequently to £71,000 in order to meet the objections of the Naval and Military Authorities, and although the whole of the land to be reclaimed, which is estimated at £160,000, was to be appropriated to their use, the War Office and the Admiralty declined to bear any portion of the cost. The Secretary of State for the Colonies on the other hand has considered that one half of the cost should be borne by the Imperial Departments in consideration of the great extension of ground that they would gain. General CAMERON has since recommended that a portion of the extra cost, entailed by the modification of the original plan should be borne by the War Office, but the Admiralty have stated that until some extension of their premises has been obtained, they must withhold their consent.\n\nBury", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-229 - Acting Governor Marsh & Public Offices - 1886 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 334567, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-233 - Acting Governor Cameron - 1887 [6-8]", "page_number": 389, "title": "CO129-233 - Acting Governor Cameron - 1887 [6-8]", "content_text": "Total\n\nTotal Number Number\n\n30 Cases.\n\n1941 Truck\n\nAbstract of Cases under Cognizance of the Police Magistrates' Court, during the Year 1886.\n\nCASES, HOW DISPOSED OF, AND THE NUMBER OF MALE AND FEMALE PRISONERS UNDER EACH HEAD.\n\n...\n\n1.\n\nP. 37.\n\n16,617 | 12,051, 842 2,19% 190 187\n\nauhe?4% ${ }\n\n1003 potpuno „Kleparz Büyüləd\n\n30*1008111 01 F. M.\n\n# Ordered to find Security.\"\n\nova aff d{ ༦.I,\n\n- NOLA pass yo\n\n7. af. P.\n\n84 12 17. ONL ME JAMUR ƏHƏRİ DER 1311 મ SƏNSƏULLAA Burjaya Jo sa peppar.1 KIGOSI 70 Jaqung 14:10.1 Ti f.\n\n18.510 1,237 Toral Males AND FEMALES...........16,647\n\n*Consisting of Offenders not sentenced to Imprisonment.\n\nsasuomun WEITs 19SCED BY THE POLICE MAGISTRATES DERING THE YEAR 1886.\n\nFASUOULBURNS 917 *r:&&!Q5[- Y\n\nIn *2 *SLY सहकर 12 : Warrants 9:00 SAKURET Shq! \"EBOT 162 7,107\n\nOFFENCE.\n\nTHE CASES CONSISTED OF:-\n\nNo. of Xo.or CARES. PH- WONERS. OFFENCE, No. or CAJEL\n\n382 No. o FRI- RONERS. Brought forward.......... 1.9176,518\n\nrying, AssB... -Commun. Inciting a person to commit, ---Imlerent, Animais-Crucity to.\n\nArus-Chinese not Holders of Night Passes found car-1\n\nAvault-Cansing grievous bodily harm,. 80 Larceny-from the Person. 122 137 41 -in a Dwelling House, 14 +3 -of Beasts or Birds, not the subject of Larceny) 13 14 ig at Common law, 2 -of Vegetables and Fruits from Garleus and 3 4 628 83-4 enclosed places, 1 1 af post letters, J 1 Malicious damage to electric or magnetic telegraph, -On Police in the Execution of their Duty, and i 137 158 Injury to Property.. 42 obstructing and resisting Police.. Manslaughter....... --With intens to commit rape,.. Markets Ordinance-Breach of... 372 -With intent to rob. Medical Practitioner-Practising without a certificate.... Arrest--(without warrani) Refusal of by private persons -With wounding, when enjoinesti, Attempting to commit other Offences (indictable). Banishment--Returning after Care also Conditional | Parlon\n\nBat-Breach of Ordinance for Preservation of........ Hirtle & Deaths----Breach of Ordinance for Registration of. Est-neglecting to paint legibly the number of licence t upon each bow and stern of, Bentires-Firing Crackers or making,.. Brah of the Peare, ikuglary. Burial of Chinese forpse elsewhere than in a t'emetery....... Cattle-Disenses Ordinance-Breach of --Furned loose on Imidie Ways... Cais and Vehicles-Breach of Ordinance for Street.... Tik-Desertion of, Gill-Exposing, whereby life or health endangered,. Child Stealing......... |täitese--Territory -Crimes and Offences committed in... Indo-Offences relating to, Tonditional Pardon-Breach of, Photagious Diseases' Ordinance-Offcuees against intempt of Court, Caiting and Wandling with intent to do grievous badily i with intent to murder. harm. with intent to prevent lawfal apprehension. } Menaces-Demanding Money by, 25 Mendicancy. 246 246 3 3 Misdemeanor-Aiding and Abetting in. 3 3 Murder. 17 17 Night-Found in Dwelling Houses by--with Intent to 34 34 ? + * # 5:27:27 2 བ ནི | 2:: 1:|: 2 ཆོས ཁས པའི :|:ཀྱི ལས སྱཱ ཤཱ 2 རྞྞ | སྐ 201 402 commit Felony therein, -Noises, by playing at the Game called Chai-Mni, --Noises by Watchrum, &c... Nuisances-Allowing Dirt and Filih to remain on Pro- mises or in immediate Vicinity thereof, -Blasting Stones to the danger of Persons and Property. -Biowing Whistles... -Buildings being in a Ruinous condition, Kaploding dynamite to the danger of per-į sons and property, } # 3 31 31 2 2 5 1 1 2 : -Exposing Sight Soil in the Streets in uncovered Buckets, and in open Bonts along the Praya. 105 105 ---Hanging wet Clothes, &o, to dry over 121 Public Ways................. 121 -Keeping Pigs, &c., without a Licence.... -Latrine, 188 188 5 -Neglecting to clean out Dust Bins, and) throwing Bubbish. &c., into the Streets. -Neglecting to provide Dust Boxes, -Obeying Calls of Nature in the Streets, Regulations-Breach of, 1,2771,277 208 206 40 49 57 57 1 --Rolling laurels, 1 1 -Rough Dressing, &c. of Granite in or near 5 a Public place, Dangerous and Offensive Trades--Varrying an. 4 -4 Flangerous Goods Ordinance- Bronch of, kaging Posons into or away from the Colony, . sertion from British Merchant Ship........... Foreign Ships, ........... 3 8 ---Throwing Rubbish into the Harbour or on the Beach,............ 69 108 108 1 1 -Using Chairs or Vehicles for the conveyance | 2 4 + If 46 Imprisonment. Trans-Bervicing and harbouring, H. M's Army and Navy, underly Behaviours--Accompanied with damage to! --Drunkenness, Fighting, &, Property.. la-Allowing aumuzzled ferocious, to be at large, dr., mestie Servants--Miseoninet as.... Hira-Administering. Embezziement.... Embracery, ope of prisoners Negligently allowing, Exce officer-Personating, Extortion or Attempt to extort, False Charge-Preferring or giving wilful false evidence. Declaration-making a. Pretences obtaining fool and Money by. 93 93 * } of persons infected with small pox, ..............) Obscene pictures-Exposing for sale, Obstruction of Navigation... of Roads and Streets, &e.. by Hawkers, 1 Chair Coolies and Shopkeepers, 21 I 264 261 2.137 2.293 | 1,053 | 1,72% of Wharves by Boat Propië, 334 334 16 16 Offensive Weapons-Having Possessión of.. 1 1 24 20 || Opium Ordinance-Breach of, &...................... 701 843 { * Passengers-Carrying in Excess of that allowed by! จิ 2 5 Licence, 1 1 Passes-Chinese out at Night without, 463 463 Pawnbrokers--Breach of Ordinance for,. 7 2 Pawning-Illegally. 3 3 } 36 Perjury, (e also Preferring false Carpe and giving wilful false Testimony). TB B 1 Piracy, 1 Police-Hosing Prisoners from Custody of. 49 Police Constables-Misconduct as..... A 1 Rape....... dony-Accessory before the Fact to. 2 $ Receiving Stolen Gouris, -Artempting to commit, 37 Recognisances-Breach of, Frami, 1 Hot....... Fraud-Uttering a forgel cheque or order with intent Roads und Streets- Injury to.... 40 11 1 ta defrand. Robbery From the Persin, Furious Friving Petite Offenders' Ari-Offences against. From the Person with Wounding, ............. $ ambling-Breach of Ordinance for Suppression of. 337 260 Rogues & Vagabonds-As Street Gamblers and Watch- GRULE-Breach of Ordinace for. in the Streets, treated as Obstruction of Public Ways .... On the Highways with Anus or with Violence. men to tiamblers............................. 36 36 586 536 --As suspicious Characters.. 172 179 តិ As Vagrants... $2 22 House Breaking.. Hamide, per infortunism, or by misadventure, Babour Dredging at Anchorage for Ships of War in the. Regulations-Brach of......... 1 $ ---Wandering abroad and lodging 58 58 1 1 in the open air, 1 Sanitary Regulations--Breach of, 16 16 7 12 Hasholders and Servants-Breach of Ordinance, for! Scavenging Contract-Breach of, 35 35 12 12 Seamen-Refusal of duty by Merchant, Registration of. Dorer-Neglecting to answer Coroner's Summonses to attend Inquests. Barny-Comunion. -from Ships or Boats in the Harbour, ubeent Exposure of Person by Bathing or otherwise, I and Lewdness.............. Ships, &c.-Neglecting to have a light on board... 30 3 2: 2 $24 1.025 Shooting with intent to do Grievous Bodily Harm, to prevent lawful apprehension, Spirituous and fermented Liquors-Breach of Ordinance for remit of, ......... 15 Stamp Ordinance—Breach of................. Steani Launch Ordinance-Breach of,- Streams-Defiling.... to Murder.... Carried forward, ............... 1.917 16318 Carried forward.................... 3 26 35 38 * 19 2 38 |12,524|14,486", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-233 - Acting Governor Cameron - 1887 [6-8].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 337284, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-238 - Governor Des Voeus - 1888 [7-8]", "page_number": 315, "title": "CO129-238 - Governor Des Voeus - 1888 [7-8]", "content_text": "313\n\n## 13. The Anglo-Chinese Schools of the Government\nThe Anglo-Chinese Schools of the Government, located at Saiyingp'ún, Wántsai, Wongnaich'ung, Stanley, and Yaumáti, do not call for special remarks this year. The examinations of these schools showed fair results, which is the more to be appreciated as in those schools which are situated out of town, there is, with the exception perhaps of Stanley, little support given to the efforts of the Master by the villagers, who care far more for good Chinese teaching than for English. The inhabitants of Shaukiwán have been petitioning during the year 1887 for re-introduction of English teaching in their Vernacular School, but although another attempt in that direction has to be made, it is always done in the villages at the imminent risk of spoiling a good Vernacular School by changing it into a badly attended Anglo-Chinese School, especially in places like Shaukiwán where several Chinese dialects are represented among the people.\n\n## 14. Introduction of Arithmetic Teaching\nThose Government Schools and Aided Schools which hitherto gave a Chinese education, pure and simple, exclusively in the Chinese language and according to Chinese national methods, entered with the year 1887 upon a new phase of their existence, through the introduction of Arithmetic teaching, which is not only a striking departure from the groove of Chinese tradition but will prove the thin end of the edge for the introduction of class teaching, time table, mental training, and in short an approach to the methods and organization of a European School. For the present, the step taken in this direction is seemingly insignificant, and with one solitary exception, the teachers of all the Schools, including even the Aided Schools in the Villages, took this step cheerfully. At the beginning of the year, I supplied each Master with simple Addition and Multiplication Tables (in Chinese characters) and brief directions to teach all children under 10 years simple Addition, whilst the rest were to be taught both Addition and Multiplication. But I left it free to each Master to choose whatever method he might prefer, to use the Chinese abacus, to have sums done in writing, or to teach simply mental Arithmetic, in any way he pleased. The results obtained at the end of the year might be called satisfactory, had they not been gained, in almost all cases, at the expense of Geography teaching, which was generally neglected in proportion as Arithmetic teaching was cultivated. Not one Master taught the use of the European method of Arithmetic; most used the Chinese abacus. One Master boldly took the European system of notation and taught, beside Mental Arithmetic, also Addition, Subtraction, and Multiplication with the use of the blackboard and little wooden tablets (in the place of slates), making his children work out every sum in writing according to the European method. Another Master resolved to use no foreign method whatever but determined to teach Arithmetic strictly according to ancient Chinese models. So he took an old Chinese book, published some four centuries ago under the Ming dynasty, and actually taught his boys the four rules, and, in the case of the eldest class, he taught even the extraction of square root and cube root, with Chinese figures indeed but with the minutest adherence to the European method. In doing so, the Master gloried all the time in the notion that he was following exclusively Chinese principles, for he was blissfully unaware that his old Chinese book was the work of a Chinese pupil of **MATTHEW RICCI**. The next step that may be taken will be to supply each teacher with a simple manual for his guidance in teaching the four rules according to the European system of Arithmetic, and to do the same for the teaching of Chinese Geography.\n\n## 15. Grant-in-Aid Schools in Class I\nAs regards the Grant-in-Aid Schools in Class I, that is, Schools which give a Chinese education exclusively in the Chinese language, I subjoin a comparative Table exhibiting the results of the working of the Revised Scheme (of 1883) which came into operation in 1884. The aim of that revision was to increase the pensum of work to be done under the several Standards, to reduce the earning power of these comparatively inexpensive Schools, and, finally, to encourage the teachers to bring more children under instruction in the higher Standards without skipping the lower ones.\n\n### TABLE shewing the EFFECTS of REVISION of SCHEME (1883) on SCHOOLS in Class I\n| Standards | Number of Scholars examined in Schools in Class I | Amount earned by Passes (apart from Capitation Grant and Needle-work) |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| | 1884 | 1885 | 1886 | 1887 | 1884 | 1885 | 1886 | 1887 |\n| I. | 76 | 128 | 271 | 872 | $146 | $160 | $462 | $654 |\n| II. | 657 | 789 | 652 | 639 | $3,124 | $3,052 | $2,496 | $2,464 |\n| III. | 470 | 446 | 474 | 487 | $3,208 | $2,196 | $2,184 | $2,100 |\n| IV. | 120 | 128 | 138 | 153 | $840 | $624 | $640 | $856 |\n| V. | 26 | 26 | 44 | 32 | $230 | $210 | $320 | $250 |\n| VI. | 2 | 9 | 11 | 13 | $24 | $108 | $120 | $108 |\n| Total | 1,251 | 1,476 | 1,590 | 1,696 | $7,572 | $6,350 | $6,222 | $6,432 |\n\n## 16. Analysis of the Table\nIt will be seen from the above Table that the amounts earned by these Grant-in-Aid Schools in Class I has increased from year to year, but the rate of increase has been far below the natural increase of the number of children in attendance. It will further be observed that there has been from year to year an increase in the number of children annually brought forward into the higher Standards. Thus, the main object of revising the Scheme in 1883 has been fairly attained. There is, however, another point in connection with the above Table that requires comment. It appears from the above figures, on taking an average of the last four years, that from 1884 to 1887, the average number of scholars annually examined in the successive Standards of the Schools in Class I was as follows: Standard I, 211 scholars; Standard II, 617; Standard III, 469; Standard IV, 135; Standard V, 32; and Standard VI, 9. At first glance, these figures appear to indicate that the children attending these Schools generally remain under instruction only some 3 or 4 years, that few stay in school 5 years, and that a very small proportion of children complete their course of education by reaching Standard VI. Now it is true indeed that, as a general rule, very few children, and especially very few girls, are left long enough in these purely Chinese Schools to finish their education there. But that does not prove that none of them continue their education in a higher Class of Schools. Chinese girls indeed are not sent to English Schools, and so far as they are concerned, the above figures undoubtedly prove that Chinese girls are, as a rule, removed from school before they reach the highest Standards. But the above figures must also be read in the light of the fact that the vast majority of boys attending these Chinese Schools in Class I pass on, after reaching Standard III or IV, into the Government Central School or into other English or Anglo-Chinese Schools (in Class IV of the Grant-in-Aid Scheme) to learn English there, whilst continuing, privately or in those Anglo-Chinese Schools, to keep up that Chinese knowledge obtained by them in the lower Standards of those Primary Chinese Schools in Class I. In other words, the above figures, whilst indicating a defect in the education of Chinese girls, show also, in the case of boys, that those Primary Chinese Schools in Class I act as the natural feeders of our Middle Class Schools, so far as the Chinese population is concerned, and that in their case, a sound knowledge of the vernacular is now generally made the preliminary stepping stone for reaching a sound English education. The same important principle has been recognized also, as I have shown in former Reports, by the Portuguese community in this Colony. It is a principle which is now in India persistently urged upon educationists, since it has been generally recognized that the preservation of the vernacular in all Classes of Schools is required in order that the mental progress of the scholar may be reflected in his increased power to make use of his own language.\n\n## 17. Grant-in-Aid Schools in Class III\nThe Grant-in-Aid Schools in Class III (Basel and Berlin Missions) continue to show good results. In these Schools, which give a European education (to Chinese Girls) in the Chinese language, a laudable tendency has of late set in, to confine the use of the Romanized system of writing Chinese within reasonable limits and to teach in the higher Standards as much as possible of the written Chinese character. Evidence of the beneficial effect of this movement presented itself in a marked manner at the examinations held at the end of the year 1887. Formerly, showy results in Chinese composition and letter writing were obtained, in the Romanized character, in these Schools, but, through comparative neglect of the use of the written Chinese character, children who passed successfully Standard VI were generally left unable to read or write an ordinary Chinese letter or simple bill for goods bought or sold. At the last examinations, I noticed in this respect a great change for the better. The Chinese girls in these Schools are, for instance, still taught to write in good colloquial prose (Romanized) answers to searching questions in the history of Babylonia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome, but they are now also gaining proficiency in writing simple prose or ordinary letters in the common Chinese character. It is to be regretted that the history teaching of these Schools excludes at present, for want of a suitable manual, the history of China. But as, besides History, also Arithmetic (as far as decimal fractions) and Geography are added in these Schools to the ordinary subjects of an elementary Chinese education, it must be admitted that the wide range of education given in these Schools is eminently satisfactory, and does credit to the Basel and Berlin Missions.\n\n## 18. Grant-in-Aid Schools in Class IV\nThe Grant-in-Aid Schools in Class IV have made extraordinary progress in the year 1887. I referred in the previous year's Report to the stimulus which had been given to the educational movement in this Colony by the introduction (at the instance of Mr. C. J. **BATEMAN**, Headmaster of the Hongkong Public School) of the system of non-gremial examinations conducted by the Syndicate of the University of Cambridge. I expected this measure to exercise, in time, a great and healthful influence towards raising the standard of English education in the Colony. I apprehended also certain drawbacks, temptations, and dangers to attach themselves to this as to every other strong stimulative measure. Surveying now the educational work of the year 1887, I certainly see, even at present, some of the drawbacks I referred to, but the suddenness and the extent of the healthful impulse which the introduction of the Cambridge Local Examinations gave, in the year 1887, to the study of the higher branches of an English education, has surpassed all my expectations. There was hitherto only one School, the Diocesan Home and Orphanage, which, during the last 5 years, annually took up three of the special subjects of the Grant-in-Aid Scheme, viz., Algebra, Euclid, and Physical Geography. But in 1887, suddenly 5 other Schools, St. Joseph's College, the two Victoria English Schools (including even a Girl's School), St. Paul's College (Anglo-Chinese School), and the Hongkong Public School,", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-238 - Governor Des Voeus - 1888 [7-8].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 340459, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-243 - Public Offices & Others - 1889", "page_number": 188, "title": "CO129-243 - Public Offices & Others - 1889", "content_text": "# \n19. My Lords have carefully weighed these recommendations, and they regret to come to the conclusion that the proposed settlement will not satisfy the just claim of Her Majesty's Government.\n\nThe fact that the Colony has in two or three past years contributed an inadequate sum to works of defence is not a reason for relieving it of a fair contribution to the charge of its garrison in the future. Nor can my Lords admit the cost of barracks as a reason for relief. The provision of barracks is a temporary and extraordinary service, such as the Imperial Government has often to meet, and such as it meets either by temporary increase of taxation or by loan. The cost of local militia and volunteers may properly be included in military expenditure, but proposals for the enrolment of such corps, though often put forward, are seldom enforced; and my Lords would prefer to know that militia and volunteers actually exist before they admit a prospective charge on their account. The plea for relief in consideration of other services performed is therefore insufficient.\n\n20. Nor is the plea for consideration on the ground of incapacity more sound. Hong Kong is a port with 7,000,000 tons of shipping in the year. It is the centre of financial business in that quarter of the globe. A recent governor has dilated on its great and increasing prosperity, and has dwelt upon the fact that for a long time taxation had not been increased. The estimated population on the 31st December 1887 was 213,000.* The numbers were increasing at the rate of 9,000 or 10,000 a year, and in 1889 the population probably exceeds 230,000. The military contribution, therefore, is now little more than half a dollar a head, and the increase of contribution now proposed, say `43,000l.`, including volunteers, would reach little more than a dollar a head.\n\n21. Comparison between the sums expended by different countries on certain services are always difficult, and my Lords only offer the following figures as approximate, and in illustration of their general argument. They believe that each inhabitant of the Netherlands contributes about 18s. 7d. to defence, each inhabitant of Belgium about 6s. 7d., each inhabitant of Portugal about 7s. 2d., each inhabitant of Sweden about 6s. 6d., each inhabitant of Greece about 10s. 3d., and each inhabitant of Switzerland about 5s. 1½d. These are small States not armed for aggression, and they afford, therefore, a fair standard of comparison with Colonies. Again, Hong Kong contributes perhaps nine per cent. of its revenue to defence, Holland contributes about 25 per cent., Belgium about 14½ per cent., Portugal 19 per cent., Sweden 32 per cent., Greece 24 per cent., Switzerland 34 per cent. of the national revenue to defence. But if it is contended that these are European powers, and therefore that the comparison is not fair, my Lords may cite the Dutch East Indies, in which the proportion is 27 per cent., or Japan, in which it is 43 per cent. If the increase proposed by the Committee were adopted, the contribution from Hong Kong would not probably exceed 18 per cent., and as the revenue steadily increases the percentage at the close of four years will in all probability be less.\n\n22. But the percentage of revenue appropriated to defence affords an imperfect test of the burden thereby imposed upon the community. It must also be ascertained whether the revenue raised is large in itself, and obtained by means of heavy taxation. The inhabitants of Hong Kong are exempted from Customs, and there is no income tax in the Colony. Taxation is confined, my Lords believe, to a moderate house tax, to light stamp duties producing from `20,000l.` to `30,000l.` a year, and to a few license duties, the chief of which is levied upon opium. Further, the modest revenue of `266,000l.` includes local taxation.\n\n23. My Lords have shown, they think, that the contribution of Hong Kong towards its own defence is inadequate by whatever standard it may be tested. The proportion of its revenue set aside for defensive purposes is insignificant when compared with the like proportion set aside in States which do not maintain large armies and navies for aggressive objects. The increasing prosperity of the Colony is undoubted. It contributes nothing to its naval defence. The charge for defence per head of the inhabitants is very small. The amount and incidence of taxation are out of all comparison light.\n\n*`Parliamentary Paper C. 5249, 1888`.\n\nIf military expenditure apart from works were about 270,000 dollars (`43,000l.` at 3s. 2d. the dollar), this would mean about 18 per cent. of a revenue of 1,500,000 dollars.\n\n# \n23. Sir A. Haliburton's Committee state that the Colonial Office in 1863 imposed upon the Colony a military contribution equivalent to one-fifth of the cost of the Garrison, and that it was in the contemplation of the Secretary of State, who then held office, to increase it. That intention has unfortunately remained unfulfilled for a quarter of a century, and the favourable terms thus enjoyed by the Colony during that period would in itself justify a considerable increase in the proportion which Hong Kong is henceforth to contribute to defence. It certainly is not a reason for a reduction of that proportion. Yet the Committee recommend a contribution not equal in proportion to that which the Colony paid in 1863, and their recommendation is not accompanied by a stipulation for a more equitable arrangement at the expiration of the five years. This would not be a satisfactory conclusion.\n\n25. The Empire is required to make considerable sacrifice in order to complete its defences, and as self-defence is the primary duty of every community, proper provision for that object should be one of the first charges on the revenue of each member of the Empire. The Imperial Government, in its anxiety to consult Colonial interests, has somewhat overlooked this first condition of society, and the precedent may not improbably be construed into a rule of policy that Colonial Governments are not to be asked for a proper contribution towards their own preservation. Sir A. Haliburton's Committee do not sufficiently recognise the fact that the Colony, like the mother country, must increase its taxation if existing revenues will not meet the due and proper charges of defence and government, and my Lords know no reason why the prosperous Colony of Hong Kong should be exempted in this respect from the ordinary lot of civilised communities.\n\n26. My Lords cannot therefore agree that the contribution of `40,000l.` a year is sufficient, and they will therefore propose that the subject should be referred in November to a committee of Her Majesty's advisers. But in the meantime they are prepared to accept for two years the contribution of `40,000l.` a year recommended by the Committee, and accepted by the Secretary of State.\n\nMy Lords further consider that the arrangement should be strictly observed under which, in carrying out plans of defence, the Colony provides the works, and the Imperial Government the armaments. The Colony should therefore refund `9,000l.` expended on submarine mining works.\n\nLastly, any excess of expenditure and the estimate upon new barracks should be equally divided between the Imperial and Colonial Governments.\n\nI am, Sir,\nYour obedient Servant,\n**Rewelby**", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-243 - Public Offices & Others - 1889.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 340491, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-243 - Public Offices & Others - 1889", "page_number": 220, "title": "CO129-243 - Public Offices & Others - 1889", "content_text": "## 218 \n\n/ \n\n4 \n\nIn case of the absence of the fleet, and to have its garrison permanently at full strength, and not dependent upon the doubtful possibility of receiving reinforcements on the outbreak of war.\n\n15. It will doubtless be urged, as has been urged before, that the defence of Colonial ports is a matter of Imperial concern, and that the maintenance of their garrisons should be mainly borne by the taxpayers of the United Kingdom. Her Majesty's Government have, however, never admitted, and cannot now admit, this plea. Self-preservation is the first law of nature, and if the capture of Hong Kong would be a serious blow to the Empire, the capture would mean ruin to many inhabitants of the Colony, and serious loss and hardship to all. Hong Kong, in common with every other British possession, is directly benefited by its connexion with the rest of the Empire, and while enjoying the benefits cannot escape from the responsibilities entailed by that connexion. The larger dependencies, such as the Australian Colonies, accept their responsibilities without demur, and not only provide the whole of their land defence, but contribute to the cost of the navy in order to strengthen the squadron, and obtain more complete protection for their shipping and floating trade.\n\n16. The estimated cost of the navy to the Imperial Exchequer is, as you will see from the Statesman's Year Book (page 247), over £13,000,000 for the year 1888-9, and as the population of the United Kingdom (page 255) is more than 37,000,000, these figures show that the mother country contributes 7s. per head of its population to the naval defence of the Empire, and it might reasonably expect its dependencies to make provision for their own defence to an equal amount. Questions of jurisdiction beyond the three-mile limit of the flag, and of discipline, stand in the way of Colonial war ships, so that the navy will always be that of the mother country, and in dealing with the great question of the defence of the Empire it is difficult to lay down any other broad principle for dividing the cost of Colonial defence, except that of the mother country undertaking the sea defence of the Colonies by means of her navy, and the Colonies, so far as their means allow, respectively providing for their own defence. But even this principle admits of extension, as, for instance, when a Colony agrees to contribute, as most of the Australian Colonies now do, to the cost of additional ships to be employed in local waters for the protection of the floating trade within those waters.\n\n17. In some cases, as I need scarcely inform you, the poverty of the Colony renders any realisation of the general principle laid down in the preceding paragraph practically unattainable; in others, the contribution, though substantial, falls short of the full cost owing to the inability of the Colony to provide more; and in both cases the difference is borne by the heavily taxed mother country. The Army Estimates (page 245 of the Year Book) are considerably over £16,000,000, or more than 8s. 9d. per head of the population. And this, added to the naval charges, makes a payment by the mother country of 15s. 9d. per head per annum for the defence of the Empire in 1888-9. But I am informed by the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury that the corresponding payment for the current year may be estimated at 16s. 5d. per head. These are the net amounts, after allowing for contributions received from India and the Colonies, but are exclusive of a very large expenditure chargeable to special defence loans.\n\n18. If these payments are contrasted with the contribution asked from the Colony under your Government, you will see that £40,000 a year is not only a very much smaller charge per head of the population, but, as I shall proceed to show, its payment is well within the ability of the flourishing Colony of Hong Kong. There are other objects on which the money might usefully be spent, but self-protection is the first duty of a community, to which other matters should be postponed, and it is hardly necessary to point out that, unless that is secured, very much of the other outlay may prove to have been undertaken in vain.\n\n19. The revenue for 1888 amounted to $1,557,300, and £40,000 (the contribution proposed for the next three years) taken only at 3s. a dollar amounts to about 17 per cent. of the revenue, and to not quite $1.30 (say 3s. 11d.) per head of the population of the Colony, the whole of which is vitally interested in the security of the fort. It cannot be said that such a payment is excessive, either as a charge upon the people who throng to Hong Kong to seek the protection to life and property afforded by the British flag, or in its proportion to the total public revenue of the Colony, or by comparison with the expenditure on similar purposes in the United Kingdom.\n\n20. I will only further point out in reference to the annual payments, what doubtless you will not have failed to notice, that the £40,000, which the Colony will pay in each of the next three years is only one-seventh of the cost of the garrison, while the remaining six-sevenths/£240,000/will still be borne by the mother country.\n\n## New Barracks\n\n21. A separate correspondence is proceeding with respect to the details of the additional barracks which will be required for the increased garrison, and I do not propose to touch upon these details; but I will state the reasons which influenced Her Majesty's Government in determining that a portion of the cost of their construction should be borne by the Colony.\n\n22. Four different heads of expenditure were required in 1884-5 for putting the Colony into a proper state of defence, viz:- \n| 1. Forts | 2. Armaments | 3. Submarine defences | 4. Barracks for additional troops |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Works | £61,097 | £55,625 | 37,500 | B |\n\nForeign ...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-243 - Public Offices & Others - 1889.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 342511, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-246 - Acting Governor Fleming - 1890 [8-9]", "page_number": 126, "title": "CO129-246 - Acting Governor Fleming - 1890 [8-9]", "content_text": "Power to enter tenements TO \n\nSuspension-vices, Re \n\nPower to \n\nsupply of Water. \n\nRecovery of moneys under this Ordinance \n\nbacter \n\nAuthority and be called the Water account and such moneys shall be disposed of to defray all or any of the expenses of or in connection with or for the maintenance and repair of the waterworks or for the future extension thereof or in or towards the payment of all or any sums of money expended and remaining unpaid or to be expended in respect thereof or in the payment of any existing or future loan or any portion thereof or the interest accruing thereon or for the formation of a Reserve fund for the purpose of meeting the cost of extensions of the waterworks, or if so resolved by the Legislative Council to purposes connected with sanitation. \n\nAll sums so disposed of shall be debited to the Water account, and a Balance sheet of the Water account shall be laid before the Legislative Council and published annually in the Gazette. \n\n17. It shall be lawful for the Water Authority or any person duly authorised in writing by such Authority at any time between the hours of 6 A.M. and 6 P.M. or in case of urgency at any other time, for the purposes hereinafter mentioned, to enter into and upon any tenement into or upon which any service has been laid or into or upon which water from the waterworks is supplied or flows, \n\n(1) To inspect any service and to ascertain whether there is any waste, leakage, obstruction or damage to any service or meter therein and anything in connection therewith contrary to the provisions of this Ordinance or any Regulations or bye-laws made hereunder, \n\n(2.) To regulate, repair, alter or make additions to any service or meter, \n\n(3.) To read or take the register of any meter for the purpose of ascertaining the amount of water taken or used, \n\nProvided always that the power to enter, regulate, repair or take additions under sub-section 2 shall not be exercised unless upon two hours previous notice being given to the occupier, unless he dispenses therewith. \n\n18. It shall be lawful for the Water Authority to diminish, withhold or suspend, stop, turn off or divert the supply of water through or by means of any service or public fountain either wholly, or in part, or whenever such Water Authority may think fit and without prejudice to any water rate, meter rent or other sums due or to become due under this Ordinance or any Regulations hereunder,→ \n\n(1.) Whenever the available supply of water from the waterworks shall in the opinion of the Water Authority be insufficient, or \n\n(2.) Whenever it may be expedient or necessary for the purpose of extending altering or repairing the waterworks or for the purpose of the connection of services, or \n\n(3.) Whenever any public fountain is damaged or the waters thereof are polluted or wasted, and the person, by whose act neglect or default such damage, pollution or waste has occurred, cannot be found, or \n\n(4.) If the construction or laying of any service by the owner of any tenement is not made, altered or re-adjusted in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance or any Regulations made hereunder, or \n\n(5.) If default be made in the payment of any moneys due under this Ordinance or any Regulations or bye-laws made hereunder from the occupier or owner of any tenement, or so long as such default continues, or at the request of the owner of the tenement, or \n\n(6.) In cases of fire, or (7.) If any act or thing be done or omitted contrary to the provisions of this Ordinance, or any Regulations made hereunder, in relation to any damage, waste, pollution or abuse of the waterworks or any service, meter or public fountain. \n\n19. All moneys other than penalties or fines payable or recoverable under this Ordinance or any Regulations made hereunder shall be recoverable at the suit of the Colonial Treasurer in the Summary Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court together with interest thereon at a rate not exceeding eight per centum per annum, and any judgment given or order made shall be enforced in the same manner in which any judgment or order may be enforced in any other suit in the Supreme Court. \n\n20. In any such suit a certificate under the hand of the Water Authority that any sum of money is due shall in the absence of evidence to the contrary be conclusive evidence of such debt and of the non-payment thereof. \n\n21. As soon as practicable after the passing of this Ordinance the Governor shall cause the limits or areas of all gathering grounds of the then existing waterworks to be marked out and defined by boundary stones or in some conspicuous and permanent manner, and thereafter no land not then already leased by the Crown shall be granted, demised, or sold within such limits or areas for any purpose whatsoever. A map showing clearly such limits and areas shall be made, and kept for public reference in the Office of the Water Authority and a Notification of the completion of such map shall be made in the Gazette. \n\n22. Whenever the Governor in Council decides that a gathering ground is required for the purpose of extending or augmenting the water supply of this Colony, the Water Authority shall cause the limits or area thereof to be marked out, defined and mapped as in the last preceding section and thereafter no land not then already leased by the Crown shall be granted, demised or otherwise disposed of within such limits or area for any purpose whatever except upon the express condition that such land may be resumed by the Crown at any time upon three years' notice of such intention having been first given to the owner thereof without any compensation whatever for such resumption. \n\n23. It shall be lawful for the Governor in Council from time to time, to make, alter, and repeal Regulations, for the better carrying out of the provisions of this Ordinance in respect of all or any of the following matters; that is to Say! \n\n(1.) The price of water for non-domestic supply, such price not to exceed 25 cents per 1,000 gallons. \n\n(2.) The method and manner in which water may be taken from the public fountains. \n\n(3.) The amount of rent to be paid for meters. \n\n(4.) The price to be paid for all services constructed or laid by the Water Authority. \n\n(5.) The time mode and place for the payment of all moneys due or to become due under this Ordinance. \n\n(6.) The suspension of the water supply. \n\n(7.) The construction, laying, fitting, alteration or adjustment of services and the nature, quality, size and pattern thereof and of meters used therewith. \n\n(8.) The prevention of waste of water. \n\n(9.) The duties of the officers and servants of the Water Authority, their proper behaviour and conduct and the means of summarily enforcing the same, if necessary, by penalties not exceeding in any case $25 for neglect of duty. \n\n(10.) The forms of all notices required to be given or sent under this Ordinance and the issuing and service thereof. \n\n(11.) In respect of all such other matters not hereinbefore specifically mentioned as may conduce to the better and more effective carrying out of this Ordinance. \n\nNo such Regulations nor any alterations or repeal thereof shall have any force or effect until they have been published in the Gazette. \n\nOffences and Penalties. \n\n24. Whoever shall wilfully or negligently injure the waterworks, public fountains, services or meters, or shall unlawfully draw off, divert or take water from the same or from any streams or waters by which the waterworks are supplied, and whoever shall pollute any such water, or shall allow any foul liquid gas or other noxious or injurious matter to enter into the waterworks or any services connected therewith, shall for every such offence be liable to a penalty not exceeding one hundred dollars and a further penalty not exceeding five dollars for each day whilst the offence continues. \n\n25. Any person who shall wilfully or negligently misuse or waste or cause or allow to be misused or wasted any water passing into through or upon or near any tenement from the waterworks, shall be liable to a \n\nProof of money due \n\nDemarcation \n\nof gathering grounds. \n\nReservation \n\nof gathering grounds. \n\nGovernment regulations. \n\nOffences and penalties. \n\nPenalties for \n\nWASTE &c. \n\n124", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-246 - Acting Governor Fleming - 1890 [8-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 344409, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 407, "title": "CO129-248 - Public Offices & Others - 1890", "content_text": "404\n\n2\n\nthis expression to mean that the contribution was \"to be raised to a higher rate on a future occasion.\"\n\n33\n\n5. The garrison in 1863-4 was estimated at 1,000 of all ranks, and its annual cost at £100,000. In 1888 the garrison numbered 1,445 of all ranks (exclusive of volunteers), and its cost has risen to about £160,000 a year, while the Colonial contribution has remained at £20,000.\n\n6. The future garrison, including local regulars, but excluding militia and volunteers, will be approximately as follows:\n\nImperial troops, 2,525 of all ranks. Local regulars, 493\"\n\nThe details are given in the Table A annexed to this despatch.\n\n7. The cost of this garrison will be about £280,000 a year and will consequently be nearly three times as great as was the expense of the garrison in 1863 when the Colonial contribution was fixed. Her Majesty's Government, however, do not propose that the contribution should now be increased in the same proportion, and will only call upon the Colony to provide £40,000 a year for each of the three years 1890-1-2, the Colony bearing in addition the cost of any militia and volunteers which it may raise, and the contribution to be paid after 1892 being subject to re-consideration during these three years.\n\nC\n\n8. You will remember that Lord Derby's despatch, No. 213, of the 17th of September 1884, enclosed with other correspondence a letter from the War Office of the 9th of September, which stated that \"Lord Hartington considers that it should also be intimated to the Governor that the present arrangement as to incidence of charge only applies to the works now to be constructed and armed, and that the military contribution paid by the Colony will have to be reconsidered with reference to the increased garrison which may become necessary in consequence of these works, and to the general defence of the Colony.\" And in now informing you of the amount which Her Majesty's Government demand from the Colony as its contribution to the increased garrison, I desire to draw your attention to the following considerations, which have been duly weighed before that amount was determined.\n\n9. Hong Kong is the centre of great commercial activity, and the mercantile prosperity of the port continually increases in a very remarkable degree, as is evidenced by the following figures extracted from the Blue Books:\n\nShipping.\n\n \n \n Ships\n Tonnage\n \n \n 1863\n Entered 1,822 Cleared 1,835\n 891,924\n \n \n 1868\n Entered 27,500 Cleared 27,090\n 911,957 2,501,815\n \n \n 1878\n Entered 28,779 Cleared 28,377\n 2,478,887 4,352,668 4,340,419\n \n \n 1888\n Entered 27,779 Cleared 27,569\n 6,400,410 6,309,974\n \n\n10. During the same period the increase of the public revenue has, similarly, been very marked. The figures have been:\n\n \n 1863\n $576,375\n \n \n 1868\n $1,131,106 including fees on gambling houses, since abolished.\n \n \n 1878\n $947,637\n \n \n 1888\n $1,657,800\n \n\nIn other words, the public revenue has nearly trebled itself in 25 years, while the shipping visiting the port has multiplied seven-fold.\n\nThe population, which was shown by the census of 1881 to be 160,402, is now estimated at not less than 215,000.\n\n11. It is evident that the prosperity, I may almost say the existence, of the Colony, and the welfare of this large population, depend upon the continuance and security of its trade with other places. If the trade is secure, the prosperity may be expected to continue and increase, and the first instincts of self-interest would lead the community to make every effort to protect and defend their trade.\n\n12. The present defences of Hong Kong, with their powerful armament, will suffice, in the opinion of Her Majesty's professional advisers, to afford the necessary protection against any attack likely to be made upon it; but I need scarcely remind you that another and more powerful safeguard is provided by the ships of Her Majesty's navy, whose duty would be to prevent any hostile force from approaching the place, and in whose absence alone any attack upon it become possible. The combination of the two forms of defence will, it may be hoped, effectually secure the safety of the trade of the Colony, and of the population which lives and thrives upon it.\n\n13. I frankly recognise that the merchants of the Colony have always been ready to acknowledge the value of the navy to them. At the same time, the changed conditions of warfare, and the sudden and rapid nature of the opening operations, have made it necessary for Hong Kong, like other important Colonial ports, to be always ready to repel an attack in case of the absence of the fleet, and to have its garrison permanently at full strength, and not dependent upon the doubtful possibility of receiving reinforcements on the outbreak of war.\n\n14. It will doubtless be urged, as has been urged before, that the defence of Colonial ports is a matter of Imperial concern, and that the maintenance of their garrisons should be mainly borne by the taxpayers of the United Kingdom. Her Majesty's Government have, however, never admitted, and cannot now admit, this plea. Self-preservation is the first law of nature, and if the capture of Hong Kong would be a serious blow to the Empire, the capture would mean ruin to many inhabitants of the Colony, and serious loss and hardship to all. Hong Kong, in common with every other British possession, is directly benefited by its connexion with the rest of the Empire, and, while enjoying the benefits, cannot escape from the responsibilities entailed by that connexion. The larger dependencies, such as the Australian Colonies, accept their responsibilities without demur, and not only provide the whole of their land defence, but contribute to the cost of the navy in order to strengthen the squadron, and obtain more complete protection for their shipping and floating trade.\n\n15. The estimated cost of the navy to the Imperial Exchequer is, as you will see from the Statesman's Year Book (page 247), over £13,000,000 for the year 1888-9, and as the population of the United Kingdom (page 255) is more than 37,000,000, these figures show that the mother country contributes 7s. per head of its population to the naval defence of the Empire, and it might reasonably expect its dependencies to make provision for their own defence to an equal amount. Questions of jurisdiction beyond the three-mile limit, of the flag, and of discipline, stand in the way of Colonial war ships, so that the navy will always be that of the mother country, and in dealing with the great question of the defence of the Empire, it is difficult to lay down any other broad principle for dividing the cost of Colonial defence, except that of the mother country undertaking the sea defence of the Colonies by means of her navy, and of the Colonies, so far as their means allow, respectively providing for their own land defence. But even this principle admits of extension, as, for instance, when a Colony agrees to contribute, as most of the Australian Colonies now do, to the cost of additional ships to be employed in local waters for the protection of the floating trade within those waters.\n\n16. In some cases, as I need scarcely inform you, the poverty of the Colony renders any realisation of the general principle laid down in the preceding paragraph practically unattainable; in others, the contribution, though substantial, falls short of the full cost owing to the inability of the Colony to provide more; and in both cases the difference is borne by the heavily taxed mother country. The Army Estimates (page 245 of the Year Book) are considerably over £16,000,000, or more than 8s. 9d. per head of the population. And this, added to the naval charges, makes a payment by the mother country of 15s. 9d. per head per annum for the defence of the Empire in 1888-9. But I am informed by the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury that the corresponding payment for the current year may be estimated at...\n\nK 61097.\n\nA 2\n\n3", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-248 - Public Offices & Others - 1890.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 345755, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-250 - Acting Governor Barker - 1891 [6-8]", "page_number": 154, "title": "CO129-250 - Acting Governor Barker - 1891 [6-8]", "content_text": "# SUNDAY LABOR IN HONGKONG HARBOUR\n\n\"It is so kept open and shipping clerks busily engaged--there is absolutely no necessity and no justification. The loading and unloading of cargo could be just as easily and economically managed without either delaying the ship or infringing on the all but universally recognised right of every man who works hard six days in the week to have a day of comparative rest on the seventh. Employers of labour, ship-owners, agents, etc., pretend they don't see the force of this sort of argument, but it is merely their innate modesty which makes them try to resemble NELSON before Copenhagen. They do see it and recognise its absolute truth, but this obsolete fetich is a very ancient article of faith, and with \"the classes hard to get out of the old groove. It was just the same with the early closing movement at home thirty years ago. Employers held up their hands in horror and shrieked when early closing and a weekly half-holiday were proposed as a rational concession to the masses who toiled in offices, warehouses, shops, etc., from dawn on Monday morning until Saturday at midnight; the proposed change was predicted to ruin everybody and everything—it was a radical infringement on vested right, the right of capital to control labour in a fashion that was pure slavery; but the change was made notwithstanding the employers' opposition, and the whole world knows the beneficial results. And so it must be with Sunday labour in this Colony. If those who control shipping interests here will insist on shutting their eyes and remaining obstinate and obdurate to the voice of reason and common-sense, they must submit to the **fortiter in re**. Nobody, not even the men who suffer most by this Sunday labour has any desire to give offence to their employers or to cause the slightest trouble or inconvenience in regard to business arrangements. They are ready and willing to meet those whose interests they are paid to safeguard and protect on a common platform, and to make every reasonable concession that may in any way be calculated to place the matter on a footing satisfactory to all concerned. But the fiat has irrevocably gone forth that, whether by amicable arrangement or an open war between shipowners and their employés, Sunday labour on board ship in Hongkong must cease. If the members of the Mercantile Marine Officers' Association remain true to themselves—and if they don't the Association and its pretensions are a hollow sham—they should experience but little difficulty in obtaining from shipowners the inestimable boon of one day's rest in seven, when they happen to be in this port.\n\nWe do not advocate this change, we never have done so, on religious grounds, although the Rev. Mr. GOLDSMITH has made out a very good case from his point of view. When all other laborers are enjoying their \"one day of rest in seven,\" why should sailors, whose toil is alike dangerous and arduous, be the only galley slaves in the world? That is what we should like to have satisfactorily explained. The opinions of Governors DES VEUX and SMITH that it would be unwise to stop Sunday labour by legislative enactment, can carry but little weight with those who are acquainted with the subject. As regards Lord Knutsford's opinions, if he ever had any, they may safely be ignored. If the Government will not legislate for this grievance, and if the ship-owners and agents refuse to come to reasonable terms, then the marine officers must adopt the course recommended by their President, Capt. S. ASHTON, at last Saturday's meeting of the Association—and demand extra pay for Sunday work. And in the event of that reasonable request being refused, the inevitable will have to be faced once and for all, and in any struggle that may take place in the Far East between ship-owners and their officers, the victors will be the coalition that remembers and acts up to the old proverb—**UNITY IS STRENGTH**.—“Hongkong Telegraph,\" 8th September 1890.\n\n## SUNDAY LABOR IN HONGKONG HARBOUR\n\nRev. A. G. Goldsmith on \"The Sunday Labour Question.\"\n\nAt the meeting of the Mercantile Marine Officers' Association held on Tuesday, the 16th Sept., the following communication from the Rev. A. G. Goldsmith, Seamens' Chaplain, was read:\n\n\"GENTLEMEN,—At the request of your Secretary I am writing a few remarks on the important question which you have introduced into your deliberations lately—the Sunday Rest question.\n\nIt is with pleasure that I comply with his request, for as you are aware, it is a question in which I have considered it my duty in some measure to take an interest. The question is a wide one. In a Free Port like Hongkong, where there are no European Custom House officials, and where the labour is heathen coolie labour, it is naturally one not easily settled. But that it will be settled, and favourably, for those who desire the benefits of the Sunday Rest, I think there can be no real doubt, if they show that they do desire it.\n\nThere are no two sides to the question whether Sunday observance is desirable or not. Let me quote the words of two leading men in the political world, delivered on the occasion of the French International Congress, called in September 1889, to consider what could be done to secure the Sabbath for France.\n\nMr. Harrison, President of the United States, wrote to M. Leon Say as follows: \"Experience and observation have convinced me that all persons working either with the hands or mentally need rest, which Sunday observance alone can guarantee to them. Philanthropists and Christians can consider the question in all its different points of view, but whether we consider man as an animal or as a human being, we ought to unite together to secure for him the rest which body and mind equally claim in order to be maintained in the best possible condition. Those who do not see the Divine Command in the Bible cannot fail to see it in man himself.\n\nMr. Gladstone also wrote to the President of the Congress in the following words: \"It seems to me unquestionable that the observance of Sunday rest has taken deep root both in the convictions and in the habits of the immense majority of my countrymen. If it appears to many of them a necessity of spiritual and Christian life, others, not less numerous, defend it with equal energy as a social necessity. The working class is extremely jealous of it, and is opposed not merely to its avowed abolition, but to whatever might indirectly tend to that result. Personally, I have always endeavoured, as far as circumstances have allowed, to exercise this privilege; and now nearly at the end of a laborious public career of nearly 57 years, I attribute in great part to that cause the prolongation of my life, and the preservation of the faculties I yet still possess. As regards the masses, the question is still more important; it is the popular question par excellence.\"\n\nI might also allude to the recent action in Germany to introduce into the Reichstag an ordinance forbidding Sunday labour, except on certain conditions, and when absolutely necessary; and limiting labour on that day to 5 hours in commercial circles, so as not to clog the wheels of transportation and shipping. I have myself conferred with the Hongkong Chamber of Commerce on this matter, as it regards the port of Hongkong. And their answer has been made public, that they sympathized with the movement but would not advocate legislation.\n\nIndividually, I feel convinced, both shipowners and merchants as a rule have no wish to see their ships working on Sunday, and in some cases consider it is through ignorance of what Sunday working of cargo really entails upon all the officers and engineers, that so much of it is permitted. Therefore it is most essential that the said officers and engineers should decidedly intimate their feeling by their own voice.\n\nNo reasonable man objects to working on Sunday or on any other generally recognised holiday or Holy Day, in cases of absolute necessity. The opinions which I have heard expressed by officers and others from time to time on this matter have always been of a most temperate and sensible kind. You are only anxious to secure the rule for the day of rest, as I understand. In fact you ask for that which Sir Robert Hart obtained long ago for the Custom House officials in China—no work on Sunday except on certain conditions which are provided for.\n\nI was very much interested in Captain Ashton's speech at your extraordinary meeting last Saturday; and would especially note his remark to the effect that \"overtime pay\" for Sunday work is not your ultimate desire, and that any proposal to this effect would not meet your wishes. It is not the money you ask. You do not seek to grow rich at your employer's expense, if I may put it so; but you ask for that which every Englishman has learnt to consider as his heritage. If I rightly estimate your feelings, I believe I am stating the case fairly when I say you are anxious to promote the interests of your owners and their agents, but simply request that they will also consider whether they cannot come forward and promote your interests also by obtaining for you the religious, moral, and physical benefits of our Christian Sunday. You are well aware that I consider the religious benefits first and foremost, though I am not indifferent to the social and physical benefits.\n\nThis great end cannot be obtained without Legislation, so that no one company should be driven to leeward because of the indifference of another company. It would not be fair to a shipowner who wished to give his officers and men their Sunday if he found other companies were working their ships without let or hindrance alongside of him. Legislation is needed, placing a prohibition on Sunday work except in cases of absolute necessity, when permission could be obtained for that purpose. And this permission would include a money payment similar to that required for Sunday work in Bombay, e.g., the S. O. No. 1802 of 23rd August 1882 runs as follows: \"Sunday working on board steamers in the ...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-250 - Acting Governor Barker - 1891 [6-8].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 347739, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 181, "title": "CO129-253 - Public Offices & Others - 1891", "content_text": "## 8\n\nfrom the value of a new site estimated at 50,000, but Sir A. Haliburton's Committee say that this estimate may be exceeded.\n\nIt is proposed, as my Lords understand the proposal, that the Imperial Government shall sell land it now holds, valued at 140,000 to the Colony, that this money shall be applied towards the new barracks, reducing their net cost to 72,000, that the Imperial Government shall pay two-thirds of the charge, or 48,000, and that the Colonial Government shall pay the balance or 24,000, providing also the land for the new barracks, estimated at 50,000. The proposal therefore means that the Imperial Government should give up sites worth 140,000, and should spend 48,000 in cash; that the Colony should find a new site, costing 50,000, and should spend 24,000 in cash. The Committee do not say how they would provide for the excess which they anticipate upon the estimate.\n\n## Recommendations\n\n### 11\nSecretaries of State for the Colonies, in despatches to the Colonial Government, have admitted the probability of the garrison of Hong Kong being in part maintained for Imperial purposes, adding, however, that \"such purposes are closely connected with the prosperity of the Colony\" they have gone further, and said that \"the larger part of the garrison is maintained for Imperial purposes.\" Sir A. Haliburton's Committee take the latter of these two statements apparently as their guide, in forming an opinion upon the amount of the contribution to be asked from the Colony.\n\n### 12\nMy Lords must, however, demur to such an assumption. The Secretary of State for the Colonies is the advocate and representative of Colonial interests in the Imperial Councils, and my Lords cannot be bound by a statement to which they, as representing the British taxpayer, were not parties. It must not be held a financial instruction for all time, that the \"larger\" part of the garrison of Hong Kong is maintained for Imperial purposes. On the contrary, my Lords strongly hold that if they are to lay down a principle, it ought to be that, as the Imperial Government undertakes the naval defence of the Colony, the Colony itself should provide the larger part of the cost of its military defence.\n\n### 13\nSir A. Haliburton's Committee state that the revenues of the Colony would not admit of its bearing any large proportion of the cost of its garrison, and they point out that the revenue of 1888 was estimated at 266,000, while the cost of the future garrison will amount to 283,000. Taking as their starting point the arrangement made in 1865, under which the Colony contributed one-sixth of its revenue to military expenditure, and thereby defrayed one-fifth of the cost of its garrison, they show that one-fifth of the cost of the future garrison would be 56,000, or rather more than one-fifth of the estimated revenue for 1888. But though they do not think such a charge excessive in itself, they point to the expenditure which the Colony has incurred on defences, to the expenditure which it may incur on barracks, and on local Militia and Volunteers, and they suggest that one-fifth of the cost of the Regular garrison would, in these circumstances, press hardly on the Colony. They propose accordingly that the contribution should be fixed at 40,000 for five years from 1st January, 1889, and that at the commencement of 1893 the contribution should be reconsidered, with a view to its readjustment in 1894.\n\n## 19\nMy Lords have carefully weighed these recommendations, and they regret to come to the conclusion that the proposed settlement will not satisfy the just claim of Her Majesty's Government.\n\nThe fact that the Colony has in two or three past years contributed an inadequate sum to works of defence, is not a reason for relieving it of a fair contribution to the charge of its garrison in the future. Nor can my Lords admit the cost of barracks as a reason for relief. The provision of barracks is a temporary and extraordinary service, such as the Imperial Government has often to meet, and such as it meets, either by temporary increase of taxation, or by loan. The cost of local Militia and Volunteers may properly be included in military expenditure, but proposals for the enrolment of such corps, though often put forward, are seldom enforced; and my Lords would prefer to know that Militia and Volunteers actually exist, before they admit a prospective charge on their account. The plea for relief in consideration of other services performed, is therefore insufficient.\n\n## 20\nNor is the plea for consideration on the ground of incapacity, more sound. Hong Kong is a port with 7,000,000 tons of shipping in the year. It is the centre of financial business in that quarter of the globe. A recent Governor has dilated on its great and increasing prosperity, and has dwelt upon the fact that for a long time taxation had not been increased. The estimated population on the 31st December, 1887, was 213,000.* The numbers were increasing at the rate of 9,000 or 10,000 a year, \nand in 1889 the population probably exceeds 230,000. The Military Contribution, therefore, is now little more than half a dollar a head, and the increase of contribution now proposed, say 43,000, including Volunteers, would reach little more than a dollar a-head.\n\n*`Parliamentary Paper C. 5249, 1888`\n\n## 21\nComparison between the sums expended by different countries on certain services are always difficult, and my Lords only offer the following figures as approximate, and in illustration of their general argument. They believe that each inhabitant of the Netherlands contributes about 13s. 7d. to defence, each inhabitant of Belgium about 6s. 7d., each inhabitant of Portugal about 7s. 2d, each inhabitant of Sweden about 6s. 6d, each inhabitant of Greece about 10s. 3d., and each inhabitant of Switzerland about 5s. 1¼d. These are small States not armed for aggression, and they afford, therefore, a fair standard of comparison with Colonies. Again, Hong Kong contributes perhaps 9 per cent. of its revenue to defence, Holland contributes about 25 per cent., Belgium about 14½ per cent., Portugal 19 per cent., Sweden 32 per cent., Greece 24 per cent., Switzerland 34 per cent. of the national revenue, to defence. But if it is contended that these are European Powers, and therefore that the comparison is not fair, my Lords may cite the Dutch East Indies, in which the proportion is 27 per cent., or Japan, in which it is 43 per cent. If the increase proposed by the Committee were adopted, the contribution from Hong Kong would not probably exceed 18 per cent., and as the revenue steadily increases, the percentage at the close of four years will in all probability be less.\n\n## 22\nBut the percentage of revenue appropriated to defence, affords an imperfect test of the burden thereby imposed upon the community. It must also be ascertained whether the revenue raised is large in itself, and obtained by means of heavy taxation. The inhabitants of Hong Kong are exempted from Customs, and there is no income tax in the Colony. Taxation is confined, my Lords believe, to a moderate house tax, to light stamp duties producing from 20,000 to 30,000 a-year, and to a few license duties, the chief of which is levied upon opium. Further, the modest revenue of 266,000 includes local taxation.\n\n## 23\nMy Lords have shown, they think, that the contribution of Hong Kong towards its own defence is inadequate, by whatever standard it may be tested. The proportion of its revenue set aside for defensive purposes, is insignificant when compared with the like proportion set aside in States which do not maintain large armies and navies for aggressive objects. The increasing prosperity of the Colony is undoubted. contributes nothing to its naval defence. The charge for defence per head of the inhabitants is very small. The amount and incidence of taxation are, out of all comparison, light.\n\n## 24\nSir A. Haliburton's Committee state that the Colonial Office in 1863 imposed upon the Colony a Military Contribution equivalent to one-fifth of the cost of the garrison, and that it was in the contemplation of the Secretary of State, who then held office, to increase it. That intention has unfortunately remained unfulfilled for a quarter of a century, and the favourable terms thus enjoyed by the Colony during that period would in itself justify a considerable increase in the proportion which Hong Kong is henceforth to contribute to defence. It certainly is not a reason for a reduction of that proportion. Yet the Committee recommend a contribution not equal in proportion to that which the Colony paid in 1863, and their recommendation is not accompanied by a stipulation for a more equitable arrangement at the expiration of the five years. This would not be a satisfactory conclusion.\n\n## 25\nThe Empire is required to make considerable sacrifice in order to complete its defences, and as self-defence is the primary duty of every community, proper provision for that object should be one of the first charges on the revenue of each member of the Empire. The Imperial Government, in its anxiety to consult Colonial interests, has somewhat overlooked this first condition of society, and the precedent may not improbably be construed into a rule of policy that Colonial Governments are not to be asked for a proper contribution towards their own preservation. Sir A. Haliburton's Committee do not sufficiently recognise the fact that the Colony, like the mother country, must increase its taxation if existing revenues will not meet the due and proper charges of defence and government, and my Lords know no reason why the prosperous Colony of Hong Kong should be exempted in this respect from the ordinary lot of civilised communities.\n\n## 26\nMy Lords cannot therefore agree that the contribution of 40,000 a-year is sufficient, and they will therefore propose that the subject should be referred...\n\n*If military expenditure apart from works were about 270,000 dollars (43,000 at 3s. 2d. the dollar), this would mean about 18 per cent. of a revenue of 1,500,000 dollars.\n\nPage 138 \nD \n478", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-253 - Public Offices & Others - 1891.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 347748, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 190, "title": "CO129-253 - Public Offices & Others - 1891", "content_text": "## 26\n\ncontribution to be paid after 1892 being subject to reconsideration during these three years,\n\n8. You will remember that Lord Derby's despatch, No. 213, of the 17th of September, 1884, enclosed with other correspondence a letter from the War Office of the 9th of September, which stated that \"Lord Hartington considers that it should also be intimated to the Governor that the present arrangement as to incidence of charge only applies to the works now to be constructed and armed, and that the Military Contribution paid by the Colony will have to be reconsidered with reference to the increased garrison which may become necessary in consequence of these works, and the general defence of the Colony.\" And, in now informing you of the amount which Her Majesty's Government demand from the Colony as its contribution to the increased garrison, I desire to draw your attention to the following considerations, which have weighed before that amount was determined,\n\nduly\n\n9. Hong Kong is the centre of great commercial activity, and the mercantile prosperity of the port continually increases in a very remarkable degree, as is evidenced by the following figures extracted from the Blue Books:—\n\n| Shipping | Ships | Tonnage |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Entered 1863 | 1,822 | 894,924 |\n| Cleared 1863 | 1,835 | 911,957 |\n| Entered 1868 | 2,750 | 2,501,815 |\n| Cleared 1868 | 2,709 | 2,473,887 |\n| Entered 1878 | 2,879 | 4,552,668 |\n| Cleared 1878 | 2,887 | 4,340,419 |\n| Entered 1888 | 2,779 | 6,400,410 |\n| Cleared 1888 | 2,736 | 6,309,974 |\n\n10. During the same period, the increase of the public revenue has, similarly, been very marked. The figures have been—\n\n| Year | Revenue |\n| --- | --- |\n| 1863 | 576,375 |\n| 1868 | 734,106 (including fees on gambling houses, since abolished) |\n| 1878 | 947,637 |\n| 1888 | 1,557,300 |\n\nIn other words, the public revenue has nearly trebled itself in 25 years, while the shipping visiting the port has multiplied seven-fold.\n\nThe population, which was shown by the census of 1881 to be 160,402, is now estimated at not less than 215,000.\n\n11. It is evident that the prosperity, I may almost say the existence, of the Colony and the welfare of this large population, depend upon the continuance and security of its trade with other places. If the trade is secure, the prosperity may be expected to continue and increase, and the first instincts of self-interest would lead the community to make every effort to protect and defend their trade.\n\n12. The present defences of Hong Kong, with their powerful armament, will suffice, in the opinion of Her Majesty's professional advisers, to afford the necessary protection against any attack likely to be made upon it; but I need scarcely remind you that another and more powerful safeguard is provided by the ships of Her Majesty's Navy, whose duty it would be to prevent any hostile force from approaching the place, and in whose absence alone would any attack upon it become possible. The combination of the two forms of defence will, it may be hoped, effectually secure the safety of the trade of the Colony, and of the population which lives and thrives upon it.\n\n13. I frankly recognize that the merchants of the Colony have always been ready to acknowledge the value of the Navy to them. At the same time the changed conditions of warfare, and the sudden and rapid nature of the opening operations, have made it necessary for Hong Kong, like other important Colonial ports, to be always ready to repel an attack in case of the absence of the fleet, and to have its garrison permanently at full strength, and not dependent upon the doubtful possibility of receiving reinforcements on the outbreak of war.\n\n## 27\n\n14. It will doubtless be urged, as has been urged before, that the defence of Colonial ports is a matter of Imperial concern, and that the maintenance of their garrisons should be mainly borne by the taxpayers of the United Kingdom. Her Majesty's Government, have, however, never admitted, and cannot now admit, this plea. Self-preservation is the first law of nature, and if the capture of Hong Kong would be a serious blow to the Empire, the capture would mean ruin to many inhabitants of the Colony, and serious loss and hardship to all. Hong Kong, in common with every other British possession, is directly benefited by its connection with the rest of the Empire, and, while enjoying the benefits, cannot escape from the responsibilities entailed by that connection. The larger dependencies, such as the Australian Colonies, accept their responsibilities without demur, and not only provide the whole of their land defence, but contribute to the cost of the Navy in order to strengthen the squadron, and obtain more complete protection for their shipping and floating trade.\n\n15. The estimated cost of the Navy to the Imperial Exchequer is, as you will see from the Statesman's Year Book (page 247), over £13,000,000 for the year 1888-89, and as the population of the United Kingdom (page 255) is more than 37,000,000, these figures show that the mother country contributes 7s. per head of its population to the naval defence of the Empire, and it might reasonably expect its dependencies to make provision for their own defence to an equal amount. Questions of jurisdiction beyond the 3-mile limit, of the flag, and of discipline, stand in the way of Colonial warships, so that the Navy will always be that of the mother country, and in dealing with the great question of the defence of the Empire it is difficult to lay down any other broad principle for dividing the cost of Colonial defence, except that of the mother country undertaking the sea defence of the Colonies by means of her Navy, and of the Colonies, so far as their means allow, respectively providing for their own land defence. But even this principle admits of extension, as, for instance, when a Colony agrees to contribute, as most of the Australian Colonies now do, to the cost of additional ships to be employed in local waters for the protection of the floating trade within those waters.\n\n16. In some cases, as I need scarcely inform you, the poverty of the Colony renders any realisation of the general principle laid down in the preceding paragraph practically unattainable; in others, the contribution, though substantial, falls short of the full cost owing to the inability of the Colony to provide more; and in both cases, the difference is borne by the heavily-taxed mother country. The Army Estimates (page 245 of the Year Book) are considerably over £16,000,000, or more than 8s. 9d. per head of the population. And this, added to the naval charges, makes a payment by the mother country of 15s. 9d. per head per annum for the defence of the Empire in 1888-89. But I am informed by the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury that the corresponding payment for the current year may be estimated at 16s. 5d. per head. These are the net amounts, after allowing for contributions received from India and the Colonies, but are exclusive of a very large expenditure chargeable to special defence loans.\n\n17. If these payments are contrasted with the contribution asked from the Colony under your Government, you will see that £40,000 a-year is not only a very much smaller charge per head of the population, but, as I shall proceed to show, its payment is well within the ability of the flourishing Colony of Hong Kong. There are other objects on which the money might usefully be spent, but self-protection is the first duty of a community, to which other matters should be postponed, and it is hardly necessary to point out that, unless that is secured, very much of the other outlay may prove to have been undertaken in vain.\n\n18. The revenue for 1888 amounted to $1,557,300, and £40,000 (the contribution proposed for the next three years) taken only at 3s. a dollar amounts to about 17 per cent of the revenue, and to about 1.24 dollars (say 3s. 9d.) per head of the population of the Colony, the whole of which is vitally interested in the security of the port. It cannot be said that such a payment is excessive, either as a charge upon the people who throng to Hong Kong to seek the protection to life and property afforded by the British flag, or in its proportion to the total public revenue of the Colony, or by comparison with the expenditure on similar purposes in the United Kingdom.\n\n19. I will only further point out in reference to the annual payments, what doubtless you will not have failed to notice, that the £40,000 which the Colony will pay in each of the next three years, is only one-seventh of the cost of the garrison, while the remaining six-sevenths, £240,000, will still be borne by the mother country.\n\n## 187\n\n20. A separate correspondence is proceeding with respect to the details of the additional barracks which will be required for the increased garrison, and I do not propose to touch upon these details; but I will state the reasons which influenced Her...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-253 - Public Offices & Others - 1891.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 348205, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 647, "title": "CO129-253 - Public Offices & Others - 1891", "content_text": "643 \n\nessential to the proper execution of his duties by the officer at the head of that Department.\n\n4. a force composed largely of Chinese police and charged with the preservation of order amongst a population compared, in the main, of Chinese.\n\n3. During my residence in Hong Kong, I have been attached for most part to the Registrar General's Department where officers are brought into direct relations with the Chinese, where the duties consist in part of watching the movements of the members of that race in the Colony, and where a miniature police force is to be found in the existence of a body of District Watchmen vested by Ordinance with full powers as constables and entirely directed from that Department.\n\nI would also venture to claim the consideration of His Lordship for the staters and expectations of these officers who have proceeded to Hongkong as Cadets and were given to understand, at the time of their appointment, that the higher offices which they might be qualified to fill would be within their reach.\n\n5. I was born in 1859 and entered the Colonial Service after an open competitive examination held in August 1882, having graduated at the University of London in October 1881. I would therefore respectfully remind His Lordship that Mr Weaver, at the time of his preferment, was about the same standing I now am, and that responsible positions have been conferred", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-253 - Public Offices & Others - 1891.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 348845, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 578, "title": "CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4]", "content_text": "# ABSTRACT of CASES brought under COGNIZANCE at the POLICE MAGISTRATES' COURT during a period of Ten Years, from 1st January, 1882, to 31st December, 1891, inclusive.\n\n## CASES, HOW DISPOSED OF, AND THE NUMBER OF MALE AND FEMALE PRISONERS UNDER EACH HEAD.\n\n| OFFENCE | No. of CASES | No. of PRISONERS |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Animals-Cruelty to | 17 | 17 |\n| Arms Consolidation Ordinance-Breach of | 5 | 5 |\n| Assault | | |\n| ‣ Causing grievous bodily harm | 81 | 81 |\n| ‣ Common | 1,097 | 1,097 |\n| ‣ Indecent | 8 | 8 |\n| ‣ With intent to commit a felony | 4 | 4 |\n| ‣ On Police in the execution of their duty | 93 | 93 |\n| ‣ On Females and Boys under 14 years of age | 3 | 3 |\n| Banishment-Returning after (see also Conditional Pardon) | 15 | 15 |\n| Births & Deaths-Breach of Ordinance for Registration of | 24 | 24 |\n| Boats-Demanding more than legal fare | 14 | 14 |\n| ‣ Refusing to pay Hire of | 2 | 2 |\n| ‣ Regulations-Breach of | 6 | 6 |\n| Breach of the Peace | 268 | 268 |\n| Bribery, or attempting to bribe | 1 | 1 |\n| Buildings-Breach of Ordinance for | 2 | 2 |\n| ‣ Domestic-Occupying without certificates | 30 | 30 |\n| Burglary | 1,767 | 1,757 |\n| Burial of Chinese Corpse elsewhere than in a Cemetery | 1 | 1 |\n| Brothels-Allowing children above 6 and under 15 years of age to be in a registered | 9 | 9 |\n| ‣ Keeping an incorrect list of inmates of registered | 2 | 2 |\n| ‣ Unregistered | 95 | 95 |\n| Cattle-Slaughtering in a place other than one set apart for the purpose | 1 | 1 |\n| Child-Desertion of | 14 | 14 |\n| Child Stealing | 2 | 2 |\n| Chinese Emigrants-Receiving or harbouring improper | 6 | 6 |\n| Territory-Crimes and Offences committed in | 2 | 2 |\n| Coin-Offences relating to | 1 | 1 |\n| Conspiracy to defraud | 10 | 10 |\n| Contempt of Court | 1 | 1 |\n| Convict Licence-Breach of | 1 | 1 |\n| Corrosive Fluid-Throwing-With intent to do grievous bodily harm | 1 | 1 |\n| Cutting and Wounding with intent, &c. | 516 | 516 |\n| Dangerous Goods Ordinance-Breach of | 2 | 2 |\n| Decoying-Men or boys into or away from the Colony, or imprisoning or detaining them for the purpose of emigration or for any purpose whatsoever | 2 | 2 |\n| Defence Sketching Prevention Ordinance-Breach of | 1 | 1 |\n| Desertion from British Merchant Ships | 14 | 14 |\n| Disorderly Behaviour Drunkenness, Fighting, &c. | 1,177 | 1,177 |\n| Distraint for rent-Fraudulently removing property under | 1 | 1 |\n| Dogs Allowing unmuzzled ferocious, to be at large, &c. | 2 | 2 |\n| ‣ Stealing | 11 | 11 |\n| Domestic Servants-Misconduct as | 30 | 30 |\n| Drugs-Administering | 9 | 9 |\n| ‣ Procuring to cause abortion | 3 | 3 |\n| Embezzlement | 5 | 5 |\n| ‣ by a Clerk | 6 | 6 |\n| ‣ by a Public Servant | 1 | 1 |\n| Escape of Prisoners from Chain Gang | 1 | 1 |\n| Extortion | 9 | 9 |\n| False Charge-Preferring or giving wilful false evidence | 10 | 10 |\n| ‣ Undecided | 2 | 2 |\n| False Pretences obtaining Goods and Money by | 142 | 142 |\n| Felony-Attempting to commit | 12 | 12 |\n| Fire Arms-Discharging | 1 | 1 |\n| Fire Works-Discharging without permits | 564 | 564 |\n| Forcible keeping a person with intent to procure a benefit for his liberation | 1 | 1 |\n| Forged Order-Uttering a for goods with intent to defraud | 21 | 21 |\n| Forgery | 40 | 40 |\n| Fugitive Offenders-Offences against | 1 | 1 |\n| Furious Driving | 1 | 1 |\n| Gambling-Breach of Ordinance for Suppression of | 1,574 | 1,574 |\n| ‣ in the Streets, treated as Nuisances | 35 | 35 |\n| Gaols-Breach of Ordinance for | 7 | 7 |\n| Gaol's Subordinate Officers-Misconduct of | 2 | 2 |\n| Harbour Dredging at Anchorage for Ships of War in the, Regulations-Breach of | 8 | 8 |\n| Health Ordinance-Breach of regulations under | 112 | 112 |\n| House Breaking | 1,771 | 1,771 |\n| Householders and Servants-Breach of Ordinance, for Registration of | 14 | 14 |\n| Indecent Exposure of Person by Bathing or otherwise, and Lewdness | 1 | 1 |\n| Larceny-By a Servant | 5 | 2 |\n| ‣ Common | 1,042 | 1,042 |\n| ‣ From Ships or Boats in the Harbour | 20 | 20 |\n| ‣ Inciting person to commit | 2 | 2 |\n| ‣ From the Person | 174 | 171 |\n| ‣ With violence or with wounding | 8 | 8 |\n| ‣ Indecent with intent to ravish | 1 | 1 |\n| ‣ In a Dwelling House | 8 | 8 |\n| Manslaughter | 13 | 13 |\n| Marine Store Dealers-Breach of Ordinance for | 6 | 6 |\n| Markets' Ordinance-Breach of | 456 | 456 |\n| Menaces-Demanding Money by | 33 | 33 |\n| Merchandise Marks Ordinance-Breach of | 3 | 3 |\n| Merchant Shipping Act of 1876-Breach of | 14 | 14 |\n| Military Stores-Exportation of | 3 | 3 |\n| Misdemeanor-Attempting to commit | 8 | 8 |\n| Murder | 12 | 12 |\n| ‣ Aiding and abetting in | 2 | 2 |\n| Night-Found at, armed with Dangerous and Offensive Weapons, with Intent to break into Dwelling Houses | 2 | 2 |\n| ‣ Found in Dwelling Houses by-with Intent to commit Felony therein | 37 | 37 |\n| Nuisances Allowing Dirt and Filth to remain on Premises or in immediate Vicinity thereof | 77 | 77 |\n| ‣ Blasting Stones to the danger of Persons and Property | 5 | 5 |\n| ‣ Blowing Whistles | 1 | 1 |\n| ‣ Boarding Ships, &c., without permission | 126 | 126 |\n| ‣ Boats mooring inshore | 219 | 219 |\n| ‣ Boats obstructing Navigation | 166 | 166 |\n| ‣ Breaming Boats | 10 | 10 |\n| ‣ Carrying or exposing Night Soil or Noxious Waters in the Streets in uncovered Buckets, and in open Boats along the Fraya | 2 | 2 |\n| ‣ Hanging wet Clothes, &c., to dry over Public Ways | 30 | 30 |\n| ‣ Leaving Holes and Drains unprotected in the Streets | 5 | 5 |\n| ‣ Neglecting to clean out Dust Bins, and throwing Rubbish, &c., into the Streets | 92 | 92 |\n| Obstruction of Roads and Streets, &c., by Hawkers, Chair Coolies and Shopkeepers | 2,201 | 2,201 |\n| Offensive Weapons-Having Possession of | 9 | 9 |\n| Opium-Breach of Ordinances for Preparation and Sale of prepared and raw | 1 | 1 |\n| Passage-Obtaining surrepticiously a | 2 | 2 |\n| Perjury, (see also Preferring false Charge and giving wilful false Testimony) | 10 | 10 |\n| Piracy | 1 | 1 |\n| Police-Assuming Name, Designation, &c., of Constable of | 3 | 3 |\n| Police Constables-Misconduct as | 28 | 28 |\n| Post Office-Breach of Ordinance for | 2 | 2 |\n| Rape | 23 | 23 |\n| Recognisances-Breach of | 1 | 1 |\n| Receiving Stolen Goods | 188 | 188 |\n| Robbery From the Person | 60 | 60 |\n| ‣ From the Person with Wounding or with Violence | 199 | 199 |\n| ‣ On the Highways with Arms or with Violence | 1 | 1 |\n| Rogues & Vagabonds-As Street Gamblers and Watchmen to Gamblers | 80 | 80 |\n| ‣ As suspicious Characters | 7 | 7 |\n| Seamen or Apprentices-Disobedience to lawful commands by British Merchant | 18 | 18 |\n| Ships, &c.-Carrying passengers in excess of that allowed by licence | 34 | 34 |\n| ‣ Leaving Harbour without a Clearance | 31 | 31 |\n| ‣ Neglecting to have a riding light on board | 15 | 15 |\n| Shipwrecked Goods-Found in the possession of | 4 | 4 |\n| Shooting with intent to do Grievous Bodily Harm | 171 | 171 |\n| Spirituous and fermented Liquors-Breach of Ordinance for retail of | 114 | 114 |\n| Stonecutters' Island Ordinance-Breach of | 2 | 2 |\n| Stones and other Missiles-Discharging to Danger of Persons and Property | 55 | 55 |\n| Streams-Defiling | 12 | 12 |\n| Suicide-Attempting to commit | 13 | 13 |\n| Sunday Cargo-Working Ordinance-Breach of | 7 | 7 |\n| Threats Of Violence to the Person | 71 | 71 |\n| ‣ To Property | 10 | 10 |\n| Trees, &c.-Cutting and destroying | 89 | 89 |\n| Trespass on Crown Land | 416 | 416 |\n| Unlicensed-Plying of Boats | 14 | 14 |\n| ‣ Billiard Tables | 1 | 1 |\n| Unnatural Offence | 1 | 1 |\n| Unwholesome Provisions-Exposing for Sale, or bringing into the Colony | 12 | 12 |\n| Vaccination Ordinance-Breach of | 168 | 168 |\n| Vagrancy Ordinance-Breach of | 13 | 13 |\n| Vehicles-Offences against Public-under Licensing Consolidation Ordinance | 80 | 80 |\n| Verandahs erected on over Crown Land-Enclosing | 6 | 6 |\n| Watchmen-Misconduct as Private | 1 | 1 |\n| Weights and Measures-Breach of Ordinance for | 1 | 1 |\n| Wild Birds and Game-Breach of Ordinance for Preservation of | 516 | 516 |\n| Will-Uttering a forged | 2 | 2 |\n| Women and Girls Protection Ordinance-Breach of | 142 | 142 |\n| Workmen-Intimidating | 9 | 9 |\n\n## Total Number of Cases\n\n| Year | Total Cases | Committed to Prison | Ordered to find Security | Punished for Preferring False Charge | Discharged | Committed for Trial at Supreme Court | Detained pending Orders of His Excellency the Governor |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| 1882 | 7,667 | 6,049 | 394 | 1,922 | 250 | 259 | 17 |\n| 1883 | 10,650 | 8,127 | 670 | 2,898 | 343 | 121 | 8 |\n| 1884 | 14,065 | 11,748 | 1,088 | 2,294 | 268 | 101 | 2 |\n| 1885 | 10,281 | 7,951 | 843 | 2,188 | 258 | 159 | 2 |\n| 1886 | 14,011 | 12,081 | 842 | 2,198 | 190 | 157 | 2 |\n| 1887 | 19,015 | 10,354 | 326 | 2,620 | 150 | 158 | 9 |\n| 1888 | 11,647 | 9,700 | 232 | 2,704 | 146 | 168 | 6 |\n| 1889 | 8,670 | 6,628 | 268 | 2,319 | 178 | 157 | 10 |\n| 1890 | 9,789 | 7,428 | 317 | 2,406 | 151 | 102 | 4 |\n| 1891 | 16,382 | 13,438 | 534 | 1,906 | 184 | 40 | 2 |\n\n## Grand Total for the 10 Years\n\n115,630 | 93,497 | 5,519 | 22,955 | 2,087 | 1,422 | 62\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Average per Year | 11,568 | 9,349 | 551 | 2,295 | 208 | 142 | 6 |\n\nALFRED G. WISE, Police Magistrate, for the Police Magistrates.\n\nMagistracy, Hongkong, 26th January, 1892.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-254 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 349611, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-255 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [5-7]", "page_number": 563, "title": "CO129-255 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [5-7]", "content_text": "## Proposed Project\n\nAfter carefully considering the foregoing facts, I am of the opinion that the best project for obtaining a reasonable public water supply for British Kowloon to meet its present requirements and provide for extension if necessary is:\n\n(a) The reservation of the four valleys, numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4 on the plan, for water works purposes.\n\n(b) The sinking of wells in valleys numbers 2 and 3, and laying subsoil drains as in the case of valley 1 already described, which will anticipate a minimum supply of 232,000 gallons per diem.\n\n(c) The collection of these waters by means of cast iron pipes laid with watertight joints through the cultivated lands. I propose that the pipes in valley 4 should be made with iron filings and ammoniac owing to the wet nature of the soil, in order to avoid trouble in the trenches and in consideration of the small pressure to which they will be subjected. This corrosion will dispense with the use of lead, which under the circumstances would be liable to be picked out and stolen.\n\n(d) The erection of pumping machinery at the North end of Yau-Mati for the purpose of pumping water to a reservoir to be constructed at an elevation of about 230 feet above Ordnance Datum.\n\n(e) The distribution of water by means of cast iron pipes jointed with lead throughout the built area of Kowloon.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-255 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1892 [5-7].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 355777, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-265 - Public Offices & Others - 1894", "page_number": 54, "title": "CO129-265 - Public Offices & Others - 1894", "content_text": "(9)\n\nExtract from the \"Rangoon Times,\" dated 7th February 1894.\n\nTan President said-\n\n\"The next matter is to consider the President's memorandum as to the result of his enquiries regarding prostitution and solicitation in Rangoon. I have already gone so very fully into this question in my memorandum of 20th January that I need hardly do more today than bring the points of my memorandum to your notice. I was asked to enquire into (1) the prevalence of open prostitution and solicitation in Rangoon; (2) the alleged slavery of some of the prostitutes; (3) the alleged buying and selling of girls for prostitution. I have found that the existing law fully covers the second and third points and so have made no recommendations as to them. As to the first, I have found that more or less notorious brothels exist in nearly every residential and business street in the town proper, from Judah Ezekiel Street to Godwins Road, and in close proximity to the chief schools for boys and girls of all nationalities. I have further found that solicitation of a very annoying and persistent kind is constantly practised in the most respectable streets in which people have a right to expect to be free from it. I have found that, though the existing law technically covers offences under both the above heads, it does not do so in practice; that is to say, that the steps necessary to bring the offenders to justice are not such as respectable and trustworthy people can be expected to take. I have found that a section of the Punjab Municipal Act covers the class of offences that come under the head of keeping brothels, but that there is no existing enactment covering offences under the head of solicitation. The section in the Punjab Municipal Act provides that if three or more inhabitants of the neighbourhood of a house used as a brothel satisfy a Magistrate that it is a brothel, the owner or tenant must vacate within five days or be fined Rs. 25 a day. That seems to me to cover our wants exactly for brothels which will thus gradually find their lasting abode in neighbourhoods where nobody objects to them. As to solicitation I have proposed a section in my memorandum which gives the word the widest definition practicable, makes it a penal offence, and one of which the Police may take cognizance. In order that these proposed sections may become law it will be necessary to amend the Lower Burma Municipal Act. I propose therefore that we ask the local Government to take steps to amend the Lower Burma Municipal Act, 1884, so as to include in it the following sections:-\n\n\"Brothels.-(1) On the complaint of three or more inhabitants of a municipality that a house in their immediate neighbourhood and within the limits of the municipality is used as a common brothel or lodging-house for prostitutes or disorderly persons of any description, to the annoyance of the respectable inhabitants of the vicinity, any Magistrate of the first class, having, as such, jurisdiction in the place where the house is situated may summon the owner or tenant of the house to answer the complaint, and on being satisfied that the house is so used and is therefore a source of annoyance and offence to the neighbours, may order the owner or tenant to discontinue such use of it, and if he shall fail to comply with such order within five days may impose upon him a fine to the extent of twenty-five rupees for every day thereafter that the house shall be so used. (2) This section shall take effect in a municipality only after it has been specially extended thereto by the local Government at the request of the Committee.\n\n\"Penalty for solicitation.-(1) Whoever importunes, solicits, or molests any person, or sits or loiters, for the purpose of prostitution or on behalf of a prostitute, or performs any act which amounts to solicitation for the purpose of prostitution or on behalf of a prostitute shall be punishable with fine which may extend to one hundred rupees or with imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen days for every breach of this section. (2) Whether any act that has been performed amounts to solicitation for the purpose of prostitution or on behalf of a prostitute shall be decided by the Magistrate having jurisdiction in each case. (3) Every breach of this section shall be a cognizable offence.\n\nMr. Miller said—\n\n**The thanks of this Committee and of every Municipal voter in Rangoon are due to the President for the incisive manner in which he has conducted the investigations on this unsavoury subject, as requested at the meeting of 19th December last. The matter is one that cannot be treated with rose-water, and the thoroughness of the enquiries has revealed an existing state of things that are simply appalling, and would be a disgrace to this body if permitted to continue; and where the remedy lies in its hands, as it will, to a great extent, if the local Government amends the Lower Burma Municipal Act as proposed by Major Temple. The addition of the proposed sections are in no way needlessly harassing to an unfortunate class, whose existence we all deplore, but they will largely protect the youth of Rangoon, who are at present contaminated by the proximity of the houses complained of to certain educational institutions, but will also conduce to the preservation of public decency, which is being nightly outraged on some of the most important streets of Rangoon. I beg to second Major Temple's proposition.**\n\n`GRCPO-No. 1876, B.S., 20-3-94-50.`", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-265 - Public Offices & Others - 1894.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 357999, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-268 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1895 [7-11]", "page_number": 164, "title": "CO129-268 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1895 [7-11]", "content_text": "# THE ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL\nAs I understand, notas issued by the Chinese banks are not bank notes at all; if anything they are bank pass bills. Bank notes are notes issued by the ordinary incorporated banks. The Chinese banks are incorporated. \nHon. Ho KAI-No; that is so.\n\nNone of \n\nThe ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-They do not issue bank notes in the ordinary acceptation of the term.\n\nHon. Ho KAI-I only wanted to be quite clear upon the point.\n\nBill passed through Committee without discussion.\n\nCouncil resumed.\n\nBill read a third time and passed.\n\n## THE POSSESSION OF FIRE ARMS\nThe ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-In moving the second reading of the Bill entitled **Ordinance to amend and consolidate the law relating to the carriage and possession of deadly weapons**, I would like to call attention very briefly to what has given rise to the proposed Consolidation Ordinance. Most of the Ordinance is entirely old matter, but there are certain portions of it which are new matter. Early last March a serious disturbance took place in the City of Victoria. There were clan fights, I think I am correct in saying, of men from Tang Kong and Sz Yap, and during the period of disturbance it was necessary to bring into force by proclamation of the Governor certain provisions of the Peace Preservation Ordinance. Arms, revolvers, fighting irons, were found in the possession of Chinese by the police, and persons were assaulted with swords, some were killed or injured by shots in the streets, and people were injured from the roofs of houses. Owing to the vigilance of the police and the active measures taken by them and also in some degree to the salutary application of the Banishment Ordinance, everything was in time quieted down. Shortly after this disturbance took place, the Captain Superintendent of Police presented a report detailing very ably all the circumstances of the affair. The result was that at the end of May last year a strong committee was appointed to enquire into the means of preventing a repetition of such rioting. The Committee comprised the Registrar-General, the Captain Superintendent of Police, and others, who certainly rendered very good services to the Committee. The report of the Committee was presented in October last year, and I will very briefly refer to that portion of the report which deals with the proposed amendments in this Ordinance, and it is as follows:\n\n| Clause | Recommendation |\n| --- | --- |\n| (1) | Section 5. In addition to the 'carrying of arms' the possession of arms generally (and otherwise than is provided against in the existing law) without due authority should be prohibited. |\n| (2) | 'Due authority' should be a licence to possess arms grantable in the same manner as a licence to carry arms under Section 3 of the Arms Consolidation Ordinance as amended by Section 3 of Ordinance 4 of 1892. All licences granted as above should be issued for a limited period only, otherwise the restrictions on the sale of arms which we are recommending in the subsequent paragraph under this heading might be evaded. |\n| (3) | All owners of trading junks or fishing junks excepted in Section 5 of the present Ordinance should be required to hold a licence (similarly available for a given period) signed by the Harbour Master. |\n| (4) | All licences to carry or 'possess' arms should be made out in the name of the grantee and should not be transferable, and should bear the number, date of issue and expiry. |\n| (5) | The sale of arms by dealers should be prohibited unless the intending purchaser is provided with, and presents at the time of purchase, a licence to carry or possess arms. |\n| (6) | A register should be kept by all dealers in arms in which should be entered the name, occupation, and address of the purchaser, the amount and date of the purchase and the number and date of the licence presented in each case. |\n| (7) | As an alternative to the powers granted under Section 19 of the present Ordinance the Governor in Council should be further empowered during the continuance of any proclamation issued under the Peace Preservation Ordinance to order the closing of all arms shops, and the suspension of the sale of arms during that period. The penalty for the breach of the law in this respect should be the same as that provided by Section 20 of the present Ordinance. |\n\nThese recommendations, I think, have been given full effect to in the Bill now before the Council. I do not think I need detain the Council in going into details, because members will have an opportunity of making any suggestions when the Council is in Committee. In regard to Section 5, it seems to me that it requires consideration. That section provides that \"No person who has not a licence from the Governor for the purpose shall carry any arms or have any arms in his possession in this colony.\" Then follow certain exemptions. Now, sir, I think there are one or two matters in connection with that section which require very considerable care. In the first place, there is no exemption in respect to steamers in the harbour, and nearly all of them have a certain quantity of arms on board for their own protection. In the second place, there are steamers carrying arms in a bona fide character in transit through the harbour. The wording of the old Ordinance also seems defective in regard to trading and fishing junks. The Harbour Master informs me that there are four classes of junks; there are licensed trading junks, licensed fishing junks, unlicensed junks, and unlicensed fishing boats. There is only one class which is required to give security and that is the licensed fishing junks. At the last moment there has been a further objection to this Bill. It is said that it deals harshly with Chinese dealers in arms. Mr. Dennys, who represents them, indicated this fact to me about half-a-dozen days ago, and I believe he also indicated it to my hon. friend on my left (Hon. J. J. Kenrick). In view of these objections to the Bill I do not propose to ask the Council to go into Committee on this Bill to-day. I beg to move the second reading of the Bill.\n\nThe ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY-I beg to second that.\n\nBill read a second time.\n\n## THE REPEALS ORDINANCE\nThe ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL-I beg to move the second reading of a Bill entitled **An Ordinance to declare the effect of Ordinances repealing others**.\n\nAs I mentioned on the last **...**, this is a technical subject, and its object is to provide that class of legislation which has long been the law in England, and which, I believe, has been adopted by the Straits Settlements and other colonies.\n\nThe ACTING COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded the motion.\n\nBill read a second time, committed, and passed.\n\n## ADJOURNMENT\nHIS EXCELLENCY-I propose that the Council do adjourn until Thursday week at 3:30.\n\nPage 161", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-268 - Governor Sir Robinson - 1895 [7-11].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 369091, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-287 - Public Offices & Others - 1898", "page_number": 267, "title": "CO129-287 - Public Offices & Others - 1898", "content_text": "## 2\n\nThe Ministers were naturally not disposed to give way without opposition, and they met my demands by sundry counter-proposals, such as that Great Britain should have full liberty to erect fortifications on the Kowloon mainland, and station troops at any points she pleased with full freedom of movement. I answered by demonstrating the inconveniences of such an arrangement, and the only point on which I agreed to consider the possibility of some arrangement was the retention of Chinese jurisdiction in the city of Kowloon. On this I shall make some remarks later on.\n\nIt took more than one discussion to secure the consent of the Yamên to the lease of so great an area as that shown in the chart, and when they had accepted it, the discussion of details began and supplied material for several more interviews. Instead of describing these in detail it will, I think, be more convenient to make observations on the various points included in the inclosed draft Convention, taking them in order as they appear in it.\n\n1. The Preamble was accepted without objection as an adequate basis.\n\n2. The question of the nature of our title to the extension of territory was more troublesome. I tried to obtain an absolute cession, but could not resist the force of the argument that all other nations who have obtained leases of territory would follow suit, which might be inconvenient for ourselves. The principle of a lease having been admitted a term of ninety-nine years seemed sufficient.\n\n3. The only part of the new boundary needing survey is the line connecting Mirs Bay with Deep Bay.\n\n4. The retention of Chinese jurisdiction within Kowloon city was the point on which the Yamen showed the greatest determination, and the concession made to them went far to reconcile them to the general demand. Apart from the fact that there were Japanese, German, and Russian precedents for such an arrangement, the Ministers, of whom two of those chiefly concerned in the negotiations were Cantonese, showed considerable anxiety as to the effect on public opinion in the Canton Province of any sudden and conspicuous change in existing conditions. If the administration of law in Kowloon city were transferred to the Hong Kong Government, the latter would, of course, be obliged to enforce a number of rules to which the population are at present not liable, and I think it probable that the Yamên was right in anticipating that this would lead to trouble.\n\nIt is not to be supposed that the city of Kowloon will long remain outside British jurisdiction with the surrounding district subject to it, but I think that no harm can result from allowing it to do so for a few years longer, and that little inconvenience will be caused by it, especially as the authority of the Chinese officials will be exercised subject to the stipulation that it does not interfere with military requirements. I should recommend that every effort be made by the Hong Kong authorities to work smoothly with these officials—at all events at first—and to induce them to cordially co-operate in all matters where their assistance is needed. I do not, as I have already said, expect the Chinese jurisdiction in the city to be of long continuance, but I should be sorry, for the sake of general British interests in China, if, after the Chinese have met our wishes in so friendly a spirit, we were at once to set to work to obtain a further concession.\n\n5. The provision for free use of the road from Kowloon city to the mainland was inserted at the Yamên's request, though I told them that the movements of Chinese officials were in no way restricted in British Colonies.\n\n6. The reservation of the existing landing place near the city was a point on which they laid much stress. I accepted it with reluctance, and it may possibly prove inconvenient, but it was necessary to make some concession in order to obtain our main demand without great friction and under pressure of threats. I hope that in view of this consideration the inconvenience, if any, will be tolerated as long as possible.\n\n7. The railway clause was introduced at a late stage in the negotiations. The Ministers said that the Chinese Government contemplated building a line from Canton to Kowloon city, and they asked for a promise that this should be allowed, on the ground that the line would not pay if it stopped some miles short of Kowloon. I said that very possibly we should build a line from Kowloon to the frontier which might meet the Chinese line, but in any case it was impossible to allow a line under Chinese control to run through territory under British jurisdiction. The Ministers then altered their draft clause to the form in which it now stands.\n\nIt is so vague as to be almost grotesque, and I thought of making it clearer by stating that the arrangements to be considered were for the extension to Kowloon, but on reflection the vagueness seemed not without advantage. It may be that the Chinese Government will build the suggested line out of their own funds, but if they try to get a foreign Syndicate to undertake it the vagueness of this clause will have a deterrent influence, whereas an English Syndicate could make an arrangement with the Colonial authorities.\n\n8. and 9. The clauses providing against expulsion or expropriation of the inhabitants, and for dealing with extradition cases need no comment.\n\n10. The last clause, regarding the use of Mirs and Deep Bays by Chinese men-of-war, is one for which I am still awaiting your Lordship's sanction.\n\nAs explained by telegraph the concession was necessary to make the Yamên agree to the lease to us of the whole waters of those bays. I had, as already explained, placed the whole territorial demand before them in a map several weeks before, and they were naturally reluctant to make at the eleventh hour the additional concessions laid down in your Lordship's telegram No. 183 of the 20th May. Moreover, they had been counting on Mirs Bay as a harbour for their southern squadron when it comes into existence.\n\nI explained to them the withdrawal of our Western frontier somewhat to the eastward as induced by our desire to give no foreign Power a pretext for interference with Treaty ports or the approaches thereto. They seemed to appreciate this, though at first inclined to suspect our magnanimity to be intended to induce them to give far more on the east side.\n\nThe American squadron in these waters made Mirs Bay their base after the declaration of war necessitated their leaving Hong Kong. I do not know whether they still use that base, but, if so, the coming into force of this Convention on the 1st July may, as I have suggested to your Lordship by telegram, be inconvenient.\n\nI have also ventured to recommend that before the Convention is signed a pledge should be given by the Hong Kong Government that they will take proper measures for the policing of Mirs Bay, and the other territory placed under their control, and for the prevention of smuggling.\n\nNo definite agreement has been made on the point with the Chinese Government, but it was understood that such measures should be taken.\n\nPrevious to the inclusion of Mirs Bay in the lease I was authorized by the Colonial Office, through your Lordship, to promise an energetic enforcement of existing arrangements, and with that inclusion the necessity for the assistance of the Colonial authorities in preventing smuggling becomes much greater. Protection of the revenue of China is not primarily the duty of the Colonial Government, but that duty is morally imposed on them by the circumstances under which they obtain an increase of territory, for our demand was based on, and justified solely by the necessity of providing for the better protection of Hong Kong.\n\nI do not mean to suggest that the Hong Kong Government would be slow to do whatever can be rightly expected from them, but I think that by pledging themselves before the extension of territory is actually assured they may find it more easy to reconcile the local public to measures otherwise perhaps distasteful.\n\nI have, &c. \n(Signed) \nCLAUDE M. MACDONALD.\n\n## Inclosure in No. 1.\n\n**Draft Convention for the extension of Hong Kong.**\n\nWHEREAS it has for many years past been recognized that an extension of Hong Kong territory is necessary for the proper defence and protection of the Colony, it has now been agreed between the Governments of Great Britain and China that the limits of British territory shall be enlarged, under lease, to the extent indicated generally on the annexed map.*\n\nThe exact boundaries shall be hereafter fixed when proper surveys have been made by officials appointed by the two Governments. The term of this lease shall be ninety-nine years.\n\nIt is at the same time agreed that within the city of Kowloon the Chinese officials now stationed there shall continue to exercise jurisdiction except so far as may be inconsistent with the military requirements for the defence of Hong Kong. Within the remainder of the newly leased territory Great Britain shall have sole jurisdiction.\n\nChinese officials and people shall be allowed as heretofore to use the road from Kowloon to Hsin-an.\n\nIt is further agreed that the existing landing-place near Kowloon city shall be reserved for the convenience of movement of the officials and people within the city.\n\n*Not printed.\n\n| Chinese men-of-war, merchant and passenger vessels come and go and lie there at their pleasure. The convenience of which... |\n## 3\n262", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-287 - Public Offices & Others - 1898.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 373722, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 452, "title": "CO129-294 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [10-12]", "content_text": "6\n\nIn respect of public buildings the Coolie Shelter at the Peak comes first in importance although least in amount. After that the Post Office and after that, but a long way after, new Law Courts---the present Courts although inconvenient being adequate for the transaction of business.\n\nNext in the order of importance come: the new roads. Those in the New Territory first. They are required for the preservation of peace, order, and good government there as well as for the purpose of opening up the Territory for profitable use.\n\nThe present Estimates should be amended and re-cast. The Treasurer's Financial Returns and two Statements of Assets and Liabilities on 31st December, 1893, cannot both be correct. The estimates for Public Works Extraordinary need re-consideration from beginning to end; the works enumerated in them might well be arranged in the order of their importance and urgency instead of in their present apparently purposeless succession.\n\nThen the available money should be appropriated to the several works in the order in which they stand on the Estimates, and if there is not enough to go round, the last on the list should be left over till some other year.\n\nIt is useless to plead the insufficiency of the staff of the Public Works Department as a reason for not proceeding with any urgent work or works. Extraordinary works should be provided for by the provision of additional strength for the Department or by special staffs. At present with much pressing work on hand the staff is being apparently reduced. It is certainly much less strong than it was ten years ago when the population was much less and the area of the Colony twenty-nine square miles instead of four hundred and twenty-nine.\n\nHONGKONG, 23rd November, 1899.\n\nI.A. Whitehead\n\nDear Sir,\n\nC.J.\n\n449\n\n195\n\nRich Hongkong, 17 October, 1899.\n\nNew Post Office.\n\nIn connection with the Estimates for next year, the following appeared in His Excellency the Governor's printed statement, read at the meeting of the Legislative Council on Wednesday, 11th inst.:-\n\n\"The most pressing public work at the present moment is the building for the New Law Courts, which blocks the way for the improvement of the Post Office, a building entirely insufficient and unsuited for the postal requirements of the Colony. The plans for the Law Courts were returned on January 21st to London with some suggestions for improvements. I have written urging that they shall be sent out with the least possible delay.\"\n\n2.-\n\nIn the Colonial Estimates for 1900 the Council is not asked for any vote in respect of new premises for a Post Office.\n\nIt is painfully evident from the Governor's statement that the building of the New Post Office will not be commenced until the construction of the New Law Courts' building is completed. In consequence of the unnecessary delays, vacillating and irresolute policy hitherto followed regarding the construction of the new Government Offices, it is highly probable that the new Court House building may not be completed within four years from this date, if even then. It therefore naturally follows that the new Post Office building will not be commenced until after the Legal Departments move into their new building, say about four years hence, or in 1903.\n\nThe construction of the new Post Office building will take about two if not three years; consequently the Colony will not have a new Post Office for say six or seven years or until 1905 or 1906. The present Post Office building is and has been for some time past wholly inadequate for the Colony's requirements, badly lighted, ill-ventilated, and so cramped that there...\n\nR. Chatterton Wilcox Esq.,\n\nSecretary,\n\nHongkong General Chamber of Commerce.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-294 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 381198, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 726, "title": "CO129-305 - Governor Sir Blake - 1901 [5-7]", "content_text": "22\n\n1. Overcrowding.-The abatement of overcrowding necessarily involves night-visits, i.e., domi-ciliary visits between the hours of 11.00 p.m. 5.00 a.m. (Vide S. 9 of Ord. 15 of 1894) and this work is at present done by one of the First Class Inspectors, but in order to be effective and to have any appreciable result, such visits should be made every night, and this can hardly be done by an Inspector who has in addition the supervision of two Health Districts, of several cemeteries and of the limewashing of tenement dwellings. Night visits frequently involve prosecution and I have found it most convenient therefore to place both these matters in the hands of the same man, with also the service of all Sanitary Board Notices as evidence of such service is required when prosecuting, and I consider that at least two additional Inspectors could well devote the whole of their time to night visitations and prosecutions and that their services are necessary if any systematic attempt is to be made to deal with the question of overcrowding.\n\nAdulteration of Food and Drugs.\n\n2. Early in 1896, the Government, at the instigation of the Sanitary Board, passed an Ordinance dealing with the question of the Adulteration of Food and Drugs, but this Ordinance has practically remained a dead letter since it was passed, owing to the absence of any Staff to administer it. During 1898 only 35 samples were analysed in accordance with the provisions of this Ordinance, and of these no less than 27 were specimens of wines and spirits mostly forwarded by the Police; nine of these specimens were found to be adulterated, while of six samples of milk submitted during the year no less than 4 were found adulterated and in view of the many cases of Typhoid Fever which are traceable to the adulterated milk, I consider that it behoves the Sanitary Board to recommend the appointment of one Inspector who shall devote the whole of his time to the administration of this Ordinance, with a view to the protection of the Community from such diseases as arise from adulterated or decomposed food.\n\nHouse Drainage.\n\n3. During the past two or three years great progress has been made with the re-drainage of the domestic buildings of the Colony in accordance with the scheme of separate drainage inaugurated by Mr. Chadwick and Mr. Cooper and as a natural consequence in dealing with Chinese who have no practical knowledge of under-ground drains and traps, the number of choked drains and broken traps on private premises which are reported daily is becoming very large indeed and I think that the time has now arrived for the Board to recommend the appointment of one or more Inspectors to devote the whole of their time to the abatement of drainage nuisances.\n\nThere is little doubt that at no very distant date at least three such Inspectors will be required, but it is possible that at first two would suffice although I must point out that this is a class of work which is most important to the preservation of health and that we are as yet by no means sure that Bubonic Plague does not bear an intimate relationship to a sewage contaminated soil.\n\nThe Secretary,\n\nSANITARY BOARD.\n\nI have the honour to be,\n\nSir,\n\nYour obedient servant,\n\nFRANCIS W. CLARK,\n\nMedical Officer of Health.\n\narnor. No.\n\nthe bonte 1901\n\n8 July\n\nNo.\n\nHOM\n\n29166\n\n(Subject.)\n\n23166\n\nDESPATCH\n\n720\n\nMap of New Territory\n\nEnquires whether it\n\nCreated\n\nprevious Paper.\n\n1256\n\nCosey\n\nTo cons\n\nAn\n\nDy\n\npublic\n\nnow be\n\nmay\n\n& requests matreections\n\nas to certain positions of doubt in it\n\n#\n\nThe Cose\n\nLucas\n\n(Minutes.)\n\nwas\n\naccidently\n\n[This paper\n\nwverlooked by her in thum]\n\nak to para 1.\n\nwe\n\nparticularly asked\n\nthe D.M.S. (see an 9295/01) for copies of the earlier Edition of Map 1395 in which the boundaries were incompletely marked (i.e., a map similar to one in envelope marked A herewith, but uncoloured). I have written privately to Wind to ascertain whether they have that edition of the map or the later\n\nJL(78)--3 (£53--15000-7-TRI\n\n2001-20020-11-1200\n\nsubsequent\n\nF.O\n\nT414 edition (\n\nedition (in 38800\n\n388 Foot,\n\nwhich\n\nmap was to be", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-305 - Governor Sir Blake - 1901 [5-7].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 385422, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 27, "title": "CO129-312 - Acting Governor Major Gen Sir Gascoigne Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [7-9]", "content_text": "N \n\n26 \n\n! \n\n! \n\nof the vast Dominion of Canada, and of the great Commonwealth of Australia, but he is also Emperor of India. And when we look to the great Southern Continents and find, with thankfulness, that the smoke of battles has cleared away, that the angel of peace has descended, may we not trust that, ere long, a loyal, united, and prosperous South Africa may form one of the most valuable of those \"British Dominions beyond the Sea\" which are, fitly, now included in the Royal Title? But, Your Excellency, I must not forget that there are other Addresses to be presented and I will not further detain you, but will, with your permission, now read and present the Address which has been entrusted to me, and I would ask, in the name of the general community of Hongkong, that Your Excellency would, in due course, kindly forward it to His Majesty the King,\n\nThe Address, terms:--- \n\nin the Was \n\nfollowing \n\nHongkong, 26th June, 1902. \n\nTO HIS MAJESTY KING EDWARD VII, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain and Ireland and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India. \n\nYOUR MAJESTY, Whilst from every part of Your Majesty's wide empire rejoicings arise on this the day of Your coronation, we, residents in the far eastern colony of Hongkong, diverse in race, nationality, creed and class, but one in devotion to Your Royal House and Person, respectfully tender our sincerest greetings. \n\nKnowledge is lost in the dim centuries as to when the waters of old Cathay reflected the spreading sails of the first argosy from the west—the bold harbinger of our fleets of merchant steamships of to-day. The safety of the ocean highway is essential to our commerce and our intercourse with home. For the preservation of this, and of our property, and it may be of our lives, we rely upon Your Majesty's forces by sea and land, sure that their protection will not fail us as it has never failed us in the past. \n\nThe history of our colony is almost coeval with the ever memorable reign of Her late Majesty Queen Victoria. Sixty-one years ago, when the British flag was first unfurled here, Hongkong was a bare inhospitable rock, the resort of pirates and the fear of mariners. The steps of its progress during this period it is needless to recount. Under an enlightened government, dispensing an equal law, and encouraging and giving free scope to the enterprise of the people, Hongkong has become one of the principal ports in Your dominions, and is still advancing with a rapidity perhaps unsurpassed therein. \n\nAt the outset of Your Majesty's reign we rejoice to see drawing even closer than before the bond between the mother country and her dependencies; and we believe that their ever increasing importance in the empire, graciously recognised by Your addition of \"the British Dominions beyond the Seas\" to Your ancient title, is with Your accession beginning a new and glorious era in the history of the realm. And our gladness is the more profound in that, under Your Majesty's strong and benevolent administration, and by the valour of Your arms, peace has been established within Your borders, a peace which we are confident will bear a rich harvest of blessing, alike to the empire at large, and to the brave people who, no longer foes, have now become Your loyal subjects. \n\nWe ask to be permitted to extend our respectful and kindliest salutations to Her Majesty Queen Alexandra, Whose many gracious qualities have endeared Her throughout the lands of Her birth and Her adoption, and command the regard of the world. And we would also include in our congratulations His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Whose visit to our colony in that service whereof He has shewn Himself so capable an officer those of us who were then here most happily remember, and Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales, and all the Royal Family. We contemplate with gratification the ties of domestic relationship which unite Your Majesty to so many reigning Houses, and we regard those bonds as pledges of the amity between our nations which we trust will ever be maintained. \n\nUpon the demise of Your Royal Father, a Prince universally revered, You were called, at an age early for such responsibility, to assume a share in the regal burdens of the state. The ready self-sacrifice and the wisdom with which You responded to that call have won, not only the dutiful loyalty of those who live beneath Your sceptre, but also their deep affection. And we earnestly pray that, under Divine Providence, Your Majesty and Your Royal Consort will long live in health and happiness to continue those beneficent works which it has been Your constant solicitude to promote, and to direct the destinies of the people whose glad homage is Your Own. \n\n[Here followed signatures.]\n\nHIS EXCELLENCY then formally accepted the Address, which was set upon the table. \n\nThis address was in the form of a book enclosed in gold-mounted covers, and was a very handsome work of art, reflecting credit upon Messrs. Kelly and Walsh for its practical execution. \n\nIts size was about 18in. by 12½in. The covers were in Coronation red velvet and the front was set on with massive ornamentation in 20-carat gold. In the centre were the Royal Arms; the border was open-work of characteristic Chinese design, through which ran the emblem indicating wishes for long life to the recipient. At the top of the border appeared the Chinese character for \"God bless you,\" and at the bottom another signifying congratulations. Imperial yellow silk lines the inside of the cover, on the back of which were four gold bats (good-luck), one at each corner. The Address itself was a splendid specimen of workmanship; the general scheme of colour was blue and gold, and it was printed on art paper. Each of the pages, of which there were five in all, was surrounded by an artistic border, hand-painted by Mr. C. T. Letton, of Messrs. Kelly and Walsh, in an exceedingly pretty and effective fashion. In it appeared in succession the Tudor rose, the thistle, the shamrock, and the leek, with the Initials \"E\" and \"A\" alternating between each emblem. The Address was placed in a camphor-wood box padded in yellow silk, with the inscription \"E.R.I.\" in gold on the lid. The gold mounting was the work of Wang Hing, Queen's Road. \n\nCD \n\nMr. E. C. Ray next stepped in front of the Governor and said—Your Excellency, District and Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Hongkong and South China. I appear before you in the absence of our District Grand Master, Sir Catchick Paul Chater, accompanied by the officers of the District Grand Lodge and the Masters and Wardens of the other Lodges working under our jurisdiction, together with the Masters and Wardens of Saint John's Lodge and the Lodge Naval and Military under the Scottish constitution, to present you with a Masonic address to His Majesty King Edward VII, notwithstanding the fact that part of it refers to His Majesty's actual Coronation, and to pray you to be so good as to receive it on His Majesty's behalf and to forward it for His Majesty's gracious acceptance. Sir, we may be permitted to hope that His Majesty's Coronation will not be long delayed. It has been, we trust, only postponed by the grave illness from which under Divine Providence His Majesty appears now to be happily recovering, and which has caused a wave of universal sympathy for England's Royal Family to flow from all parts of the earth—north, south, east, and west. The spontaneous wishes of all peoples and all nations are for His Majesty's welfare, and the brethren whom I represent desire respectfully to express to His Majesty their fraternal and happiest greetings and their heartfelt wishes for His Majesty's well-being. With your Excellency's permission I will now read the address. \n\nMr. RAY proceeded to read the Address, which was as follows:-- \n\nHongkong, 26th June, 1902. To HIS MAJESTY KING EDWARD VII, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India. \n\nYOUR MAJESTY, Within the walls of the historic Abbey of Westminster, surrounded by England's great and sacred dead and amid the", "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": 386891, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-314 - Public Offices - 1902", "page_number": 346, "title": "CO129-314 - Public Offices - 1902", "content_text": "## 3. A list of places at which launches are to anchor has been drawn up and submitted for approval to the Viceroy.\n\n4. The officers and men of the guard-boats are to be selected with particular care, and each man of the force must be guaranteed by people of good repute.\n\n5. The guard-launches at their various stations will in future, whenever a launch passes, signal to it to stop for inspection. If she still proceeds without heeding the signal they are to pursue her. If robbers are found on board they are to be handed over for trial and punishment to the nearest authority. If there are no robbers on board, and if the master has simply and deliberately refused to stop for inspection, note must be taken of the number and name of the launch, and report will be made to the Chief Police Office with a view to the infliction of a fine.\n\n6. Guard launches are being posted at all important points for the special purpose of exercising supervision over launches. The latter must in future proceed by direct and regular routes to their destination. If they follow by-routes or anchor at places where there is no guard-boat, and are plundered in consequence, the master (\"ch'uan chu\") will be responsible for compensation. In any case, he will be liable to fine.\n\n7. A system of patrol has already been devised, but having been now some time in force, it has proved unsuccessful. The officers concerned are now being called upon to consult together and devise some more satisfactory plan.\n\n## Visit of the Kao Lien-ch'in Taotai.\n\nCh'in Ping Chih, the newly-appointed Taotai of the Kao-Lien-Ch'in circuit (south-east Kuang-tung), which includes the Treaty port of Pakhoi, paid a visit to His Majesty's Consul-General before starting for his new post. Mr. Kung, the Viceroy's Secretary, stated that this officer had received special instructions with reference to the preservation of order, not to make his permanent residence in any one place, but to visit all parts of his jurisdiction in turn. He has been intrusted with a special force of 2,000 armed men and two armed launches, and has authority, should emergency arise, to employ any of the marine or land forces which may be within call.\n\n## Arrest of Prisoners on British Ships.\n\nThe Viceroy, upon the representation of certain military and police officers, has applied to His Majesty's Consul-General for permission to allow detectives and police officers to travel on board British steamers coming from Hong Kong to Canton, with a view to arresting in the ship, and before they can escape in the throng of landing passengers, or by jumping over the side, any criminals whom they may detect on board. It was pointed out that assent could not be given to any request of the kind, as such procedure would be altogether contrary to the privileges belonging to British ships.\n\n## \n\nDuring the past quarter, two persons accused of robbery with violence have been arrested in Hong Kong at the instance of the Chinese authorities, and they will probably within a few days be sent up under the Extradition Ordinances to Canton for trial and punishment, when the procedure established in the \"Perseverance\" piracy case will be adopted.\n\n## Local Taxation and Provincial Finance.\n\nA Board has lately been established in Canton by the Viceroy for the purpose of devising sources of revenue. It is called the Ch'ou Hsiang Chu, and the personnel is the same as that of the Shan Hou Chu—viz., the Treasurer, Judge, Salt Commissioner, Grain Intendant Taotai, and the chief local civil authorities of Canton. The following schemes, among others, have resulted from their consultations:\n\n| Scheme | Description |\n| --- | --- |\n| Li-kin on native opium | to be raised from 18-20 taels to 23-66 taels per picul |\n| Li-kin on tea, tobacco, and sugar | to be increased by 30 per cent |\n\nThe above has been approved, and the public have been notified by the head Li-kin Office by Proclamation.\n\n## Tax on prepared opium.\n\nParticulars of this tax were given in No. 25, General.\n\n## Tax on distilleries: \nWine distillers to pay 24 taels per annum on each still in their factories, with an additional charge of 2 taels for intercalary months.\n\nThis scheme was duly sanctioned by the Viceroy, and came into force in the first month of the present Chinese year.\n\nAt the beginning of January, the Hoppo called for a Return, showing the estimated increase or decrease in revenue on foreign imports which had resulted from the change of Tariff on the 11th November, reckoning up to the 31st December. The result showed an increase of 8,440 Haikuan taels over the estimated revenue for imports on the old basis.\n\n## Indemnity Matters (Confidential).\n\nThe following is a translation of a telegram received on the 3rd March by the Viceroy from the Grand Council (\"Chün Chi Chu\") on the subject of provincial contributions for the service of the indemnity:\n\n### Imperial Decree.\n\n\"Memorial received some time ago from Liu Kun Yi and others referred to the immense amount of the indemnity and the difficulty of raising funds to meet the instalments. They pointed out, however, that the increase of the tax on foreign goods to an effective 5 per cent. and the tax on foreign wines and provisions, in addition to the Native Customs revenues now passing through the Imperial Maritime Customs, will make, in all, an increase of about 4,500,000 taels. They add to this 1,000,000 taels on account of grain supply commuted for money payments, making, in all, 5,500,000 taels, which, they point out, represents about three-tenths of the total amount proposed by the Board of Revenue, and sanctioned by the Throne, as annual indemnity contributions from the provinces. Memorialists proposed, therefore, that these contributions should be reduced by 30 per cent.\"\n\nThis proposal was sanctioned at the time because it seemed likely that the funds raised during the half year would be sufficient for the service of the indemnity.\n\nPrince Ching (I Kuang) and others have memorialized, stating that the monthly contributions, as originally arranged for, must be paid in full, and that the proposed reduction by 30 per cent. cannot be allowed. The Tartar Generals, Viceroys, and Governors will, therefore, see to the provision of the sums originally decided upon by the Board as the contributions from their respective provinces, and make monthly remittances to the Shanghae Taotai, to be handed over to the banks in payment of the indemnity.\n\nAt the end of the year, when the foreign and Native Customs collections have been completed and the benefit of the grain tax contribution has been realized, it can then be seen whether the additional sums thus derived are equal to the amount of the proposed reduction, and if so, or if it is more than equal to that amount, then the proposed reduction can be made. This will avoid the danger of delay in payments due.\n\nJui Lu, Supervising Censor and Taotai in Chekiang, has memorialized proposing: (1) a tax on all shops throughout the provinces; and (2) a tax on prepared opium. The chief arguments which he brings forward in support of his schemes are:\n\n1. The salt revenue and Native Customs having been given as security for the indemnity loan, the provincial revenues will be so decreased as to be insufficient to meet the ordinary yearly expenses of administration, while anything like improvements and reform will be out of the question.\n\n2. A tax could be levied upon the shops of well-to-do merchants without inflicting any great hardship upon them. The tax could be levied in proportion to the capital and value of the shops. The Province of Chih-li, lately overrun by troops, could be exempt temporarily.\n\n3. The evil inflicted by foreign opium on China is great, and the check upon this is taxation. Even a heavy charge upon this article would not be in the nature of an injustice. Taxation on import would be extremely difficult to arrange, and if a tax on native opium be proposed, that would only extend the sale of foreign opium. The only plan, then, is to make a charge upon prepared opium.\n\n4. Memorialist hears that some such scheme has already been put into practice in Kiangsu and Hupei, and with great success as regards amounts collected. He begs, therefore, that the Board of Revenue be instructed to find out what system has been adopted there and whether it cannot be applied generally throughout the provinces.\n\nThe Report of the Board of Revenue upon this Memorial recommends the adoption of the proposal for a shop tax. With regard to a tax on prepared opium, they say...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-314 - Public Offices - 1902.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 392160, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-322 - Acting Governor May - 1904 [1-5]", "page_number": 179, "title": "CO129-322 - Acting Governor May - 1904 [1-5]", "content_text": "much stake\n\nAA\n\nbetter class Chinese, who have as Europeans in the Colony would prove quite capable of giving the necessary protection and holding an in-disposed section of the Chinese population in check.\n\n(6) The building of the new Government Magazines on Green Island is about to be commenced and is recognised as an urgent work, which will be pushed forward with all possible despatch.\n\n(7) Under the Peace Preservation Ordinance (No 15 of 1886) the Governor in Council has power to deport from the Colony any person not a natural-born subject of Her Majesty, whether such person has been naturalised or not, whose banishment appears to the Governor in Council to be necessary for the public safety. This provision gives ample power to deal with individual aliens, even in large numbers, whose presence in the Colony might be considered, after due enquiry, to be inimical to the public safety. Moreover, all the subjects of a Foreign Power with whom England might be at war can be required to leave the Colony in accordance with International Law. No additional power seems necessary to deal with deportation referred to in the first part of paragraph 11 of Major-General Hatton's letter.\n\nWith regard to the wholesale deportation of the Chinese, viewed with a view to the reduction of the population requiring to be fed, suggested in the last part of the same paragraph, I submit that it would be a dereliction of our national duty to deport any Chinese possessed of property here, or who had careful avocations remaining for them to follow in time of war. Of course, there are a surplus population of Chinese with no property in the Colony, no employment, and no means of subsistence. I am of opinion that they might properly be deported in the public interest and be landed on behalf of China, should the necessity arise. On this point also, one Unofficial Member of Council agrees with the deputation that they might properly be resorted to in the public interest in respect of the class of persons I have indicated.\n\nI may mention that there are a large number of coolies employed on various public and private building operations and other undertakings in the Colony, large numbers of whom would in all probability be thrown out of work in time of war.\n\nGovernment House.\n\n178\n\nI submit that it would be preferable to deal with this matter constitutionally by means of a special Ordinance rather than resort to the extreme measure of proclaiming Martial Law to carry out the object in view, and I inclose a draft of Ordinance as I think would meet the case.\n\n(8) In paragraph 12, Major-General Hatton draws attention to a very important point, which has apparently previously escaped the notice it deserved.\n\nThe defence of this additional position entails an employment of additional troops, which cannot, as I read the scheme, possibly be spared. It is evident, therefore, that on this ground alone, an addition to the Garrison is desirable.\n\nI have no claim to be able to give anything more than the opinion of an amateur on the question of strength of the Garrison. But I have some knowledge of the ground, which more or less gives strength to my opinion, and I am strongly of the opinion that the Garrison must be occupied in defence of the Colony, and that it is at present inadequate for the safety of the Colony. An addition of 3000 Infantry and Garrison Artillery is required.\n\nParagraphs 5-8 of Chapter 1 of the scheme describe the line of defence to be held, a length of 13 miles, I believe, and the paragraphs referred to vindicate its difficulties. I submit that a Garrison of some 4000 men is not adequate for the task.\n\n(9) In view of the distances to be covered and the difficult nature of the ground, I concur in Major-General Hatton's recommendation that 150 mules, exclusive of coolies, are necessary for transport purposes.\n\n(10) I come now to Major-General Hatton's recommendation that, in order to place the conduct of the defences on land in the hands of the General Officer Commanding, he should, in the event of hostilities, be constituted the supreme authority in the Colony.\n\nThe relations between Major-General Hatton and myself have, as he himself states, been so cordial, that I know...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-322 - Acting Governor May - 1904 [1-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 392419, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-322 - Acting Governor May - 1904 [1-5]", "page_number": 438, "title": "CO129-322 - Acting Governor May - 1904 [1-5]", "content_text": "436\n\nthe fullest consideration of all the circumstances, as Kang Yu Wei had hitherto been allowed to reside in several British Colonies without interference, and the deportation of the Editors might appear to be subversive of the freedom of the press. The matter was investigated by the Registrar-General and the Acting Captain Superintendent of Police, and fully discussed in Executive Council. The result was that the Council unanimously advised me to deport Kang Yu Wei and five of the persons mentioned by the Registrar-General in his letter. The responsibility of the five for the appearance of the objectionable articles was ascertained beyond possibility of doubt, and their continued presence in the Colony was obviously prejudicial to the preservation of peace and good order. In the Council's advice I fully concurred, and gave the necessary instructions which have since been carried out. None of the persons concerned were British subjects.\n\n6.\n\nI consider that Kang Yu Wei has forfeited any title which he may have possessed to the respect of the British Government. It has long been known to those who have studied the movements and utterances of many of the foremost Chinese Reformers, an important section of which own Kang Yu Wei as their head, that their sympathies are strongly anti-foreign. That such sentiments may be consistent with an honest Chinese patriotism I do not doubt; the case of the Viceroy Chang Chi Tung may be cited as an example of such a combination. But it cannot be expected that a British Colony which is in constant and friendly communication with the constituted Chinese Authorities will tolerate the presence of men who use", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-322 - Acting Governor May - 1904 [1-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407853, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "page_number": 317, "title": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "content_text": "312\n\n2\n\ncannot be held by British subjects, I will forward to you a copy of the Governor-General's communication. I took the opportunity to repeat that, even as regards railways altogether in the interior, such as the projected Yunnan-Szechuan line (from Yunnan-fu to Suifu), I considered that the policy of excluding foreign capital is suicidal. The sum named in the prospectus of the Company now under discussion—20,000,000 taels (or, say, 3,000,000l)—would not be sufficient for a line of 400 miles through difficult country, while the Chinese have not yet acquired the necessary experience to enable them to undertake so large a work unaided.\n\nI may add that the Governor-General's delegates told me that his Excellency recognizes that Great Britain is entitled to equal treatment in Yünnan with France, and that, as far as this rests with him, he would most willingly accord it. But they appeared to think that a light railway from the Burmah frontier to Tengyueh was not altogether in the same category as the French metre-gauge line from Tonquin to Yunnan-fu, the provincial capital. They personally thought that, for the light line in question, either \"province,\" \"Yunnan and Burmah, might construct its own section. They did not believe that it would be found practicable to extend the line to Tali and Yunnan-fu.\n\nI answered that it was precisely in order to inquire into such practicability that permission had been asked, and, as they knew, accorded by their Governor-General, for engineers from Burmah to survey, probably this next cold season, the country between Tengyueh and Tali, Further than this, I was not acquainted with the wishes of the Indian Government. All that I am concerned with just now is to see that I do not commit myself in any way pending the communication to me of those wishes.\n\nThe delegates then left.\n\nI learn, from what I believe to be a trustworthy source, that the words \"and Tengyueh\" were inserted because it is believed that Chinese in the Straits and in Burmah will be more ready to subscribe to a Bhamo-Tengyueh than to a Yunnan-Szechuan scheme. I do not expect that the ordinary Baba will be induced to invest in a railway, especially a railway under Chinese official control, that is, to unite two provinces in which he, as a Kuangtung or Fukien man, takes little or no interest. If it could be made out that the railway is to connect with British territory, or that the British Government views it with approval, Miao's mission might prove more successful. Hence, probably, not only the insertion of the words \"and Tengyueh,\" but also the present request to your Excellency.\n\nI have been, I need hardly say, careful not to undertake to do more than simply transmit the request, which, on the face of it, does not ask for support to be given to Miao taotai, but merely such consideration and protection as is implied in the term \"chao-liao\" (to look after).\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nW. H. WILKINSON,\n\nTing, Governor-General of the Yun-kuei, to Consul-General Wilkinson.\n\n(Translation.)\n\nAugust 23, 1906. THE Governor-General has been honoured by an Imperial Rescript assenting to a Memorial, in which he represented to the Throne that as the expenditure requisite for the construction by Chinese of the Yünnan--Szechuan Railway will be very heavy, it is necessary to extend the area within which shares should be offered, in order that work on the road may reach completion. The officials, gentry, scholars, and merchants of the provinces along the sea and the river (Yang-tsze) will be from time to time invited to subscribe; but there are at the trading centres of the Eastern and Southern Seas very many Chinese merchants of wealth and standing who bear an ardent affection towards the land of their forefathers. Were persons sent to urge them to assist, there should be no difficulty in raising large sums,\n\nAccordingly, the Governor-General has appointed Taot'ai Miao Kuochun, an expectant Intendant in Yunnan, to be General Manager of the Yunnan-Szechuan and Tengyueh Railways, for the purpose of collecting subscriptions. He will carry with him scrip to each port in the Eastern and Southern Seas, where he will invite Chinese merchants to subscribe the amounts of the shares, and when these are collected he will return to Yunnan to commence work.\n\nNow, the most flourishing of all ports in the Southern Seas is Singapore, and Singapore is a British possession. It becomes, therefore, the duty of the Governor-General to write to the Consul-General and request him to be good enough to communicate with the Governor-General of Singapore, asking his Excellency to give instructions to the local authorities to carefully look after Miao taot'ai on his arrival within the jurisdiction.\n\nExpressing an earnest hope that all this may be done, the Governor-General requests the favour of a reply.\n\nA necessary communication.\n\nDated Kuang-hsu, 32.7.4 (August 23, 1906).\n\nInclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\nYunnan-Szechuan and Tengyueh Railways: Provisional Share Certificates.\n\n(Translation.)\n\nTHE main object of the Company in issuing shares is the construction of lines for the expansion of trade and the preservation of autonomy,\n\n2. The Company is issuing shares for the construction, by ourselves, of the Yunnan-Szechuan Railway, and that of Tengyueh. To complete the entire work will require about 20,000,000 taels,\n\n3. The Company has actually, in official and community shares, 4,000,000 taels. 4. At each port. when the number of shares issued is complete, the shareholders may elect some thoroughly trustworthy firm to be the Agency at that port for the issuing of shares in the Yunnan-Szechuan and Tengyueh Railways. Any shareholder having occasion to do so can apply direct to the Agency; the Agency having occasion can write to the Tien-shun-hsiang firm at Canton, who will forward the letter to the head office. The head office may likewise communicate, should need arise, with an Agency through the Tien-shun-hsiang firm.\n\n5. The Company takes for its standard the double-dragon dollar. Payments at outports remitted by means of negotiable instruments must make up the amount at the rate of the day for such dollars.\n\n6. The Company's share certificates are being printed, but are not yet ready. When the amount of the subscription has been settled, the agent concerned will tear out and issue a receipt, which will be exchanged for a share certificate when these are ready.\n\nAs regards the subscription, it may be paid in full at once, or it may be paid by instalments. In any case a note will be made at the top of the triplicate receipt, stating how the instalments are to be, the number of this particular instalment, and the amount in dollars. A seal will be thereupon impressed on the triplicate receipt. Instalments will not exceed five, and the interval between each call will be limited to three months.\n\n7. Where subscriptions to the amount of 100,000 dollars have been raised at any port, a Director may be elected to proceed to Yünnan and assist in the management of the line. If he is unwilling to proceed to Yunnan, well and good.\n\n8. A subscription for a 50-dollar share will draw interest as soon as he has paid up 10 dollars of the amount. Subscribers to 10-dollar or 5-dollar shares must wait until the whole amount of the share has been paid up before they can draw interest. A subscriber to several shares payable by instalment will draw interest on the instalments already paid up.\n\n9. When the Company's lines are completed, and traffic has begun, a balance of receipts will be taken once a-year. After deducting expenses under each branch, and interest payable, 10 per cent. (of the profits) will be set aside as reserve. When the reserve fund amounts to one-half the capital, payments into it will cease. The remainder will be divided into ten parts. Three parts will go to the State as royalty; five and a-half parts will be distributed among the shareholders as dividend; one part will be for repairs; half a part as bonus to the employés of the Company.\n\n10. A subscriber can only draw interest on his shares; he may not withdraw the capital. If he is hard pressed, he may sell to a Chinese subject only, he may not sell to a non-Chinese. When transferring by sale his shares he must report to the Agency, in detail, the name and address of the purchaser. The Agency will transfer the shares to the latter and will write to the Tien-shun-hsiang, who will report to the Head Office, so as to insure the proper checks. Should a share certificate be lost, the shareholder must advertise, and at the same time inform the Agency. If after three months no...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407987, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "page_number": 451, "title": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "content_text": "Any modifications are to be reported at once by the Corporation to the Viceroy for the approval of the Wai-wu Pu.\n\nThe bonds are to be engraved entirely in the English language, and shall bear the fac-simile of the Viceroy and of his seal of office in order to dispense with the necessity of signing them all in person, but the Chinese Minister in London shall, previous to the issue of any bonds, put his seal upon each bond with a fac-simile of his signature, as a proof that the issue and sale of the bonds are duly authorized and binding upon the Chinese Government.\n\nSuch bonds are to be numbered consecutively, and as many bonds as may be needed are to be properly engraved under the supervision of the Corporation, and after they are sealed by the Chinese Minister in London, as hereintofore provided, or to be countersigned by the Corporation.\n\nAll expenses for the engraving, safe deposit, and sale of the bonds are to be borne by the Corporation.\n\nArt. 6. When the work of construction is ready to begin, the Viceroy will establish a head office at ... for the construction and management of the railway. This office will be under the direction of a Chinese Managing Director (appointed by the Viceroy), with whom will be associated a British Engineer-in-chief and a British Chief Accountant. These British employés shall be proposed and certified as competent for their posts by the Corporation, and shall be approved by the Viceroy; in the event of their services proving unsatisfactory they shall be removable by the Corporation, in consultation with the Viceroy, upon complaint being made by either one or the other parties to this Agreement. It is understood that the duties performed by these employés are intended to promote the mutual interests of the Chinese Government and the bondholders respectively, and it is therefore agreed that all cases of difference arising therefrom shall be referred for amicable adjustment between the Viceroy and the representative of the Corporation. The salaries and other terms of agreement of the Engineer-in-chief and the Chief Accountant shall be proposed by the Corporation, for approval by the Viceroy; and the amount of their salaries, &c., shall be paid out of the general accounts of the railway.\n\nFor all important technical appointments on the railway staff Europeans of experience and ability shall be engaged, and wherever competent Chinese are available they shall also be employed. All such appointments shall be made, and their functions defined by the Managing Director and the Engineer-in-chief in consultation, and shall be submitted for the Viceroy's approval; similar procedure shall be followed in the case of Europeans employed in the Chief Accountant's Department. In the event of the misconduct or the incompetency of such employés, their services may be dispensed with by the Managing Director, after consultation with the Engineer-in-chief, and subject to the sanction of the Viceroy. The form of agreements made with European employés shall conform to the usual practice.\n\nThe accounts of the receipts and disbursements of the railway's construction and operation shall be kept, in Chinese and English, in the Department of the Chief Accountant, whose duty it shall be to organize and supervise the same, and to report thereon for the information of the Corporation. A copy of this Report shall be sent to the Viceroy by the Managing Director.\n\nFor the general subordinate technical staff of the railway the necessary arrangements shall be made by the Managing Director, in consultation with the Engineer-in-chief, and reported to the Viceroy in due course.\n\nThe duties of the Engineer-in-chief shall consist in the efficient and economical construction and maintenance of the railway, and the general supervision thereof, in consultation with the Managing Director. He shall always give courteous consideration to the wishes and instructions of the Viceroy, whether conveyed directly or through the Managing Director, and shall always comply therewith, having at the same time due regard to the efficient construction and maintenance of the railway.\n\nA school for the education of Chinese in railway matters shall be established by the Managing Director, subject to the approval of the Viceroy.\n\nArt. 7. Under the provisions of Article 3 of this Agreement the properties covered by the first mortgage security hereby created include the railway, its property, equipment, and the mortgage is to be executed by a deed in the form contemplated by the said Article. But subject to the guarantee and mortgage thus given by the Chinese Government, it is hereby declared that this railway is in fact a Chinese property,\n\nPage 777\n\nPage 446\n\nAll land that may be required along the whole course of the railway within survey limits, and for the necessary sidings, stations, repairing shops, and car sheds to be provided for in accordance with the detailed plans now made, or hereafter to be made, by Engineer-in-chief, and approved by the Viceroy, shall be acquired by the Viceroy at the actual cost of the land, and shall be paid for out of the proceeds of the loan.\n\nThe titles of the land for the railway, and all other lands, shall be free from all encumbrances and entanglements, and shall from time to time, as soon as secured, be registered in the name of the railway.\n\nNotices of all purchases of lands for the railway within the survey limit (together with corresponding title deeds) are to be transmitted by the Railway Head Office, under the direction of the Viceroy, to the local agent of the Corporation, for record and preservation in its office in Hong Kong, and for the purpose of establishing the first mortgage security, until the time when the same are to be returned to the Viceroy, as hereinafter in this Article provided.\n\nAll lands the title-deeds of which are lodged with the Corporation as part of the first mortgage security of the loan shall not be disposed of in any way by hire, lease, or sale, to any party, for any purpose whatever, without the written consent of the Viceroy, except only in the event of the Imperial Chinese Government failing to pay the interest or principal of the bonds, and then in accordance with the powers in the deed of mortgage.\n\nThe lands thus bought shall be free from all encumbrances, liabilities, and entanglements, and shall be conveyed by full and sufficient deeds of assignment, according to Chinese law, all of which are to be kept and recorded in the Hong Kong Office of the Corporation, and are to be held by it as a first mortgage security for the bonds, under the provisions of this Agreement, until such time as principal and interest of the bonds, together with all indebtedness, shall have been paid off, when the same shall then be returned to the Viceroy, except only in the case of the Imperial Chinese Government's failure to pay the interest or principal of the bonds, and consequent realization under the powers of the mortgage security.\n\nFor the proper protection of the first mortgage security the Chinese Government undertakes that until the bonds shall have been redeemed no part of the lands comprised in the mortgage security or the railway with its appurtenances shall be transferred or given to another party, or shall be injured, or that the rights of the first mortgage shall be in any way impaired, unless with the consent in writing of the Corporation, which shall only be given if in the opinion of the Corporation the interests of the bondholders will not be affected.\n\nAnd, further, that until the interest and principal of the loan and all indebtedness shall have been paid off, or unless with the express consent in writing of the Corporation, the Chinese Government or the Viceroy shall not again mortgage the above properties to another party, whether Chinese or foreign.\n\nDuring the period of this Agreement no special taxes shall be levied by the Chinese Government on the railway, its appurtenances, or earnings; but all taxes at present payable, such as land tax, as well as any taxes which the Chinese Government may hereafter institute, such as stamp duty, &c., and which may be applicable generally to all commercial transactions in China, shall also apply in the case of the railway and its operations.\n\nArt. 8. It is agreed that if the half-yearly interest on the bonds is not paid on any date thereof, or if the principal of the loan be not paid in accordance with the amortization schedule hereto attached, the whole railway, with all its appurtenances, herein mortgaged to the Corporation for the bondholders, shall be handed over to the Corporation to be dealt with by it according to law in such manner as will insure the proper protection of the interests of the bondholders, provided, however, that if the failure to make payment at one date be due to causes beyond the control of the Chinese Government and if the Viceroy request the Corporation to postpone the taking over of the railway for a reasonable period of grace, the question shall be amicably discussed and decided between the Viceroy and the agent of the Corporation. When the whole loan and the interest due thereon and all the indebtedness shall have been paid off, the railway, with all its appurtenances in good working condition, shall revert to the possession and management of the Chinese Government according to the provisions of this Agreement.\n\nArt. 9. As remuneration, &c., the Corporation shall receive the sum of 35,000l., half of which shall be paid when construction work begins and the other half upon ...\n\nPage [2263 a-6]\n\nPage D", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 411169, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 346, "title": "CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "## [This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\n340\n\ni\n\n2\n\nThe Chinese local authorities agree to carry on or complete all public building operations effected, or planned but not yet effected, by the Japanese Military Administration.\n\n3. By the third Article of the Peking Memorandum, \"the control of the police and the preservation of order shall revert to the Chinese local authorities, who are expected to fulfil the duties connected therewith in the manner most beneficial to the public peace. Japanese police and medical officers shall be employed to assist in the performance of these duties, and the Japanese Consul shall be free to point out defects as occasion arises to the local authorities for their consideration.\" The Deputies of the two countries have now arranged that, except as regards salaries, the regulations for the employment of Japanese police and medical officers shall be in all respects the same as in the case of the employment of Japanese police and medical officers at Tien-tsin. If defects should hereafter arise in the management of the police or the preservation of order, the local authorities shall, on being informed by the Japanese Consul, take them into consideration.\n\n1. The Chinese local authorities shall not hold a new trial of any causes determined by the Military Administration. The Court records and notes in these causes shall be handed over by the Military Administration to the local authorities for preservation in their archives; and the Military Administration shall also take a copy of them for preservation in the archives of the Japanese Consulate at Newchwang.\n\n5. The fourth Article of the Peking Memorandum provides that \"the control of the Imperial Maritime Customs and Native Customs shall revert to the Customs Taotai. The Chinese Government shall for the time being deposit the receipts of both Customs establishments in the Yokohama Specie Bank until a branch of the Board of Revenue Bank is established, when the receipts will be deposited in both Banks.\"\n\nIt has now been arranged by the Deputies of the two countries that the local officials concerned shall make arrangements in consultation with the Yokohama Specie Bank respecting the mode of depositing the Customs' receipts in the Yokohama Specie Bank at Newchwang.\n\n6. The Japanese Military Administration of Newchwang agrees to withdraw entirely by the 6th December.\n\n## CHINA RAILWAYS\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n`[2106]`\n\nNo. 1.\n\n`[January 19.]`\n\n## SECTION 2.\n\n**C. O.**\n\n7655\n\n**RECE**\n\nConsul-General Wilkinson to Sir Edward Grey.~(Received January 19, 1907)\n\n28 FEB 07\n\n(No. 33.) Sir,\n\nYunnan-fu. December 3, 1906.\n\nREFERRING to my despatch No. 32 of the 20th ultimo, I have the honour to inclose copy of a further communication to the Government of Burmah on the subject of the Tengyueh Railway and the Tali reconnaissance.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed)\n\n## Inclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nW. H. WILKINSON.\n\nConsul-General Wilkinson to Government of Burmah.\n\n(No. 50. Burmah.) Sir,\n\nYunnan-fu, November 30, 1906.\n\nA LITTLE more than a fortnight ago the document, of which I inclose translation, was posted outside the head office of the so-called Yünnan-Szechuan and Tengyueh Railways Company, and at one or two other places in this city. It remained up but a few days, and it is only recently that I have been able to secure a copy of it.\n\nI imagine its origin to be this: In consequence of the telegram, dated the 3rd October last, from your Government telling me that the correspondence of 1902 that passed between Sir E. Satow and the Wai-wu Pu might be cited as giving us equal advantages with the French, I had more than once quoted from the Wai-wu Pu's communication of the 16th March of that year. The Chinese officials steadily declared that no copy of this communication is to be found in the archives of the Yunnan Government, and more than one asked to see the text. A copy both of the communication and of that of Sir E. Satow (the 12th March, 1902), of which it is an acknowledgment, was finally given to them, and was, as I learn, shown to the Directors of the Yunnan-Szechuan and Tengyueh Railways Company. These last thereupon drew up and issued their present poster, the object of which is to warn all patriotic Yünnanese to get beforehand with the British in building the Tengyueh line.\n\nThe authors of the poster (I am told it was drafted by Yang Chin-tung, the schoolmaster who spent three years in Japan) apparently admit that we should be justified in claiming equal privileges with the French, but naively believe that if we are confronted with a railway scheme for exclusive Chinese construction we shall not persist in what they are pleased to style our \"covetous desires.\" The characters I have translated \"privileges\" (\"li-yi\") are those employed in Sir E. Satow's despatch of the 12th March, 1902, and in the Wai-wu Pu's reply to it, a sufficient proof that the origin of the poster was as I have described it above. The statement that \"the movement of merchandize is far greater at Tengyueh than at Mengtzu\" is unfortunately not borne out by present facts, but it is doubtless good enough for a prospectus. The charge on the salt and grain contributions was explained in my despatch to you, No. 57 of the 22nd November last. It is claimed that, from these and other sources, 3,00,050 taels have already been raised, but I very greatly doubt the truth of this assertion.\n\nOn the 26th instant the two Superintendents (\"tsung-pan\") of the local Department of Foreign Affairs—the Judicial Commissioner, Ch'en Ts'an, and the Grain Intendant, Tseng-hou—called on me to introduce the new Assistant Superintendent, Tsou Chih-ching, who is replacing Kuei-fu, promoted to be Prefect at Cheng-chiang. After promising me, on behalf of the Governor-General, early replies to my despatches on the subject of the reconstruction of the boundary pillars eastward from Nalawt, and... \n\n`[2326 -2]`", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-343 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 411594, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 94, "title": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "# [This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\n2\n\nThese subsidies were intended to be sufficient to enable the Company to procure the necessary funds for the construction of the line, the cost of which was estimated £960,000 (3,440,000.). It is now certain that this sum will be very largely exceeded, but the amount of the new obligations to be undertaken cannot be arrived at until the result of the Commission which has been examining the work is known. It can only be stated that the Company, in an estimate which M. Beau says appears to be sensibly exaggerated, now calculates the total cost of the work as being £1,560,000 (6,240,000 fr.).\n\nThis increased expenditure must be met, firstly, by an increase of the shares issued by the Company, and, secondly, by an issue of bonds, the interest on which will be paid either by the Company or by the Colony in accordance with the decision of the arbitrators. These arbitrators have been appointed to decide how much of this increased expenditure on the railway should be paid by the Company, and how much the Colony ought to pay for. In order to meet possible charges under this head, a sum of 350,000 dollars has been entered in the Budget.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) T. Ff. CARLISLE.\n\n## SOUTH-WEST CHINA\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n[14251]\n\n### No. 1.\n\n#### India Office to Foreign Office.-(Received May 2.)\n\n93\n\n[May 2.]\n\n**SLOTION 1.**\n\nSir,\n\nIndia Office, May 1, 1907. WITH reference to your letter of the 14th February last, forwarding copy of a despatch from His Majesty's Minister at Peking regarding the Namting-Nalawt section of the Burmah-China frontier, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Morley to transmit, to be laid before the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, copy of a telegram from the Government of India on the subject. A copy of the Burmah Government's letter of the 19th October, 1906, to which reference is made in the Viceroy's telegram, was communicated to the Foreign Office on the 19th December, 1906, and the maps forming an inclosure to that letter on the 2nd March last.\n\nThe situation is governed by Mr. Morley's telegram of the 1st August, 1906, in the terms of which Sir E. Grey concurred, conveying the approval of His Majesty's Government to the Government of India's proposal that concessions should be offered to the Chinese Government in respect of the Namting-Nalawt section in return for a satisfactory settlement of the undemarcated portion of the frontier to the north of Manung Pum.\n\nThe present proposals specify the concessions which, in the opinion of the Government of India, might suitably be offered to China in return for her formal recognition of the settlement of the frontier north of Manung Pum on the lines indicated in the draft Article presented to the Chinese Government on the 9th April, 1906. I am to suggest that, if Sir E. Grey sees no objection, His Majesty's Minister at Peking should be consulted as to whether the Chinese Government are likely to entertain favourably a proposal for the settlement of the whole frontier question on the terms suggested.\n\nMr. Morley observes, and this might be pointed out to His Majesty's Minister, that from the terms of Article 3 of the Agreement of the 4th February, 1897, and from the map which accompanies it, there can be no doubt of the justice of the British claim on this part of the boundary. Both the Article and the map specify points of latitude and longitude through which the boundary should pass, and the map shows that both banks of the Nam Kha River are within the territory assigned to us. To abate, therefore, anything from the claim which we have hitherto made is a very distinct concession, which should not be granted unless the northern boundary is also settled to our complete satisfaction.\n\nOf the alternative lines proposed in the Viceroy's telegram, the third has the obvious advantage of involving least demarcation, but, subject to the reservation that no more should be conceded than is necessary to obtain the object in view, Mr. Morley would be prepared to accept Shih Taotai's line or that suggested by the Burmah Government, should either of these appear to Sir J. Jordan to afford a better prospect of a settlement. It will be seen from the maps communicated to the Foreign Office on the 2nd March last that the line suggested by the Government of Burmah entails the greatest concession to China.\n\nI am, &c.\n\n(Signed) A. GODLEY.\n\n### Inclosure in No. 1.\n\n#### Government of India to Mr. Morley.\n\n(Telegraphic.) P.\n\nMarch 22, 1907. PLEASE refer to correspondence ending with your telegram of the 16th October, 1906, respecting Burmah-China frontier. There is no doubt great weight in arguments contained in Burmah Government's letter of the 19th October, 1906;* we should,\n\n*See `Paper 42601`.\n\n[2506 b -1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 412192, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 692, "title": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "## Section 1 \n2. The management of the affairs of the port (Settlement) shall be in the hands of a Board presided over by the Superintendent of Customs. The Board shall consist of four Departments, namely: -\n\n(a) The Public Works Department.\n(b) The Police Department.\n(c) The Judicial Department.\n(d) The Treasury (Rates and Taxes) Department.\n\nThese Departments shall be kept separate and distinct from each other, and shall be managed by an official specially appointed to each.\n\n3. Chinese and foreign merchants who rent land in the Settlement, and establish themselves there for purposes of trade, shall pay such rent and taxes as shall be fixed by the Board of Management, and shall abide by the Settlement Regulations.\n\n4. Merchants who are the subjects of any foreign Power shall, when residing in the Settlement, be protected by the officials according to Treaty, and in the event of disputes arising between the said merchants and Chinese subjects, the matter shall be inquired into, and settled justly and fairly by the Board and the Consul concerned, in accordance with the practice obtaining at self-opened ports in China.\n\n## Section 2.--Arrangement of the Port (Settlement)\n\n1. The Settlement is situated in proximity to the Hsia K'uo Street, outside the city of Nanning. The boundaries are: -\n\n| Direction | Boundary |\n| --- | --- |\n| West | The centre of the river |\n| East | The foundations of the old city wall |\n| South | The old city tower and the Ssu Hsiang Kung temple |\n| North | The 1 Chin Fang main thoroughfare |\n\nThe foregoing boundaries, which are indicated by boundary-stones erected for the purpose, constitute the limits of the area opened to international trade, and everything outside them is subject as heretofore to the laws which govern \"nei ti,” or interior land.\n\n2. The Settlement has been purchased out of the public funds, and it shall be the duty of the Public Works Department of the Board to lay out roads, construct embankments and bunding, and mark out a site for the Customs and the Board and its various Departments. The rest of the land having been duly classified and measured, it shall be opened to Chinese and foreign merchants of standing and repute to rent land, and erect warehouses and residences, all building construction to be subject to the Rules set out in Section 3.\n\n3. The Settlement offices for the Customs and the Board and its Department shall be constructed, together with a public garden and a vegetable market, and the river bank shall be firmly and securely bunded. Also, a main road shall be made along the fore-shore, and three wharves built to facilitate the shipment and discharge of cargo.\n\nIf at a future date, owing to the flourishing condition of the trade of the port, these wharves should prove insufficient for trade requirements, the Board shall take steps to add to their number. Moreover, merchants shall be permitted, in accordance with the Regulations for the renting of land, to construct private wharves, or to lease water frontages for the purpose of mooring pontoons (\"p'ais\").\n\n4. The water frontage of the port (Settlement) constitutes an anchorage for Chinese and foreign ships alike; should a merchant desire to moor a pontoon (\"p'ai\"), or erect a warehouse thereon, he can only do so with the sanction of the Board, obtained after the exact position had been indicated, any obstruction to the anchorage being thus avoided.\n\n5. The establishment of river and shore police stations, and a Court-house being necessary for the purposes of the general protection of, and the preservation of order in, the port (Settlement), the head of the Board, acting in conjunction with the Superintendent of Customs, shall select and depute officials to draw up special and effective Regulations.\n\n6. Postal and telegraph arrangements being under the control of the Chinese Government, the latter shall, to be consistent, also establish the post and telegraph offices in the Settlement, and no foreigner of any description shall be permitted to do so. The installation of telephones and electric lighting, and the construction of waterworks shall either be undertaken by the Chinese Government itself, or contracts for the same entered into with native merchants, foreigners having no right to interfere.\n\n7. The land adjoining the port (Settlement), such as, for example, the village of Ling Tieh, has been valued, and the price placed on record, any private sale of such land being prohibited. If, subsequently to the opening of the port, owing to an increase in trade, the Settlement should prove insufficient in area, the Board shall, as occasion requires, examine into the circumstances and purchase whatever land is necessary for purposes of expansion.\n\n## Section 3--Uniform Regulations for Leasing and Building\n\n1. In the plan which has been made of the Settlement, the land has been divided into three classes, classified under the respective headings, “Fu,” “Lu,” and \"Shou.\"\n\n| Land Class | Annual Rent per Mou |\n| --- | --- |\n| Fu | 60 dollars |\n| Lu | 50 dollars |\n| Shou | 40 dollars/31 dollars/71 dollars (for certain cases, exact conditions not specified) |\n\nWater frontages pay rent on the same scale as \"Fu\" land but are exempt from taxation.\n\n2. Chinese and foreign merchants who rent land must attend at the Public Works Department of the Board, and indicate on the plan of the Settlement the exact position of the land, stating the class and area of the same. These particulars having been furnished, the transaction will be registered on an undertaking being given to pay taxes, and a deposit made of one-tenth of the price. The land will then be surveyed on a fixed day by the Public Works Department, and, on being notified by them, the Superintendent of Customs will issue a sealed deed of lease. In the case of a foreign merchant, however, the Superintendent, before issuing the deed, will require to be notified by the Consul concerned.\n\n3. When the lease has been settled, the amount of the deposit shall be deducted from the total rent to be paid.\n\n4. Every individual renter shall be required to rent at least 1 mou, but shall not be permitted to hold more than 6 mou. In the case, however, of a Company, or of someone whose business requires, from its nature, considerable space, all the circumstances must first be clearly stated in an application to the Board, who will examine into the matter conjointly with the Superintendent of Customs, and decide as appears fit.\n\n5. In the measurement of land, the Board of Works foot (12.25 inches) shall always be employed, a mou consisting of 6,000 square feet. If the renting of a certain piece of land is in dispute between several persons, the preference shall be given to him whose application was first registered. In the event of a simultaneous registry, priority shall be given to the applicant who first pays a year's rent in advance.\n\n6. Although, for purposes of rent, land is divided into three classes—\"Fu,\" \"Lu,\" \"Shou\"—in the assessment of taxes, no such distinction is observed, but a uniform tax of 2 dollars per mou per annum is imposed on all land alike.\n\n7. Merchants to whom leases have been granted shall first pay one year's rent and taxes reckoned from the date of the lease, for which the Superintendent of Customs, on being notified by the Board, will grant a sealed receipt. All subsequent payments of rent and taxes shall be made in the first month of each Chinese year.\n\nShould any portion of such payments be six months in arrear, the lease will be cancelled, and, if no buildings have been erected, the land will be notified as being to let. If there are any buildings on the land, these will be sold by auction, and any surplus there may be, after deducting the amount due for rent and taxes, will be returned to the (former) lessee. Where the latter is a foreigner, the Superintendent of Customs, in accordance with the usual practice, shall notify the Consul concerned.\n\n8. The Superintendent of Customs shall issue sealed deeds of lease for all land the lease of which has actually been granted. The deed shall be transmitted to the lessee by the Treasury (rent and taxes) Department of the Board, the Superintendent, in the case of a foreigner, also notifying the Consul concerned, in order that the matter may be placed on record.\n\n9. Leases shall be granted for a term of thirty years, and shall be delivered up on the expiry of that period. They may, however, be renewed for a further period of thirty years, it being understood that the rent may be raised, if, at the time of the renewal, circumstances warrant it.\n\nPage 639", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 415616, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 311, "title": "CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908", "content_text": "## (This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.)\n\n309\n\n2\n\nbridges, and rolling-stock, it is probable that the total cost of the line will not fall far short of 6,000,000l.\n\nThis is a great deal more than such a railway ought to have cost; indeed, it is an open secret that there has been not a little gaspillage, to use no stronger term. Some affirm that the French have been the less careful to keep down expenses, because they desired to put it beyond the power of China to repurchase the line, or, if, per impossibile, the latter did raise the money for repurchase, because they looked to China to pay the piper. Since the Peking Government would expect Yunnan to provide the greater part, if not the whole, of the purchase price; since France is not likely to ask less than 6,000,000l.; and since Yünnan, unaided, could hardly raise a tithe of that sum, it would seem as if the negotiations now said to be on foot between the Chinese Minister at Paris and the French Government are not to be taken very seriously.\n\nTo return to the Reports. You will notice how even so very unimportant a question as the transference of an iron bridge from one position to another has to be submitted to the Governor-General of Indo-China for sanction. You will observe, also, the distrust felt by the Construction Company of the action of the Chinese authorities; in particular, the conviction that nothing will be done to protect the line from theft. Attention, too, is drawn to the constant landslides from which the permanent way suffers during the rains, notably in the Namhti Valley.\n\nThese landslides have, indeed, so delayed progress that for the three weeks ended the 15th September last, no rails could be laid down. Railhead is at the present time (the 24th October) at about kilometre 64 above Laokai. By the 1st January next it is expected that the line will, nevertheless, be in full working order up to Lahati (kilometre 71), and will be to this extent handed over to the concessionary Company. It will, however, be noticed that a change is proposed in the site for this station (Report No. 42, section 5).\n\nThe rest of the Report needs little comment. Pi-che-tehai (Pi-se Chai) is the point where the railway descends to the Mengtzu plain, and where the customs station for Mengtzu is to be situated (see my despatch No. 11 of the 9th June last). Tche-ts'ouan (Chih-ch'uang) is the station for Mi-la-ti (kilometre 156), a plateau, 5,578 feet above sea-level, that has been suggested as a possible health resort for Tongking. Amitchéou (A-mi Chou), whose insanitary condition is deplored, is designed to be the first railway stage from Yunnan-fu—the stage where travellers by rail will have to spend the night. As regards the question of the reservation of a towing-path between the Yunnan-sen (Yunnan-fu) station and the river, I have not heard the result of M. Arnould's conference; but the land remains unoccupied. The river empties into the K'un-yang Lake (the largest of the Yunnan lakes), and if properly canalized could bring cargo-boats right up to the station—hence the importance to the Railway Company of keeping its approaches open.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed) \n**W. H. WILKINSON**\n\n## **CHINA RAILWAYS**\n## **CONFIDENTIAL**\n\n`(40886)`\n\n**(No. 514.)** Sir,\n\n920\n\n[December 14.]\n\n**SECTION 59 JAN 08**\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.—(Received December 14.)\n\nPeking, October 30, 1907.\n\nThe accompanying letter from Mr. Bland, the agent of the British and Chinese Corporation, deals with a question which is in serious need of adjustment in view of the extension of railway construction in China. The report which Mr. Bland incloses from the Traffic Manager of the Shanghae-Nanking Railway shows how that line is affected by the discrimination in favour of water-borne traffic in the matter of li-kin charges and similar difficulties are certain to occur wherever the two means of communication come into competition with each other. What is really wanted is a uniform tariff and system of collection adapted to the altered conditions consequent upon the development of railway construction, but the Board of Communications has, by the composition of its personnel, been singularly unfitted from the outset to deal with this and other pressing problems.\n\nIt will help us to furnish an answer to the continual complaints which the Chinese make about the Shanghae-Nanking Railway being an undertaking which can never hope to prove remunerative owing to the extravagant outlay in its construction. This is one of the arguments which they have repeatedly used against being obliged to embark in the Soochow-Ningpo extension.\n\nThe Shanghae-Nanking line will be the first railway in China, with the trifling exception of the Canton-Samshui line, to form a link of communication between Treaty ports, and some arrangement will have to be made for assimilating the duties charged upon goods carried by it to those levied under the Maritime Customs Tariff on steamer-borne produce.\n\nMr. Bland has submitted the whole question to the Board of Communications and asked for the appointment of a Director-General with whom the matter may be discussed and arranged, but as long as his Excellency Ch'ên-pi remains at the head of that Board there is little hope of a satisfactory solution.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed) \nJ. N. JORDAN\n\n### Inclosure 1 in No. 1.\nMy dear Sir John,\n\nMr. Bland to Sir J. Jordan.\n\nPeking, October 24, 1907.\n\nHerein I send you the Shanghae-Nanking Railway Traffic Manager's Report on the question of li-kin, wherein he describes a state of affairs that seriously prejudices the railway's chances of success, and which constitutes, as he points out, a breach of the Loan Agreement. The Chinese have frequently complained that the expenditure involved in the construction and equipment of this line as a first-class railway in accordance with the British standard prevents it from being a remunerative undertaking. There is some justification for this point of view (although in the Loan Agreement this system of construction was stipulated), and they have used their grievance in this matter as leverage to obtain the abolition of the Board of Commissioners and substitution therefor of a system of control similar to that which exists on the Northern Railways. The Corporation, recognizing that control by Board of Commissioners against the will of the Chinese could only prolong a state of friction prejudicial to the interests of the railway, has agreed, experimentally, to this change, provided that it involves no infringement of the rights of the bondholders, &c. But before it actually comes into effect, I think (and I hope you will concur) that the Chinese Government should give some satisfactory proof, by remedying these li-kin abuses, that their object in desiring the change is not simply to secure Chinese control of the line, but to improve its administration. So long as they permit the... \n\n`[2768 o-5]`", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-350 - Public Offices - 1908.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 419929, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-357 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1909 [7-9]", "page_number": 475, "title": "CO129-357 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1909 [7-9]", "content_text": "-16- \n\n59 lives, and damage was done to 77 Government buildings with a loss of one life. The river steamer Ying King foundered with a loss of 424 lives, including those of the Master and 3 European passengers. Inside and outside the harbour limits 17 European and 123 native craft were sunk, many more being wrecked or damaged. The loss of Government property alone was estimated at $100,000. The storm swept on to Canton where great destruction of river craft and much loss of life occurred,\n\nUnder instructions from Your Lordship a bill was introduced into the Legislative Council to provide for the Transfer to the Government of Hongkong of the Widows' and Orphans' Pension Fund and of the Management and Control of the Pensions of Widows and Orphans. The bill was passed on the 30th July and the fund amounting to a sum of $371,321 was transferred to the general revenue of the Colony, out of which the pensions in question will in future be paid.\n\nA riot broke out in the town of Victoria on the 1st and 2nd of November in connection with a boycott of Japanese goods by the Cantonese. This boycott was due to the feeling excited in China by the Talsu Maru affair, and was actively organized by the \"National Disgrace Society\" at Canton. It soon spread to Hongkong, where the Government from the first took active steps to combat it with the result that by the autumn several Chinese merchants in the Colony had again begun to trade in Japanese goods. This gradual failure of the boycott movement in Hongkong dissatisfied the more violent agitators in Canton, who, thereupon, made this Colony the scene of an organized riot, which had for its object the destruction of the shops and goods of such Chinese merchants as had abandoned the anti-Japanese boycott. The affair was arranged with such secrecy and skill that the Police of the Colony were completely taken by surprise, and for the purpose of restoring law and order it was necessary to call upon the Military Authorities for assistance. A proclamation was forthwith issued declaring the Colony subject to the provisions of the Peace Preservation Ordinance and with the help of the troops order was restored by the evening of the 2nd November. After that date there was no further outbreak and drastic steps were taken to deal with the instigators of the outrage. In no instance was a Japanese shop or a Japanese subject attacked.\n\nI have the honour to be,\n\nMy Lord,\n\nYour Lordship's most obedient,\n\nhumble servant,\n\nGovernor, &c.\n\n#612.2\n\nSa-tsing\n\nHONG KONG,\n\nKOWLOON AND ADJACENT TERRITORIES.\n\nTUNGShak KWAN\nPiang tidKon Lan\nAaong tuhoTong-lak\nLung koagHsin hi\nTai-Tong-tu KU ISHA N\nTong poiCheng-hang\nkungShaktboug tea\nBIASWo-shak gain\nApo kiLong-heu\nFule-yunYong tai shan\nLunga sin:Wang-kong\nl'an-tonSa wen\n5 Tai-wb - chumanMa-ham\n3 Lok-shule-trenyTong hang\nShong-tung \"Kaicking ByFeñ-tea-sha\nPa kongTison kui -chun.\nTAI-PUNG-SANGSa-ng-chung\nWong muTiptun\nPallashaPichau\nBVKI ANG\n\nCANTON RIVER\n\nSai fleungFa-trai\nNAM-/TAOs TACHM\nBAYRing Cheng\nTai-Kwaimiu\nNo chuLin-tin\nChak-won!Luna\nTai-oMoi-fim\nPuhakHS IN\nAMNGAN Low-long (SUN-ON Sone con Jam\nSha-tauLongtounty\nORE P\nBAFHAU - HOI\nYan-haShui wan ten.\nFTai, shut hang\nPing-shayZo Shui-leu.\nPet long, Chin shanĹSu-chav\nNam-longLe ChaBy\nChulu kakIdin ten a\nMiguChui-yen\nTu longLe-man\nLin-chancJ£ ¢\nKane KinKagi Shni Hun\nSha tagYam ten &\nMKath Croolgi\nSong chauSha-iauskok\nLakes Criscont. I.Puing twat ezu\nSheung Shui Fan-hugShou-wang\nTai-no- shanAsin-wau\nWa-hangWary-ling-turi\n3 TingkatTOLO\nLik To HapPlover Dove\nHARBOUR HeadTelo Changel\nBluff HiK\nJ.Port Island\nGrass Ichap mun\n~~} Tany› Tun-kawan.\nTai longChong\nLai Cu-Korkbug Chering the mine\nShatinLan-lang-shar\nKOWLOON CITYSham-Shui The Hig\nStonewater Funding. Twee menIsland\nReveling homKOKO\n祝Green ingr\nKory ChuteVICTORIA\nTai-shui hangPet hone\nPak-sa wayA\nShaik kangShalter Tai-pu. Jaui\nCheung Kamant.Tsim Sha Tsur Lyou.\nPing Pong-wintKon-wig Hang Ha\nSkau kuwashHONG - KONG\nAberdeeng\nLANTAN M.L.2Tutku chau\nTaiwanLamma I (Pok-Lin\nShik-paiSr. war Tut-tamuk\nHay Wong ma kokLAMMA CHAN.\nSkak-ku wanGun Jin veur\nBayF\nthak kang~ Lung Head llai won\nPcha hany Fang Bay$Lam Jompl\nTong ChanTai tong Hond @Aguilar) Bury, Hocke\nLa-chau\n-7Lawaal ward\nShe verWag tar Baghthobac\nTowndBasniti\nSinepin.Group\nPing PTung chung\nLANTA O{TAI Ở SHAN)\nHolyPing-chan C.\nLANTAD M L. JCheung-Chau\nfie A Chose\n0Jurist-Chau\n-10Lap-sap mi\nI\n22 9 N. LAT.\n25Iz Pinkoghi das,raphiesi Iurante\n:\nChi chau XLEMA\nCHANNEL\nDrawn and Engrand fe Gin Durnestory & Caronánde\n15Mirs P\n1E LONG OF\nBAYKak tere\nNOTE Territory under Convention of 1860 Boundary under Convention 1898...\nFish Miles (18%)\nSunmuro\n\n168\n\nJohn Bariatre & Co", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-357 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1909 [7-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 421369, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 158, "title": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "# 156 \n\n## 1 \n\n### 4 \n\nStartling reports seem to have left the people at large comparatively indifferent; nowhere in the interior do they appear to have been stirred up to any very high pitch of feeling.\n\nHowever, not content with appealing to the people, the Society for the Protection of the Mines approached the Governor himself. The latter was requested to call upon Germany officially to renounce all her mining rights in Shantung, and he was expected, if necessary, actively to support the anti-German boycott. But the agitators were destined to suffer a severe disappointment. Whatever the actual sentiments of the Governor may have been towards the Germans and the German position in Shantung, he lost no time in making it quite clear that he did not propose to be made the tool of any sect or party, and that he intended to retain the control of affairs in his own hands, and to take whatever action seemed best to him, without yielding to popular clamour. Whatever his own private views on the Treaty relations subsisting between Germany and China, he afforded ample evidence of his determination to give no handle for a complaint, and to preserve a correct, if not necessarily a sympathetic, attitude towards the Germans.\n\nIn a Report to Peking some time ago the Governor dealt at length with the agitation for the preservation of the mining rights along the Tien-tsin-Pak'ou line; subsequently, however, he stated the leaders of the movement had gone further, and now clamoured for the cancellation of the Agreement of the 22nd August, 1907, confirming the grant of mining rights to a German Company in I-choufu, I-shuihsien, Chuchenghsien, Peita, and the Chefoo district (the five zones), and extending the time allowed for prospecting from ten months to two years. He went on to say that the movement was led and organized entirely by passed students, who claimed that the mining question was purely a commercial one, and that the negotiations should therefore have been left in the hands of the merchants. They also criticized the details of the Agreement under which Concessions for seven mines, of an area of 30 square li each, had been granted in the five zones. Others claimed (as in the leaflet annexed to this despatch) that the people of Shantung had not been consulted beforehand, and that the Agreement was consequently null and void. The Governor in his Report pointed out that the Concessions granted to the Germans were perfectly in order; that the Agreement had been signed a year before the new Mining Law of 1907 came into force, and that it had received the Imperial sanction; that the period allowed for prospecting had not expired; and that, consequently, there was no pretext whatever for cancelling the Concessions. He went on to say that, as China did not as yet possess a Constitution, the assent of the people was not necessary to the Agreement, and added that he had originally looked upon the Society for the Protection of the Mines as a harmless institution, but that recently the leaders, in a Memorial presented to him, had threatened, without any circumlocution, that, unless the Concessions were cancelled, they would protect their rights by hindering the working of the mines and by boycotting all German goods, and that if these measures proved futile there would undoubtedly be disturbances among the people sooner or later. Continuing, the Governor asked why these patriots did not oppose the signing of the Agreement while there was yet time, instead of demanding its cancellation now that it was too late; he apprehended mischief as a result of the agitation, and declared that the ringleaders must be proceeded against at once in order to avoid a conflict with foreigners which could only be productive of harm. He concluded by saying that any teachers or students who started such Societies, or even joined them, were acting in defiance of the law, and would be punished with the utmost severity. He therefore declared the Society for the Protection of Mines to be an illegal one, and ordered it to be dissolved.\n\nThe Germans, while fully aware that the Governor's action was dictated by policy alone, are also conscious how much they owe to him in the matter. At a feast given in Governor Yüan's honour at Tsingtau on the 21st October, Governor Truppel, in proposing his health, thanked him for the resolute manner in which he had dealt with the unlawful agitation for the cancellation of the German Mining Concessions in Shantung, to which Governor Yüan replied that, in acting thus, he had merely done his duty.\n\nIn spite, however, of the determined attitude of the Governor, the anti-German movement has by no means been definitely suppressed; at the present moment it is being carried on as actively as ever, this being possibly due, in part at least, to the Governor's temporary absence from Chinan. Whether the existing ill-feeling engendered by the oppressive taxation at Tsingtau, combined with the agitation against the German Mining Concessions, will subside in the near future is very doubtful, and it is quite within the bounds of possibility that the threatened boycott against the Germans throughout the Province of Shantung will eventually come to a head.\n\nI have, &c. \n(Signed) \n**BERTRAM GILES**\n\n## Inclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\n### Anti-German Leaflet circulated in Chinan.\n\n#### Letter from the Work-people of Shantung, expressing their views on the struggle for the Mines. (Translation.)\n\nALAS! the life and death of our country of Shantung has now become a burning question. Here, in Tsingtau, we are not even allowed to work for other people in peace, and we have a few words to say to our elders and brethren which will cut them to the heart. We have recently heard that German merchants are about to ask permission to open mines in five zones in our country of Shantung; all of you have, doubtless, already heard of this. Since you have heard of it, it behoves all of you with one heart to rise up and struggle with them. Why do you stand there looking around you, refusing to come forth and act? We suppose it is because you do not fully realize the danger which threatens you. So now we will explain to all of you the horrors which we have undergone.\n\nFor instance, this place, Tsingtau, was originally a piece of our own country of Shantung. But ten years ago a German missionary was killed, for which in other countries only a certain amount of money compensation is paid, and that finishes the matter. Our Government, being ignorant of the rules governing foreign relations, cut off Tsingtau and handed it over. Nowadays all the land, all the property, and all the lives of the people are in the hands of the Germans. There is a tax on dwelling-houses, there is a tax on fishing, there is a tax on agriculture, there is even a tax on funerals; in very truth there is neither ground for the living to stand on nor ground for the dead to be buried in. These things we in our own persons have suffered; our own eyes have seen.\n\nAt that time a Tsingtau-Chinan Railway Agreement was also made, wherein it was laid down that for thirty li on either side of the line no Chinese were to be allowed to work mines. Thereby were the sources of wealth of our own country of Shantung in a large measure torn from us and pocketed by them. But it is clear that this does not satisfy their covetousness, and they are preparing to swallow our country of Shantung at one mouthful.\n\nThey further caused their merchants to discuss and make an Agreement with a few of our officials behind our backs. Now, this Five Mines Agreement is not an Agreement for working mines at all; it is clearly a bond for the destruction of Shantung. If you do not believe this, just note that wherever mines are started by foreigners a railway is constructed thither; when the railway is constructed thither, soldiers are then sent thither; once the soldiers have come, our people are then merely food for their powder, meat under their knives, mud beneath their horses' hoofs. This is called conquest by mines followed up by a railway, and the annihilation of a race through the agency of mines. At present, whenever any country starts out to conquer another country and to annihilate another race, this is always the method adopted, and it is called the scheme of the control of railways and mines.\n\nAnd now, elders and brethren, what we say is: awake without delay! If the five mines can be preserved, then our country of Shantung can also be preserved; if the five mines are lost, then our Shantung people will one and all be destroyed. If Shantung is preserved, Tsingtau may also be recovered in the future; but if we cannot preserve Shantung, what is the use of talking about Tsingtau? And then, not only are we at the present moment the dogs and the horses and the slaves of other people, but our sons and our grandsons, down to the remotest generations, will all of them also be the dogs and the horses and the slaves of other people.\n\nBesides, as regards the Agreement concerning the five mines, it is only their merchants who have made it with a few of our officials; among our Shantung people there is not one man who knows about it; there is not one single man who acknowledges it; it is a thing of no account. If you people of Shantung will come forward as one man and struggle with them, then later on you will be able to tear up that Agreement of theirs. But if you do not rise up now to struggle with them, they will think that our Shantung people have already ... you must not fight with them or raise a disturbance against them.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 421661, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 450, "title": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "# CHINA RAILWAYS\n## CONFIDENTIAL\n\n[3849]\n\n**(No. 46.)**\nSir,\n\n6761\nREC\n(REG: 25 E 094\n[January 29.]\n\n### SECTION 1\n#### No. 1\n\n**Sir F. Bertie to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received January 29.)**\nParis, January 27, 1909.\n\nI HAVE the honour to inform you, with reference to your telegram No. 43 of the 24th instant, that as soon as I found means of communicating with Mr. Addis I asked him to call at the Embassy, in order to communicate to him the substance of Sir J. Jordan's telegram of the 23rd January containing his views respecting the proposed arrangement with regard to the Hankow-Canton Railway Loan. Mr. Addis had already had one interview with the representatives of the French group interested in the loan, but no definite settlement had, he said, been come to; he understood, however, that no objections would be raised by them to the participation of the German group in the loan. There was to be another meeting in the afternoon, and he was to see the Minister of Finance later on. I asked him to call again and inform me of the result of his interviews.\n\nThe following day Mr. Addis told me that he and the French group had come to a full agreement in regard to the following three points, with a reservation on his part that it must be subject to the approval of the Foreign Office in London, namely: (1) no objection would be made to the participation of the German group in the loan as regards finance; (2) the preferential rights of the British group to supply material and appoint engineers for the railway were not disputed; (3) the proposal that the Belgians should be offered a part of the British share of the loan would not be pressed.\n\nMr. Addis stated that he had found M. Caillaux, whom he had seen the evening before, quite prepared to accept points (2) and (3), but strongly opposed to the admission of the German group. After some conversation he slightly weakened in his opposition, but had said that he must consult M. Pichon and other Ministers before giving a definite answer, and he begged Mr. Addis therefore to defer his departure for Berlin. (See my telegram No. 19 of the 26th January.) Mr. Addis also had an interview with the Head of the Colonial Department of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, who saw him on behalf of M. Pichon. M. Berthelot stated that the question of German participation was still under discussion, but gave Mr. Addis to understand that it was improbable that the French Government would consent to it.\n\nThis morning Mr. Addis called again at the Embassy on his way to the station in order to tell me that the French Government had definitely refused to allow the German group to share in the loan. M. Caillaux had declared that he was perfectly willing to enter into negotiations with the object of arriving at an agreement under which all loans made to China should in the future be shared by England, France, and Germany. Such an agreement, however, remained to be arranged, and pending such an arrangement he would not consent to the participation of the Germans in this particular loan.\n\nIn reply to a question as to what Mr. Addis intended to do in Berlin, he said he would inform the German group of what had taken place, and would endeavour to persuade them not to make difficulties in China for the English and French groups in regard to this loan. He would point out that the amount involved in the present instance was comparatively unimportant, and that, should they adopt a hostile and obstructive attitude, the conclusion of the agreement suggested by M. Caillaux would be rendered difficult if not impossible. Mr. Addis added that of course any negotiations with such an object were entirely outside his sphere of action.\n\nI have, &c.\n(Signed) **FRANCIS BERTIE**\n\n[2104 -1]\n448\n\nPage 450\nPage 451", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 428875, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 216, "title": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.\n\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n214\n\n10141\n\n[May 23]\n\nSECTION 23 JUN 10,\n\n(No. 142.) Sir,\n\nNo. 1.\n\nMr. Max Müller to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received May 23.)\n\nPeking, May 5, 1910.\n\nWITH reference to my despatch No. 119 of the 21st ultimo, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a report drawn up by Mr. Hewlett, His Majesty's consul at Changsha, upon the recent riots at that port, and the probable causes of the disturbances.\n\nThe actual course of events is described in detail by Mr. Hewlett, and his account does not call for any particular comment on my part. It will be the work of time to disentangle one from the other the various causes which contributed to the outbreak. In his despatch No. 496 of the 31st December last, Sir John Jordan reported fully upon the case of the International Export Company's land, to which reference is made in paragraph 2 of the despatch enclosed, and stated that, in his opinion, Changsha was, with the exception of Canton, the most likely city to be the scene of disturbances of an anti-foreign or anti-governmental nature.\n\nSince the ground had been so well prepared for a turbulent movement, and the populace and gentry were in the temper fitted to revolution, it is difficult to ascertain with any degree of accuracy what started the riot and who were its leaders. The populace at Changsha are ignorant, conceited, and many of them on the verge of starvation; the gentry are for the most part arrogant and self-seeking; the authorities, as events have proved, are hopelessly weak and inefficient. A combination of these conditions is nearly always productive of unrest, and it requires but slight provocation to bring matters to a head.\n\nFrom Mr. Hewlett's report it would seem that the Guild of Masons took a leading part in fomenting the disturbances. I shall have the honour of addressing a further despatch to you as to the alleged presence among the rioters of so-called \"boxers,\" but, whatever the truth of this rumour, there appears to be no doubt that the rioting proceeded upon a systematic plan, that the rioters were organised, and provided with house-breaking implements, that they worked in small bands, were comparatively few in number, and could easily have been dispersed.\n\nThe lamentable weakness of the authorities is indeed the most significant feature of the whole occurrence. They had at their disposal close upon 6,000 foreign drilled troops, whose conduct and discipline during the riots appear to have been all that could be desired. These troops were amply sufficient to deal with the situation, but were apparently deliberately ordered to remain passive spectators. I mentioned in my despatch No. 119 the rumour, which I could hardly believe at the time, that two soldiers had been beheaded for firing on the crowd, and from Mr. Hewlett's report, the rumour would appear to be true, so that the only energetic measure taken by the authorities was to inflict drastic punishment on the soldiers, who did that which all the troops should have been ordered to do, and attempted to effect the obvious purpose for which they were called out, the preservation of order.\n\nAnother point which is made clear in Mr. Hewlett's report is that he repeatedly warned the authorities that trouble was coming and that they as often assured him that they had taken full measures to meet any such eventuality. Apart from communicating to the governor and taotai the letter of warning, which he received on the 5th April and of which mention is made in my despatch No. 119, he made representations on the 7th, 8th, 9th, and 11th April, and on these three last occasions was given the fullest assurances of protection. Further, while the disturbances were in progress, the taotai on three separate occasions declared that troops had been sent to protect the missions, which declaration was quite untrue.\n\nThe \"North China Daily News,\" on the 25th April, published what appears to be a succinct and accurate account of the riots, and I have the honour to enclose it also for your information.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nW. G. MAX MÜLLER.\n\n[2751 2-4]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 429063, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 404, "title": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "the approval of the Provincial Council, the Education Society, and the native chambers of commerce.\n\nThe one reassuring feature of the position is that no doubt has yet been cast on the loyalty of the troops, who are, however, taking an active share in the railway agitation with the seeming assent of their officers.\n\nThe three press extracts enclosed indicate the attitude of the students and military at this juncture.\n\n(No. 33.) Sir,\n\nEnclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nE. H. FRASER,\n\nConsul-General Sir P. Warren to Mr. Max Müller.\n\nShanghai, April 18, 1910.\n\nI HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your despatch No. 15 of the 6th instant, transmitting copy of a memorandum by Mr. E. S. Little on the political situation in China.\n\nI have read this memorandum carefully, and am of opinion that the description it contains of the present political situation is, speaking generally, a correct one.\n\nAnti-foreign agitation in the open and excited form referred to by Mr. Little has not yet made its appearance in Shanghai or its immediate neighbourhood, for the reason that considerable foreign naval, volunteer, and police forces are in daily evidence here.\n\nThe attitude of the native press and its advocacy of voluntary subscriptions and universal service as a protection against foreign aggression was referred to in my despatch No. 21 of the 3rd ultimo.\n\nThe disastrous effect of the provinces' victory over the Central Government in the matter of the Shanghai-Hangchow-Ningpo Railway loan are becoming more and more evident locally as the two provincial companies find the task of concealing their bankrupt condition more and more impossible.\n\nI have reported from time to time on the Chekiang Company's position, and I now learn that the Kiangsu Company cannot even find the funds to take delivery of seven passenger coaches made for it by the Shanghai-Nanking Railway, and of which it stands in great need.\n\nAmong the local officials there are not lacking those with definite anti-foreign views, such as the Police Taotai Wang and the City Magistrate Tien, whose conduct on various occasions has been referred to in my reports.\n\nThe fact that the Christian Literature Society for China, which numbers amongst its staff some of the most experienced Protestant missionaries in the country, has taken steps to issue and circulate special pamphlets in Chinese on the true meaning of Halley's comet, shows that the fear of disturbance on this score is shared by those best acquainted with Chinese feeling.\n\nThe chaotic state of Chinese finances is abundantly evidenced locally, the deaths of the two last Paoshan and Shanghai magistrates respectively were practically suicidal, and caused by worry over official deficits which were due to no fault of their...\n\nOn the other hand, conservancy funds are used to subsidise newspapers, and the most urgent needs are neglected in order to provide funds for police and waterworks, in the hope of blocking foreign expansion in the northern boundary of the settlement. No steps have been taken locally to enforce the regulations regarding the issue of unsecured bank notes, which continues unchecked.\n\nNew taxes are being levied locally and old taxes increased, and the efforts made by the native authorities to collect these in the settlements, and the readiness with which the native residents in the settlements support the foreign authorities in their efforts to prevent these levies, though at considerable risk to themselves, affords an indication of the feeling with which these increased exactions are regarded by the mass of the people.\n\nAs regards the attitude of the provincial assemblies, those in this neighbourhood, namely, at Nanking and Hangchow, have certainly demonstrated their anti-foreign attitude by their resolutions regarding Paoshan title-deeds and the resumption of the Mokunshan and Municipal quarry leases respectively.\n\nBy far the most important, however, in my view, of the various facts enumerated by Mr. Little is the loyalty of the troops.\n\nWithin the last three months at Taichow in Chekiang, and at Soochow and Chingkiang-p'u in this province, there have been mutinous outbreaks among the \"new\" or foreign-drilled troops; in the two last cases the officials have openly shown themselves to be afraid of the troops, a large proportion of whom are undoubtedly disaffected, and there can be no greater source of danger to Chinese and foreigner alike than the existence throughout the country of large bodies of well-armed but ill-disciplined soldiery.\n\nTo-day comes the news which, if true, may be described as the crowning episode of 6,000 of these troops joining the rioters at Changshu, and it would seem that little more evidence can now be required to prove the general correctness of Mr. Little's forecast, which, it may be remarked, has also been supported by the letters from correspondents in different parts of China which have appeared in the columns of the local foreign press for some months past.\n\n(No. 24.) Sir,\n\nI have, &c.\n\nEnclosure 3 in No. 1.\n\nPELHAM L. WARREN.\n\nConsul Goffe to Mr. Max Müller.\n\nNanking, April 20, 1910.\n\nI HAVE the honour to acknowledge receipt of your despatch No. 8 of the 11th instant, transmitting copy of a memorandum on the political situation in China, drawn up by Mr. E. S. Little, and directing me to furnish you with a concise expression of my views on the political situation in this part of China.\n\nI will first deal with Mr. Little's two statements bearing directly on the conditions at Nanking, viz., the arming of the students and the loyalty of the foreign-drilled troops. I have made exhaustive enquiries amongst missionaries connected with the education movement, most of whom are in close touch with the teachers and scholars in all the Government schools, and they emphatically deny that any arms have been issued to the students. Any such idea is scouted by the Chinese teachers, principally on the ground that, even if the authorities had the necessary arms at their disposal, they would not dare to entrust them to such an excitable and irresponsible body as are the students. Mr. Little's remarks on the subject of the troops are correct, with the reservation that I cannot vouch for the truth of the statement that no ammunition is ever served out to them. It is, however, certain that the troops here seldom, if ever, engage in rifle practice, and that the big guns have not been fired during the past twelve months.\n\nMy experience and observation convince me that Mr. Little's statement that \"the whole policy and thought of Chinese Government and people is now directly or indirectly levelled against the foreigner\" in no way overstates the case, and will now deal with the various points raised in his memorandum from a local point of view.\n\nThe Carved Melon. These circulars emanating from Canton have been widely circulated, especially in the schools throughout the province, and have undoubtedly produced a very serious effect. The partition of China amongst the Powers was fixed for February of this year, and for some time previous to that date the students were violently excited and held severely aloof from their foreign teachers.\n\nConditions are now improving and normal relations being gradually resumed, but there remains a latent hostility which any untoward incident may easily evoke in an active form.\n\nRailway Loans.-Both in Anhui and Kiangsu there is determined opposition to direct foreign loans for railway construction or any other form of enterprise. Foreign capital is much sought after indirectly, such as through the medium of a Chinese bank; but sooner than accord foreigners any right of supervision or intervention, \"interference\" it is termed, the Chinese would prefer to forego the execution of any project, no matter how important or essential to the welfare of the province. The Wahu-Kuangtechou Railway, the Nanking-Wuhu line, and the provision of waterworks for Nanking are cases in point.\n\nNewspapers.--The native press, which is a very important factor in modern China, is actively engaged in stirring up anti-foreign feeling, and the Shanghai papers frequently publish sensational telegrams, said to have been addressed to the Central...\n\nPage 401", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 429667, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-373 - Public Offices - 1910", "page_number": 404, "title": "CO129-373 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "# 18\n\nEffect on the Navigation of the River.\n\n96. In order to ascertain as far as practicable the general opinion of those principally concerned in the improvement of the Wangpoo, Messrs. Wilson and Matthews, when at Shanghai, interviewed several gentlemen interested in the shipping and general trade of the river, who courteously afforded them valuable information.\n\n97. Amongst these gentlemen were Mr. Merrill, Commissioner of Customs, and one of the members of the Wangpoo Conservancy Board; Mr. Landale, chairman of the Shanghai Municipal Council, and local manager of Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, and Co.; Mr. Marshall, agent of the P. and O. Company and chairman of the Shipping Conference; Mr. Wright, deputy chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, of Messrs. Butterfield and Swire; M. Michelau, of Messrs. Melchors, agents for the North German Lloyd and Hamburg-America Shipping Companies; M. de Thuy, agent for the Messageries maritimes; and Captain Schellhoss, technical attaché to the German consulates in China.\n\n98. In addition to the gentlemen above named, Messrs. Wilson and Matthews had several interviews with Captain Carlson, the harbour-master, who at all times readily furnished such information as was desired from him, also ship-masters and pilots of the P. and O., Norddeutscher Lloyd, Messageries maritimes, Ocean Steamship, and other companies. It is gratifying that the agents and pilots of the Norddeutscher Lloyd and Messageries maritimes companies were good enough to furnish such information on the spot, seeing that, as already remarked in paragraph 3 we have unfortunately not been successful in meeting the representatives of these companies in London.\n\n99. Although it is not necessary to follow in detail the opinions expressed by these gentlemen, we may state that, with regard to the broad question at issue, they were practically unanimous in the opinion that the Astrea Channel is greatly superior for navigation purposes to the old Ship Channel, both on account of its straighter course and its greater width of dead water. They also earnestly hoped that the works in progress would be fully completed. Whilst putting forward the foregoing views and opinions, we should also remark that M. de Rijke's scheme has on other grounds been the subject of much adverse criticism, to which reference will be made hereafter in section XI.\n\nX. THE COST OF THE UNDERTAKING.\n\nWork Fund.\n\n100. As already described (paragraph 25) the cost of the whole of the works had, by the convention of 1905, to be borne by the Chinese Government, the amount being estimated at twenty annual instalments of 460,000 Haikwan taels, or a total of 9,200,000 Haikwan taels. This sum may therefore be taken here as the work fund.\n\n101. In order to prosecute vigorously the two main portions of the undertaking, viz., the Woosung Jetty Works and the opening of the Junk Channel, it became necessary at the commencement of the undertaking to arrange for a fund of 4,500,000 Haikwan taels for immediate contracts.\n\n102. There was, however, as already pointed out, a reservation in the convention that if a greater sum of 460,000 Haikwan taels was required in any one year, China might obtain a loan for the same, interests being defrayed out of the capital sum of 9,200,000 Haikwan taels. The result thus came about that a loan was obtained for 2,998,235 Haikwan taels, being fixed as representing the total interest to be paid on the same. The effective sum forming the work fund was thus reduced to 6,201,764 Haikwan taels. This last-named amount has, however, since been augmented by the addition of 300,000 Shanghai taels, specially granted last year. This total work fund, therefore, stands as follows:-\n\nOriginal capital sum9,200,000\nLess interest on loan2,998,235\nTotal net sum6,201,764\nSpecial grant300,000\nTotal net work fund7,208,765\n\n19\n\nContract Work.\n\n103. Contract No. 1, for the construction of the Woosung jetty and contingent works, amounted to 1,997,798 Shanghai taels, to which must be added a sum of 23,326 Shanghai taels for extra work, making a total of 2,028,124 Shanghai taels. Contract No. 2, for dredging in the Junk Channel, amounted to 2,000,000 Shanghai taels, to which must be added 7,614 Shanghai taels for extra work, making a total of 2,007,014 Shanghai taels. Contract No. 3, for further dredging in Astræa Channel, amounted to 264,000 Shanghai taels. These three contracts therefore necessitated a total expenditure of 4,292,738 Shanghai taels.\n\n\"Own Administration\" Work.\n\n104. The sum expended on \"own administration\" work (i.e., work carried out departmentally by the board under M. de Rijke) amounted at the 31st December, 1909, to 2,132,833 Shanghai taels.\n\nTotal Expenditure on Works.\n\n105. It will be seen from the foregoing that at the end of last year, including both “contract\" and \"own administration\" works, a total sum of 6,425,571 Shanghai taels has been expended, leaving an available balance of only 783,194 Shanghai taels out of the total net \"work fund\" of 7,208,765 Shanghai taels referred to in paragraph 102.\n\n106. Our information regarding the financial aspect of the works was obtained through Mr. A. G. H. Carruthers, secretary to the Whangpoo Conservancy.\n\nXI-CRITICISMS OF THE WORKS WHICH HAVE BEEN CARRIED OUT.\n\n107. Whilst at Shanghai Messrs. Wilson and Matthews obtained, as far as it was practicable to do so, particulars of the grounds on which the criticisms of M. de Rijke's scheme and the operations in connection therewith were based, and in many cases had the advantage of bearing the objections directly from their originators.\n\n108. They were fortunate in having several interviews with M. Michelau, whose firm, as already mentioned, are agents for the North German Lloyd and Hamburg-America Shipping Companies, and also with Captain Schellhoss. These gentlemen courteously received them, and afforded the fullest information as to the objections raised by the German community and the reasons for the same.\n\n109. In the first place, M. de Rijke was severely criticised for having commenced the works in 1907 on lines practically corresponding with those which he had laid down in 1895, notwithstanding that in the meantime great alterations had taken place in the river; this in particular reference to the selection of Junk Channel for improvement rather than Ship Channel.\n\nMemorandum of the \"Deutsche Vereinigung.\"\n\n110. In November 1907, some months after the present works were commenced, we understand, a copy of a memorandum, addressed to the German Imperial consul-general and supported by the German Association (\"Deutsche Vereinigung\") of Shanghai, was forwarded by that association to the chairman of the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, with a letter dated the 5th November, 1907.\n\n111. The memorandum supported the contention that Ship Channel should be adhered to as the permanent navigation route, and stated that, although at the date of M. de Rijke's report of 1898 the Ship Channel was shoaling, in 1907, when the works were about to be commenced, the same channel was again deepening and the Junk Channel shoaling.\n\n112. In support of the latter statement the memorandum quotes the following from M. de Rijke's quarterly report, dated the 26th January, 1907:\n\n\"The depth of water in the river generally has greatly increased, owing to the heavy rain washing out the channel (Ship Channel), and consequently defence work has proved more difficult. Gough Island Reach, where some of the largest works have to be made, has grown much deeper, and the shoaling of Ship Channel will be much more expensive than at first estimated.\"\n\nPage 403", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-373 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 433779, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-381 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [11-12]", "page_number": 360, "title": "CO129-381 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [11-12]", "content_text": "# THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1st, 1911.\n\n## HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.\n\n### PEACE PRESERVATION ORDINANCE AMENDED.\n\nA meeting of the Legislative Council was held yesterday afternoon, when all the members were present. The most important business transacted was the passing of the Peace Preservation (Amendment) Ordinance through all its stages.\n\nThe Attorney General moved the suspension of the standing orders to enable the Bill to be carried through all stages, and remarked that it had not been circulated as usual because the decision with regard to it had only been arrived at on the previous day. The Bill was only drafted on Wednesday night, and the proofs were not revised until the following morning. He moved that it be read a first time.\n\nThe Colonial Secretary (Hon. Mr. Clementi) seconded.\n\n**HIS EXCELLENCY** - Gentlemen, The Gazette Extraordinary published yesterday contained a proclamation issued under section 6 of the Peace Preservation Ordinance No 10 of 1886. That proclamation gives certain powers for dealing with disturbances in the Colony, certain additional powers which were considered necessary at a meeting of the Governor-in-Council on the previous afternoon. I do not for a moment imagine that any exceptional powers will be required in this Colony, except perhaps in one single direction, of which I will speak more fully in a moment. Chinese residents in this Colony, I am confident, appreciate the security and safety they enjoy under the British flag, and this has been proved abundantly to me during the course of the last month when I have had most loyal co-operation from leading Chinese residents, of course including the two Chinese members of Council. They have not only done their utmost to co-operate with the Government, but they have also followed my advice in many somewhat difficult matters on which they have come and asked it. It is, therefore, you will agree, all the more incumbent on the Government to grant to the residents of the Colony that peace, security, and protection of life and property that they expect to enjoy under the British flag. (Applause.)\n\nAs, however, you have seen, probably in the Press, or have heard elsewhere, there has, during the last few weeks, been a considerable amount of rowdiness - I won't give it a stronger name than that - there have been several interferences with the police in the execution of their duty, and the first three cases which occurred are, in my opinion, somewhat significant. One case was the arrest of a thief, after whom there had already been raised a hue and cry. When arrested by a constable, the crowd turned on the constable. The other two cases were cases of snatching jewellery from the heads of Chinese ladies. That form of crime is detested by Chinese in this Colony, and is one in which they always give the most eager assistance to the police. The fact that in these two cases the crowd should have resented the arrest of the prisoner by the police goes to show that these persons who have interfered with the police do not belong to the Colony, but are a recent importation from outside its boundaries.\n\nIt is, as I have said, the duty of the Government to protect its citizens from abuse, and to assure them the freedom which is always extended to all persons to come in and out, and to stay as they like in this Colony. It is the duty of the Government to show, if people come from Canton to this Colony, that they must behave themselves, and that we shall not allow the city of Victoria to become the scene of turbulence and riots such as, unfortunately, at the present moment exist in some parts of China. And in this desire, I am quite confident that we have the full approval and acquiescence of the whole community, including the Chinese. (Applause.)\n\nThe Peace Preservation Ordinance, gentlemen, confers certain powers, as I have said, upon the Government for the dispersion of riotous assemblies and so on, but in my view, its provisions for dealing with persons arrested red-handed in acts of violence are exceedingly inadequate. It is, as you well recognise, very difficult in those circumstances to arrest persons. When the police succeed in arresting a person, in my opinion, he should be dealt with severely. The infliction of a small fine is perfectly useless, and the infliction of a short sentence of imprisonment is not only useless but exceedingly difficult because of the limited prison accommodation we have in the Colony. I think, therefore, it is advisable that when it shall appear to the Governor-in-Council necessary to issue this proclamation under this Ordinance, that for the time, and for the time only, during which the proclamation is current, the magistrates should be given powers to inflict corporal punishment upon persons who have been arrested for inciting acts of violence or themselves committing acts of violence. That, gentlemen, is the object of the Bill which is before you.\n\nThe Law Officers have set down a number of sections of various Ordinances dealing with such acts of violence, and these we will examine very carefully in committee. Our object is to deter criminals from congregating here during the present crisis in China, and show them that the Government of this Colony, and also the law-abiding and peaceful citizens of this Colony, will make it hot for them if they attempt to create disturbances and prevent the police of the Colony from carrying out their duties.\n\nThe Hon. Attorney General has told you that I propose to ask the Council to pass this Bill through all its stages today. That, however, will come under a separate motion. We are engaged at the present moment on a motion for the suspension of the standing orders in order to pass the first reading of the Bill. But I think it is well that I should explain the reason why later on, we shall propose this as a matter of urgency if members agree. As I have said, the proclamation which has been issued appears to me to be of little value unless it is supplemented by a Bill something like the one before us. The leniency the Magistrates are compelled to show is only misunderstood, and the Bill appears to me necessary to make the proclamation effective.\n\nIf, however, the feeling of the Council should be that it would be better to postpone the passing of the Bill till next meeting, I shall not insist on passing it through today. But I hope the Council will agree with me that if the Bill is necessary at all, it would be much better that it should be passed at once. The reason why the Bill has not been circulated as usual has already been explained by my Hon. and learned friend on my left. (Applause.)\n\nThe motion was carried unanimously, and the Bill subsequently passed its first, second, and third readings, and became law.\n\nPage 360 \nPage 361", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-381 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 434739, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 153, "title": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "## BRITISH AGGRESSION IN YÜNNAN\n\nthey say that the country west of the Yeh Jen Shan belongs to them, they make the frontier veer round to the east. Some years ago British troops occupied Myitkyina for a time, and from there they wandered over the neighbouring country, but they did not dare to cross the Hsiao Chiang, which is in Chinese territory. I mention the Hsiao Chiang, because it was formerly decided on with the British Minister as a temporary boundary. At present China has some very strong arguments in favour of her claims: (1) The natives on the boundary of Yunnan have long been in the habit of bringing tribute to China and obeying her orders, while British subjects in hiring land in that district have paid the customary dues and given compensation. This custom is of such long standing as to constitute a recognition of China's sovereign rights over the district. Then how can it be said to belong to England? (2) The heads of the native clans in the villages in the jurisdiction of Piena and the district of Tso and Yang have certain evidence of Chinese sovereignty in a despatch addressed to them by the Board of War in the reign of Ch'ien Lung, and so the British troops have absolutely no right to administer that portion of the country. But Great Britain regards the Kao Li Kung Shan as a key to Thibet, and so for some time has been casting longing eyes in that direction. Her ambitious designs do not stop at Yunnan, they extend to Szechuan and Thibet. We hear that the Viceroy of Yunnan has asked the Wai-wu Pu to decide whether there is to be peace or war, but the board are extremely anxious not to take the lead in any forcible measures, and so the case has been referred to the Chinese Minister resident in England for negotiation with the British Government. The essential point is that the British troops should be withdrawn before negotiations are allowed to proceed, but this may not be found practicable.\n\n(Translation.)\n\n## Enclosure 2 in No. 1\n\nExtract from the “Peking Daily News,” February 24, 1911.\n\n## BRITISH AGGRESSION IN YÜNNAN\n\nIT is understood the Viceroy of Yunnan has sent a circular telegram to the Viceroys and Governors of the different provinces, imploring them to adopt a mutual protection policy for the sake of maintaining the territorial integrity of the Chinese frontiers. The telegram has particular reference to the occupation of Pienma by the British troops. The following is a free translation of the telegram as published in yesterday's \"Peking Jih Pao\" and \"Shuntien Shih Pao\":---\n\nThe boundary between Yünnan and Burmah is, indeed, the boundary between the Chinese and the British Empires. The ambition of the British Indian Government has been to maintain communications between India, Burmah, and Thibet. The effect would, therefore, not only have to do with the Yünnan frontier, but with the territorial possessions of the Empire as well.\n\nPreviously, the Yunnan-Burmah Boundary Delimitation Committee only went as far as Teng Yueh and Yung Chang, and the business of the commission was interrupted owing to disagreement between the commissioners of the two Governments. The Britishers contended that the boundary should be the purple line, from the Kao Li Kung Shan, along the Hsueh Shan to as far as Thibet. They have been so persistent in their pretension that the question has not been settled for the last several years.\n\nOn account of the ill-feeling that has been harboured by the Britishers over the question of the Tengyueh-Burmah line, the Viceroy of Yunnan was able last autumn to discover that the British Indian Government had the intention of occupying Pienma, so as to hold a commanding position over Li-Wei and so as to settle the boundary dispute by armed forces. The Viceroy had therefore telegraphed to the Wai-wu Pu this intelligence, requesting the Ministry to negotiate with the British Minister. The Wai-wu Pu consequently sent a note to the British representative with regard to this matter, but owing to clever misrepresentation of the latter the question was more than shelved.\n\nIt has always been the intention of the Viceroy of Yunnan to dispatch troops to occupy Pienma, but as he has been bound by treaty not to send any soldiers across the other side of the mountain, and as Pienma, a territory subject for generations to the jurisdiction of China, is, however, on the other side of the mountain, he had not carried out his original intention for fear that he might involve the country in serious international difficulty. He was only left with the alternative of telegraphing the Foreign Office to stop the Indian Government from sending troops on the one hand, and to send delegates for the delimitation of the boundary on the other. The British Government again ignored our representation.\n\nIn the middle part of last month the Indian Government sent soldiers to occupy Pienma, and to construct forts there. They also expelled the Chinese teachers, and levied requisition upon the inhabitants. The vanguard of the British troops consisted of some 2,000 men. They also occupied the regions in and about Lang-Su, an act unequalled in its arbitrariness. The Yunnan Viceroy repeatedly asked Imperial sanction to send soldiers for the maintenance of our frontier defence, and had also requested the Foreign Office to remonstrate against the British occupation of our territory, and to demand the withdrawal of these troops before negotiations should be commenced for the settlement of this boundary question. Imperial edicts have been received commanding not to resort to force, and the Wai-wu Pu had also informed him that Minister Lew had been instructed to directly negotiate with the British Government in order to secure the settlement of the fundamental principles before boundary commissioners should be sent to settle the boundary line on the spot.\n\nRecently the Wai-wu Pu sent a note to the British Minister in Peking on the same subject, but the note was once more ignored by him. To remonstrate after the British soldiers had occupied our territory had been too late, and not to demand the withdrawal of the British soldiers now before we discuss the boundary question would be a disgrace to the national dignity, and would not, it is feared, tend to any satisfactory result.\n\nThe Yunnan Viceroy has once more, on the 25th January, memorialised the Throne, recommending frontier defence should be thoroughly organised as a last resort for the protection of the national territory, but he has received no reply. The country is generally weak, matters are very critical, and war, if it broke out, would not be confined to Yünnan. The Viceroy will therefore take the greatest care for the preservation of peace, but is also of opinion that we must also be prepared to meet any unforeseen contingency, and that he alone cannot take the responsibility of deciding. The duty of rulers of provinces being to guard the territory under their respective jurisdiction zealously, it would never do for them to acquiesce in the cession of his jurisdiction territory lightly, nor would it be expedient for them to countenance the encroachment of any foreign Power therein unresistingly. Especially where and when foreign ambitions are so extravagant, the interests of the whole country would be jeopardised by any yielding on the part of the Yunnan Viceroy, and it would certainly not be within his power to submit to any loss of his territory on his own responsibility.\n\nIt is the duty of the Government to consider the general interest of the whole country with a view to preserving its integrity; so it is the duty of a provincial governor to defend his territory until death should take him from his task. That his forces would not be strong enough for the said purpose is generally known to the world, and he is dependent upon the reinforcements to be supplied him by the Throne and the Ministries and Provinces. The Yunnan Viceroy is familiar with the patriotism of the Viceroys and Governors of the other provinces and with their enthusiasm in helping their colleagues who are in difficulty; he is hopeful that they will give him sound advice and render him assistance. \"The loss of the lip maketh the teeth cold.” And as Szechuan province stands to Yunnan in the same relationship, experienced advice from the Szechuan Viceroy is especially earnestly expected. -LI CHING-ISI, \n\n## Page 151\n## Page 2\n## Page 11", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 435448, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 228, "title": "CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "# observed that too much importance cannot be attached to the preservation of that happy unanimity between the groups which constitutes the essence and foundation of the agreements just concluded, no less than the guarantee of their proper fulfilment.\n\nWith the present growth of constitutional reform in China it is idle to attempt to impose principles which presume an entirely different set of conditions. Insistence upon these principles was indeed largely responsible for the state of inertia and indifference into which the Chinese Government had steadily drifted. In order to remove this it was necessary to make some concessions, and it was felt that these could safely be made provided the Imperial Government was prepared to assume full responsibility for them. The unusual publicity given to the Hukuang Agreement and to the decrees referring to it, and the responsibility of the Cabinet to the National Assembly under the new constitution, are conditions which have been non-existent in the case of previous loan agreements, and these add materially to the value of the guarantees of the present ones. They, in fact, imply a new channel for the exercise of the Government's legitimate responsibilities, the right to which cannot reasonably be denied to it. In addition to this, we have the fact that the Chinese Government enters into its engagements jointly and simultaneously with four countries whose political friendship and financial assistance have now become matters of necessity for it. In a strict adherence to the principles here implied, in joint communications on all matters of routine, in joint action where action is necessary, coupled always with a consistent regard for the susceptibilities of China in questions where her self-respect is at stake, will lie the future strength of the international combination, which has it in its power to direct to a large degree the material progress on which China now shows her readiness to enter.\n\nIt should never be forgotten that the first impression likely to be created in the Chinese mind by the present international combination is one of suspicion, an impression which political rivals will take every opportunity to foster, and the efforts of the groups should therefore be consistently directed to remove all grounds for such suspicion by proofs of their friendly desire, dissociated from all political motives, to assist China in working out her economic salvation. China, in her present state of national evolution, is like a restive and nervous horse, who must be guided with a light hand rather than controlled by force; and any attempt to impose conditions which are irksome or derogatory to her aspirations for self-dependence, are likely to weaken rather than strengthen the position of the groups.\n\nThis policy has been pursued in the negotiations just concluded, and the commanding position which it has secured to the groups is recognised by far-seeing rivals like the Russians, who would seem in fact to have abandoned all attempts to form a competing group; and their friendly proposals for co-operation in regions where their political predominance cannot be challenged should be carefully weighed. It is better to have them as friends than as rivals or opponents, and their political co-operation, by presenting to China an acceptable solution of the problems by which she is now confronted in the regions referred to, would bring an immense accession of strength to the present international combination.\n\nThe deposit of loan funds with the Chinese Government banks under the guarantee of the Imperial Government is a step which merely anticipates the necessities of the currency reform programme, namely, the reorganisation of those banks on modern banking lines and the assumption by the Imperial Government of direct responsibility for their administration. The weak part of the currency scheme, in other respects a carefully thought out one, is that dealing with the issue of notes, for the issue and redemption of which the Ta Ching Bank is constituting the sole channel, but no provision is made for their guarantee beyond some very inadequate regulations with regard to a reserve in bullion and securities. It will be necessary, at any rate to begin with, that the notes be guaranteed by the Imperial Government and that a reserve of at least 70 or 80 per cent. be kept in coin of the national currency under the strictest Government control. Insistence on this point will no doubt find a place in the report of the groups to the Chinese Government, and the needs of the moment will thus, it is to be hoped, lead to the establishment of what has long been an urgent necessity, namely, a Government bank, organised in accordance with modern banking laws and forming part of the administrative machinery of the country.\n\nThe doubt is frequently expressed whether the Chinese Government is powerful enough to carry into effect any scheme of currency reform in the face of the strong opposition which is to be anticipated from the native banks and official classes, who make large profits by the present confusion of the currency. To this it may be replied that a Government which has shown itself capable of effectively suppressing such a widespread national evil as the opium habit may well be credited with the ability to enforce so beneficial a measure as currency reform. Currency reform upon a silver basis, with a subsidiary coinage of fixed value in relation to the standard, will benefit the people at large by cheapening the price of commodities and lightening the burden of taxation. Under the present system of revenue collection the local official fixes an arbitrary rate between copper and silver, and insists upon payment in the standard imposed by himself, thereby extorting from the people of the soil far more than is due from them, while at the same time he accounts to the Government for the minimum sum prescribed by custom as the average collection of his district. With the reform of the currency these abuses must come to an end; and, when once this is realised by the masses, the Government may, it is to be expected, count upon a popular support equally strong as that which has distinguished the movement for opium suppression.\n\nIn conclusion, the question may well be asked how China, with her visible resources now so seriously reduced by the exclusion of opium, and with financial stringency increasing in every province, is to meet her ever-growing load of foreign debt, and at the same time find fresh resources with which to carry out the schemes of material progress and expansion, of education and of constitutional reform, into which she is being irresistibly forced by the pressure of her external relations, and by the demands of her own national aspirations. Apart from the substantial economies to be realised by a reform of the existing administrative machinery, it is evident from what has been said above that the effective introduction of the new currency, by putting an end to extortion and lightening the burden of the people, will automatically create a new taxable margin which can be availed of by the Government without calling on the people to pay more than they actually do at present. It is probably well within the mark to say that, from these two sources alone, the present internal revenue of the country could be doubled. In addition, as the group representatives were informed during the recent negotiations, the Chinese Government has now decided to direct its immediate attention to the question of tariff revision, and it is to be hoped that the Powers, in considering the proposals of the Chinese Government on this subject, will unite in a policy similar to that followed by the British Government in respect to the exclusion of opium, and will ask from China, in return for the sacrifice they are called upon to make, adequate guarantees, not only for the total abolition of `li-kin`, but for the introduction of such administrative reforms as may prove the sincerity of her desire and the reality of her efforts to rehabilitate her financial position. The first essential is the employment of competent advisers in every department of the executive, and circumstances all point to the time now being ripe for pressing such a measure.\n\nThe first step has in fact already been taken in the appointment of Mr. Vissering to assist in the inauguration of the currency reform programme, and he has at the same time been invited by the Imperial Government to advise as to the reorganisation of the Ta Ching Government bank. In pressing China to extend the policy thus inaugurated by the appointment of other advisers in the financial departments of the administration care should be taken to avoid any appearance of attempting to impose an international control of her finances, such as might be implied by specific stipulations as to the number, character, and nationality of the advisers she selects. The selection should be left to China under her general guarantee to the Powers that such appointments will be made wherever obviously called for by the needs of reorganisation, and that competent persons of recognised high character only will be employed.\n\nS. S. Gneisenau, near Socotra, \nJune 22, 1911.\n\nE. G. HILLIER. \nH. CORDES.\n\nPage 225", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 437573, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 229, "title": "CO129-389 - Governor Sir Lugard Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [3-4]", "content_text": "Extract from the \"Hongkong Daily Press\" of 18th March, 1912.\n\nPage 46\n\nSIR FREDERICK LUGARD'S FAREWELL.\n\nTOUCHING SCENES.\n\nOn Saturday, Sir Frederick and Lady Lugard bade farewell to Hongkong, and the regret felt by the community as well as by Their Excellencies in having to say \"good-bye\" was deep and poignant, culminating in scenes which were most touching and most impressive. The regard and affection in which the occupants of Government House have been held by the entire Colony is perhaps unprecedented in the history of Hongkong, and while their departure was viewed with sadness it was also tinged with sympathy—sympathy for Lady Lugard in the long and trying illness which has afflicted her here, and sympathy for her husband, whose domestic grief was not allowed to interfere with the discharge of the many duties which His Excellency saw in his high office. Thus it was that the departure of Their Excellencies on Saturday had a solemn aspect; it was more impressive than many where a \"good send-off\" was given. The occasion was too sad even for the cheers which were called for in the City Hall. Most throats felt too husky to allow of that volume and ring which should characterise such compliments. Everybody was sorry, and none more so than Sir Frederick and Lady Lugard.\n\nPRESENTATION OF THE ADDRESS.\n\nThe regret of the Colony at the departure of H.E. the Governor and Lady Lugard and its appreciation of their beneficent stay here was expressed in the Address presented to Their Excellencies on Saturday morning.\n\nThe ceremony took place in the City Hall, where were attended most of the leading residents of all races. The route from Government House to the Hall was lined by troops drawn from the K.O.Y.L.I. and the R.G.A., and on the arrival of the gubernatorial party at the Hall they were met by Sir Paul Chater, C.M.G., Sir Kai Ho Kai, C.M.G., Hon. Mr. Rees Davies, K.C., the Hon. Mr. E. A. Hewett, C.M.G., the Hon. Mr. H. E. Pollock, K.C., the Hon. Mr. E. Osborne, the Hon. Mr. Wei Yuk, C.M.G., and Messrs. C. Montague Ede, N. J. Stabb, W. Dixon, T. F. Hough, G. H. Medhurst, J. W. C. Bonnar, Murray Stewart, E. Shellim, and others including many ladies.\n\nLady Lugard, whose presence at the City Hall was hardly expected in view of her illness, was carried upstairs in a chair, and when she was assisted out of it to take her seat in the chair alongside her husband on the red carpetted dias the audience was deeply affected by the touching scene. Her Ladyship, however, smiled on the gathering, and so far as appearances went gave little indication of her suffering. There was a good colour in her cheeks, but this was probably the flush of excitement. She was fashionably attired in a cream satin costume with black revers and wore a black picture hat with large upstanding ostrich feather. She carried a bouquet of red roses. When the gathering was seated,\n\nSir PAUL CHATER, addressing His Excellency, said:-We have asked you to come here to-day, Sir, to present to you on your departure from the Colony which you have served so eminently an address of farewell from the community. That the duty of reading that address has fallen upon me is an honour of which I am vastly proud. With your permission, Sir, I shall now read the address.\n\nTo His Excellency SIR FREDERICK JOHN DEALTRY LUGARD, Knight Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George, Companion of the Bath, Companion of the Distinguished Service Order.\n\nYour Excellency:\n\nHis Most Gracious Majesty the King having summoned you to serve as His Representative in another part of the Empire, we, residents in the Crown Colony of Hongkong, desire, on this the occasion of your departure, to testify to our appreciation of the advantages which we have derived from your tenure of the high office of Governor and Commander-in-Chief.\n\nThat high office you assumed nearly five years ago, and, ever since, we have been learning to realise more and more your merits as an administrator. The fame of these was world-wide before you came among us, but it rested upon success achieved in dealing with administrative problems different from those arising here. The problems which arise here demand from the Head of the Administration not only firmness; not only a high sense of duty; but also broad sympathy with, and wise consideration for, the thoughts, the feelings, the customs and the faiths of our heterogeneous population.\n\nIn dealing with our administrative problems you have displayed that sympathetic insight which is the secret of their effective solution. Especially was sympathetic insight needed to solve the problems presented to you on arrival, arising out of the state of the law relating to the preservation of the public health. The need for revision had been already acknowledged, and the work begun, but upon you fell the task of completing it, and of inspiring confidence that all unnecessary rigour in carrying out necessary reform would be systematically avoided. The assurances given by your Excellency in the Legislative Council, together with the example of your earnest endeavours to secure efficiency without inflicting hardship, earned the gratitude of the community in general, and of the Chinese section of the community in particular. (Applause.)\n\nPage 225", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-389 - Governor Sir Lugard Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [3-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 439992, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 484, "title": "CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12]", "content_text": "2\n\nnow no fresh resolution dealing with this point has been presented by any other delegation.\n\nOn the subject of uniform marking or branding item (e) the resolution suggested by the British delegation was eventually passed unanimously, though modified at the suggestion of the German delegation so as to relate only to parcels of raw opium exceeding 5 kilos in weight.\n\nThe two remaining items of the programme gave rise to but little difficulty, and the resolutions proposed under them were accepted by the conference with unanimity. Germany, it is true, only approved of the last resolution (transmission of raw opium through the post) ad referendum, but in a subsequent session M. von Müller explained that the reason of his reservation was uncertainty as to the scope of the resolution, and withdrew his reservation.\n\nBesides copies of the minutes of the third, fourth and fifth plenary sessions, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith on a separate paper the text of the six resolutions passed by the conference and dealing with raw opium, with a statement as to the reserves made to each by the various delegations.\n\n40\n\nI would point out that for practical reasons it was found necessary to amend the definition of raw opium which had been adopted on the advice of the technical delegates, and to delete the second paragraph of that definition. The definition of raw opium therefore now reads as follows, \"raw opium is the spontaneously coagulated juice obtained from the capsules of the papaver somniferum and which has only been submitted to the necessary manipulations for packing and transport.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nCECIL CLEMENTI SMITH.\n\n[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nOPIUM.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n973\n\nCO [December 21.] 2018\n\nSECTION 4.\n\nREGE20 JAN 12\n\n[51172]\n\nNo. 1.\n\nSir C. Clementi Smith to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received December 21.) (No. 3.) Sir,\n\nThe Hague, December 18, 1911. THE discussion of Chapter II of the programme dealing with prepared opium was begun by the International Opium Conference in its 6th plenary session on the 12th instant. The first resolution was one by the Netherlands delegation simply proposing the prohibition of all exportation and importation of prepared opium, but there was also on the paper a whole series of resolutions under the various heads of Chapter II put forward by the American delegation, which were of a less drastic nature than the Netherlands resolution, and aimed at obtaining the maximum amount of control over the trade short of total prohibition, in case the ideal of total prohibition should prove to be unrealisable. Indeed, Dr. Hamilton Wright informed the conference that, in the event of the Netherlands resolution being accepted unanimously, he was prepared to withdraw all the suggestions put forward by his delegation.\n\nThe Netherlands resolution was in the following terms:----\n\n\"The Governments taking part in the conference bind themselves to prohibit, as a general regulation, the importation and exportation of prepared opium. However, in so far as exportation is concerned, they shall be empowered to permit in certain well fixed cases that opium be taken on board ships for the personal use of the crew during the course of the voyage.\"\n\nThe second paragraph of this resolution was by common consent withdrawn as relating to a question of domestic regulation. In regard to the main part of the resolution, the Portuguese delegation declared their inability to accept it unless the word \"gradually\" was inserted after \"prohibit,\" and proposed this alteration as an amendment. The amendment was, however, rejected, and the vote taken on the resolution itself, when eight delegations accepted the resolution; one, Siam, accepted with a reserve; Portugal voted against it; and Great Britain accepted it ad referendum. The same evening we sent a telegram to you enquiring whether we were authorised to vote in favour of the resolution.\n\nIn order to enable the delegations to discuss informally among themselves the important principles which were involved in item (a) of Chapter II of the programme, the discussion of the American resolution under that head was postponed to the next day, 13th December. It was then supported by the Chinese delegation, and the Portuguese delegate, in a speech to which I would call your attention, had an opportunity of explaining the attitude of his Government towards this important question. After some further discussion the resolution was accepted unanimously in the following terms-\n\n\"It is agreed that all Governments represented in the conference should take measures for the gradual and effective suppression of the manufacture, distribution, and use of prepared opium with due regard to the varying circumstances of each country concerned.'\n\nIn the meantime, after the vote on the Netherlands resolution on the 12th December, the conference proceeded to the consideration of the various American resolutions under the remaining heads of Chapter II. No difficulty was encountered in these discussions except with regard to the proposal under item (d) for mutual notification. In this, as in the analogous case under item (d) of Chapter 1, the resolution was withdrawn, and none has been offered to take its place. The resolutions under items (b), (c), (e), (f), and (g) were all accepted unanimously, with one reserve (by Portugal) to the resolution on branding under item (e). I have the honour to enclose herewith the full text of the resolutions passed under Chapter II (prepared opium) and copies of the procès-verbaux of the 6th and 7th plenary sessions of the 12th and 13th December, giving a report of the debates on this part of our work.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nCECIL CLEMENTI SMITH.\n\n* Not printed.\n\n[2297 x 4\n\n--4]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 442067, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 194, "title": "CO129-399 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [1-2]", "content_text": "# Jong Kong. \n\n**Gabernment House.** \n\n31 March 1913. \n\n193 \n\nDear Mr. Harcourt, \n\nOn the occasion of my going to Fiji you were good enough to give me permission to write to you privately, and I now avail myself of the privilege in order to ask your re-consideration of the terms in which the last paragraph of your secret despatch of the 28th February was couched. \n\nI confess that, when I read that paragraph, I felt as if I had received a blow in the face from an unseen hand. It is inconceivable that I, in my thirty-second year of service during the whole of which I have never been accused of disrespect to a superior or of want of courtesy to the public with whom I have had to deal, should wilfully write an impertinence to the Secretary of State. \n\nYou will, I am sure, understand that in regard to Mr. Wodehouse's promotion I was placed in a difficult position. In the Police Department it is usual for the second-in-command to act in the absence of the Captain-Superintendent. I could not conscientiously recommend Mr. Wodehouse for the advancement without the reservation which I made. Acting appointments are made by the Governor and are rarely questioned by the Secretary of State. But in the Police Department an acting appointment by me over the head of a Deputy Superintendent recommended by myself might be recognised as so anomalous as to call for interference. \n\nHence my reservation.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-399 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [1-2].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 445107, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 181, "title": "CO129-405 - Public Offices - 1913", "content_text": "180 \n\n8 \n\nA threat of confiscation of land had deterred his village within the Shensi border from sowing it. \n\n\"GEORGE PARKER.\" \n\nEnclosure 5 in No. 1. \n\nExtract from the \"North China Daily News\" of December 7, 1912. \n\n**GOVERNMENT AND OPIUM** \n\nIN the October number of the \"Hibbert Journal\" for the current year is an interesting opening article by L. P. Jacks, of Oxford, in which is discussed \"Democracy and Discipline.\" The considerations which are brought forward concern more especially all Governments that are striving in diverse ways to bring the will of the people to bear upon legislation for the theoretical benefit of all; the question is whether under a democracy this is a realisable ideal. \n\nIt is a theme of prime importance to China at the present moment. Under the Empire the laws were not, indeed, as many in western lands ignorantly supposed, the expression of an individual Imperial will, but they represented a compromise between the ideas and the ideals of a great number of different persons, all much modified by the rigorous necessities of environment. No Chinese knew or ever thought of inquiring whence the law emanated. The practical question for him was: \"Can I safely violate, ignore, or evade it?\" If not, it would, after a fashion, be obeyed. \n\nAt the present time this is radically changed. The conception of the potential might of the people has entered deeply the minds and the hearts also of a considerable number of influential Chinese, and the number and the influence of this class is steadily and rapidly increasing. Any particular law does not represent what any particular Chinese wants, but is the outcome of the composition and resolution of a great variety of obscure social forces largely invisible. \n\nThe late Manchu Government, as a measure of self-preservation, decreed six years ago the gradual abolition of the use of opium in China. Into this reform the people themselves speedily injected a moral element which has been its strength. As an inevitable result, great areas in many provinces of China smiled with the fatal beauty of the brilliant blossoms of the deadly plant. The current year has witnessed a slackening of official pressure in the enforcement of the laws against opium smoking, and especially against poppy planting. Vigorous and intelligent efforts are being made to enforce the law as before, for the present Government is as convinced of the necessity of its enforcement for the welfare of China as was the preceding one. Can the republic stop poppy planting? If it cannot, it cannot stop opium using. \n\nCrude Chinese opium is now worth much more than its weight in silver. The temptation to smuggle is practically irresistible, and it goes on upon an enormous scale. Let us cite specific instances. Shansi, which was officially pronounced last year to be free from opium, is free no longer, and Shansi opium is now an important article of inter-provincial commerce. But beyond Shansi is remote Kansu, which never has been free from poppy raising. Probably the bulk of smuggled opium for the northern provinces may come from those wide and loosely governed areas. \n\nIt is well known that the city of Chengchou, at the intersection of the Chinghan and the Pien-lo railways, is an active centre of illicit traffic in opium. So are many other cross roads of trade. \n\nNot many moons since, at the market town of Hsiaofan, in the Hochien-fu region, situated on one of the rivers flowing to Tien-tsin, there passed a funeral, the coffin containing a corpse from a distance to the west, with many bearers and something of a train. It occurred to the head of the police that there might be opium smuggling involved. For there was no one of the followers of the coffin who wore any white—a suspicious circumstance. \n\nBut the arrest and interviewing of a corpse in China is an embarrassing procedure, not lightly to be undertaken. This particular section of the Chihli province abounds in the lawless bands that China has hitherto found it impossible to repress. The chief of police laid his plans, with confederates, to examine the coffin and yet to incur no risk. He divided his forces, part being left in town to await the outcome, the rest feigning themselves to be a band of robbers (\"lao cha\"). They made their raid, prised open the coffin, and found an opium man, full size and even overweight, clad in appropriate burial garments, and ready for the burial which never took place. Such an amount of opium must have netted an immense amount. Does the reader wish to know what became of the proceeds of what in Shanghai we style \"clever capture\"? \n\nIn the city of Linch'ing-chou, at the junction of the Huai River and the now disused \"Grand Canal,\" there is a little company of men organised as an \"opium refuge,\" whose delightful duty is to help the Chinese Republic to free itself from the opium curse. The society began by representing itself as managed by experts, trained under foreign tutelage (a bare falsehood), and is reported on good authority to be given to blackmail of smokers (to enlarge the revenues of the promoters), and also (perhaps chiefly) to the sale of opium. The present local magistrate is himself an opium smoker, related to those \"high up.\" Can the Chinese Republic free itself of opium? \n\nA hundred li east of Linch'ing-chou is the ancient city of Kao-t'ang-chou. About 20 li north-west of the city on the banks of the old Chaowang River is a small village called Wangkuangchuang. Here lives a man whose name is Wang Tung-fang (\"combined fragrance\"). For some time he has imported opium in large amounts by the cartload, from the western provinces. There are numbers of armed men in the train, which no one safely interrupts. Arrived at his home the opium is divided into packages and distributed among his countless friends and relatives until wanted. No one not personally known can buy. His profits are fabulous. \n\nWhy is this trade not broken up? Because he is too strongly entrenched. The police are all hand and glove with this resistless member of the gentry. He is in intimate relation with the local council (I Shih Hui), all of whom are interested or strictly neutral. The former official knew all about it and (for reasons) did nothing. The case was well understood at Tsinan-fu, the provincial capital. Articles sent to the papers of that city about the case cannot be inserted. But one was actually published in the \"Tungwenpao\" of Shanghai calling the man of \"combined fragrance\" an \"opium king.\" This brought the matter to the attention of the Governor of Shantung, yet nothing was done. \n\nThe present local official is one of a new type. It is said that he will not take a bribe, and it is not certain how to manage him. He arrested the man of \"combined fragrance,\" detained him for a time, and then released him. Whoever is approached on the subject always sighs and remarks: \"That case will be a difficult one to handle.\" \n\nChina is now a republic. Can republics put down known and strongly organised crime, or can they not? Can China put down the planting of the poppy and the trade in opium?", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-405 - Public Offices - 1913.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 447317, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-409 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [1-3]", "page_number": 415, "title": "CO129-409 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [1-3]", "content_text": "HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL\n\nEnclosure 3.\n\n25TH FEBRUARY, 1914.\n\n413\n\nPRESENT:\n\nHIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, SIR FRANCIS HENRY MAY, K.C.M.G.\n\nHON. MR. CLAUD SEVERN (Colonial Secretary).\n\nHON. MR. POLLOCK, pursuant to notice, asked:-What steps Government propose to take, and when, for the preservation of the statues in Royal Square from contact with the public?\n\nHON. MR. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Treasurer).\n\nHON. MR. J. A. S. BUCKNILL, K.C. (Attorney-General).\n\nHON. MR. W. CHATHAM, (Director of Public Works).\n\nHON. MR. E. R. HALLIFAX (Secretary for Chinese Affairs).\n\nHON. MR. C. McI. MESSER (Captain Superintendent of Police).\n\nHON. SIR KAI HO KAI, Kt., M.B., C.M.G.\n\nHON. MR. WEI YUK, C.M.G.\n\nHON. MR. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C.\n\nHON. MR. D. LANDALE.\n\nHON. MR. E. SHELLIM\n\nMR. A. G. M. FLETCHER (Clerk of Councils).\n\nMinutes\n\nTHE COLONIAL SECRETARY replied:--Provision will be made in the estimates for 1915 for putting railings round the statues. The Sanitary Department have been instructed to keep the pedestals in a cleanly condition.\n\nForeign Marriage Ordinance\n\nTHE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled, \"An Ordinance to amend the Foreign Marriage Ordinance, 1903.\"\n\nTHE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded and the Bill was read a first time.\n\nThe objects and reasons attached to the Bill state:-\n\nBy the Foreign Marriages Order-in-Council, 1913, promulgated on the 22nd November of that year, certain regulations are prescribed under the provisions of the Foreign Marriage Act, 1892, relating to the marriage of British subjects outside the United Kingdom. This Order-in-Council will be published shortly in the Gazette of this Colony.\n\nThe minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed.\n\nFinancial Minutes\n\nTHE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor, laid on the table Financial Minutes Nos. 5 to 8, and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee.\n\nTHE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.\n\nTHE COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor, laid on the table the report of the Finance Committee No. 2, and moved its adoption.\n\nTHE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.\n\nThese regulations are intended to facilitate the performance of the contract of marriage by British subjects outside the United Kingdom and come into force on the 23rd March, 1914, from and after which day certain earlier Orders-in-Council, namely, the Foreign Marriages Order-in-Council, 1892, the Foreign Marriages Order-in-Council, 1895, and the Foreign Marriages Order-in-Council, 1903, are repealed.\n\nThese earlier Orders-in-Council and the new Order-in-Council of 1913 require in some small respects local legislation of reciprocal character, and to meet the requirements of the earlier Orders-in-Council the Foreign Marriage Ordinance, 1903, was passed in this Colony.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-409 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 447318, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-409 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [1-3]", "page_number": 416, "title": "CO129-409 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [1-3]", "content_text": "HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL\n\nof\n\none\n\nclause 11 of the new Order-in-Council, 1913 it is provided inter alia that a law enacted by the legislature of any part of His Majesty's Dominions outside the British Islands shall be deemed to give effect to the regulations contained in the Order or to subsequent Orders-in-Council under the Foreign Marriage Act if it makes provision for the execution of certain formalities. These formalities with exception are already provided for by our Foreign Marriage Ordinance, 1903. This exception is that in the Order-in-Council of 1913 the duration of the period of abode immediately preceding the notice of marriage intended to be solemnized under the Foreign Marriage Act which must be given by one of the parties intending such marriage is fixed at one week instead of, as formerly, at three weeks.\n\n2\n\nSection 2 of the local Foreign Marriage Ordinance, 1903, fixes such period at three weeks, which, as stated above, was the period prescribed under the Orders-in-Council repealed by the new Foreign Marriages Order-in-Council, 1918, and this Bill is now introduced in order to make the necessary alteration.\n\nElectricity Supply Amendment Ordinance\n\nTHE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled, “An Ordinance to amend the Electricity Supply Ordinance, 1911.\n\nTHE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a first time.\n\nThe objects and reasons attached to the Bill state:-\n\nBy Section 3 of the Electricity Supply Ordinance, 1911, certain regulations for securing the safety of the public which are contained in the Schedule to the finance were declared applicable to any Company supplying electricity within the Colony, but the application of these regulations was by a proviso restricted in a manner which experience had shown to be not altogether satisfactory.\n\nUnder the old Ordinance the regulations were not to apply to any electric line of works laid down or erected by any person or body of persons for the supply of electricity generated upon any premises occupied by such person or body to any other part of such premises, Whilst the majority of Electric Installations to which this exempting proviso is applicable is no doubt free from danger it has been found that there do exist cases in which private installations apparently of faulty character are situated in the centre of or adjacent to other premises to which they constitute a constant danger. In order to avoid this serious state of Affairs, the present Bill has been introduced providing that the regulations for securing the safety of the public contained in the Schedule to the Ordinance shall have effect generally and that any exemption from the provisions of the section must be of specific character subject to the express permission of the Governor-in-Council.\n\nAny installation of self-contained character which does not shadow with danger other premises will under sub-section (3), giving power to the Governor-in-Council to grant exemption from the general provisions of the section, be able to obtain freedom from the application of the regulations in question.\n\nIt would seem clear that from a public point of view and for the safety of the public the modification of Section 3 of the Electricity Supply Ordinance, 1911, which is proposed under the present Bill is a matter of great desirability.\n\nThe Cremation Ordinance\n\nTHE ATTORNEY GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill entitled, \"An Ordinance to provide for the regulation of the burning of human remains to enable crematoria to be established.\" In doing so he said:- Sir, In moving the second reading of this Bill it is, I think, unnecessary that I should say much. The objects and reasons for the Bill are set out very fully in the printed form which is before the members. There is no doubt, Sir, that the practice of cremation is on the increase amongst all sections of the community, Amongst some of the Indian sects, notably the Sikhs, I believe it is on religious grounds, incumbent upon them to deal with their dead in this fashion. Amongst the Japanese also it is an extremely common practice, while amongst the general members of the community it is also a practice which seems to be growing. At the present time, Sir, I believe that the community of the Sikhs disposes of its dead by burning on a plot of ground at the back of the Sikh Temple, The Japanese also, I believe, have, or are about to have, a small crematorium near their burial ground. Now, Sir, it might be thought that it is unnecessary to provide an Ordinance of this nature, as under the present existing law the Sanitary Board have already powers under the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, 1903. It is true, Sir, that the Sanitary Board under that Ordinance had certain powers, but the Government came to the conclusion, on considering the provisions of sub-section 39 of section 18, that the powers which were there given were not sufficient to cover the arrangements and details for making crematoria, and it was accordingly decided to introduce an Ordinance. I may say, Sir, for the information of members that this Bill is founded on the English Crematorium Act, which, like it, is very short, and it necessarily places the details of arrangements under the Bill in the hands of the Burial Authority. With those few words I beg to move the second reading of the Bill.\n\nTHE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a second time.\n\nCouncil then resolved itself into a Committee of the whole Council to consider the Bill clause by clause.\n\nOn resuming,\n\nTHE ATTORNEY-GENERAL reported that the Bill had passed through Committee without amendment, and moved that it be read a third time.\n\nTHE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a third time and passed.\n\nChinese Emigration Ordinance\n\nTHE ATTORNEY-GENERAL With regard to the next item on the agenda, Sir, the Bill entitled, \"An Ordinance to amend and consolidate the Law relating to Chinese Passenger Ships,\" owing to the introduction of certain amendments of some importance it has been decided not to proceed with this Bill to-day, but to let it stand over temporarily.\n\nThe Dentistry Ordinance\n\nTHE ATTORNEY-GENERAL With regard to the Dentistry Bill, Sir, it has also been decided, owing to the introduction of important amendments, that this should also not be proceeded with to-day\n\nPage 414\n\nRetirement of Sir Kai Ho Kai\n\n28\n\nHIS EXCELLENCY-Gentlemen.--It is with much regret that I have to announce to you that owing to indifferent health the senior unofficial member, whose fourth term of appointment as a member of this Council expires on the 28th inst., has been compelled to intimate to me that he would not be prepared to accept an invitation to continue his services upon the Council. Sir Kai Ho Kai was originally appointed to this Council on the 1st of March, 1890, and has served continuously since that date. He is therefore about to complete a period of 24 years' service, which is the longest term for which any other member, except the late Mr. Phineas Ryrie, who served for 24 years, has occupied a seat on this Council. During that exceptionally long period Sir Kai Ho Kai has rendered extremely efficient service not only as a representative of the Chinese community, but as an independent member of the Council. Gifted with a thorough knowledge of the feelings of his fellow countrymen, with a clear intellect, sound judgment and fluent command of the English language, he has always been of the greatest assistance in the deliberations and debates held in this Chamber. Moreover, he has earned our admiration for the ungrudging manner in which, both inside and outside this Council, he has devoted his intellect and his energies to the advancement of the best interests of the Chinese community and for the good of the Colony as a whole.\n\n(Applause.) The 24 years during which he has served have been busy ones. During them the population and the trade of the Colony have increased enormously; its boundaries have been enlarged, pestilence has necessitated stringent legislation to preserve the public health, unrest and disturbances in China have rendered necessary strong public peace, and education has claimed measures for the preservation of the special attention.\n\nSir Kai Ho Kai's services in dealing with the various measures rendered necessary by these circumstances have been twice rewarded by His Majesty's Government, and it remains for us to record our appreciation of his services and our thanks for his assistance. (Applause.) For myself, having been associated with Sir Kai almost continuously on this Council since 1895, I regret very much that he is now\n\nPage 28", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-409 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 450641, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 223, "title": "CO129-416 - Public Offices - 1914", "content_text": "officially engineered in the past. Twenty years ago the Hunanese were rabidly anti-foreign and Changsha, the capital of the province, was a forbidden city.\n\nVarious new secret societies have sprung into existence which mostly confine their activities to organised brigandage against the rich and official classes. The authorities are enrolling among the inhabitants small bands of military police for the preservation of order, and His Majesty's consul remarks that the general outlook at the end of the year is, on the whole, not unpromising.\n\nThe finances of the provinces are, as might be expected, in a state of confusion. This, however, does not prevent the officials from drawing up ambitious schemes for public works and education involving very heavy expenditure, and very few of which seem likely to mature in the near future. Many changes have also been introduced in the judicial system, which has much deteriorated under the new régime. The judges are in most cases comparatively young men with a smattering of legal knowledge, but quite unacquainted with the practice of law and without the varied experience of the magistrates under the old system. In fact the administration of justice would appear to be the worst feature of the new Government, and His Majesty's consul at Changsha reports that in cases where British subjects were interested it has required months of unremitting pressure coupled with repeated protests against the procrastination or the bad faith of the authorities to bring the matter to a hearing. Though further supported by clear and conclusive evidence, has at last extorted in each case a reluctant judgment for the plaintiff, all the consul's efforts to obtain the enforcement of a single one of the judgments have been fruitless.\n\nAs already recorded in the case of other provinces, the elections in Hunan were met everywhere with indifference. Procrastination or absolute omission to prepare and transmit the draft registers of voters was universal. Prior to the polling much canvassing took place on the part of candidates for election. The favourite device was to buy up as many as possible of the tickets, one of which was issued to each qualified elector, and distribute them amongst a number of men who were feasted liberally beforehand. Care, however, was taken to make no payment until after the election, when it could be ascertained whether they had voted for their employer or not. The tickets appear to have fetched high prices, and to have been freely disposed of; 5 dollars a piece was commonly paid, and the price rose as the date of the polling drew near. On the first day of the elections fights between the factions of the rival candidates took place round the polling stations in a number of districts. The ballot-box with the voting papers was usually destroyed, and in several instances the polling station was wrecked as well.\n\nApart from political troubles, the general state of the province, owing to the excellence of the crops, is showing increasing signs of prosperity, and trade is largely in excess of the figure for the corresponding period of 1911. Steps are being taken to develop the mineral deposits in which this province is so rich, and which include coal, lead, tin, iron, copper, and gold. Various industrial undertakings and railways are also being mooted.\n\nIchang.\n\nRobberies continue with great frequency in the country districts round Ichang. A serious rising occurred at Hsing Shan, in the Kueichou district, which took the local authorities over six weeks, and some 2,000 troops to quell. The rising was organised by the Red Lamp Society, who are strong on the Hupei-Szechuan border. The trouble began with some 300 to 400 men attacking the local gentry at Hang Hsien. The judge interfered and was killed, as was also his junior. The outlaws then openly declared against the officials. Some seventy soldiers, sent from Kueichou to crush the movement, were badly beaten, and an appeal was sent to Ichang for reinforcements. Four companies of infantry were dispatched, but by the time they arrived on the scene the numbers of the insurgents had increased to some 3,000 men, strongly entrenched in the hills. Further reinforcements with mountain guns had to be sent from Siangyang before the rebels were finally turned out of their strongholds.\n\n219", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-416 - Public Offices - 1914.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 453539, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-421 - Governor Sir May - 1915 [3-4]", "page_number": 325, "title": "CO129-421 - Governor Sir May - 1915 [3-4]", "content_text": "# PIL\n\n**Telegraphic.**\n\n— 6 —\n\n## No. 10.\n\nFrom the Secretary of State to His Excellency the Governor.\n\n27th August, 1914.\n\nWith reference to your telegrams of 15th and 24th August, I am advised that if firms with headquarters in hostile territory have branches in British territory, trade with the branch is permissible as long as trade is bona fide with the branch and no transaction with the head office is involved. If therefore local firms referred to are bona fide branches established in the Colony or if trade with them involves no transactions with enemy territory, it does not appear that special restrictions are necessary. It is for you to decide whether in any particular case restrictions are necessary in order to ensure that no transactions with the enemy territory take place. In this respect, proposals contained in your telegram of August 15th appear to be generally sound. Extension of your proposals to goods due to arrive if shipped before outbreak of war should be of course subject to jurisdiction of the Prize Courts where involved. Above principles apply to the persons named in the last part of your telegram of 24th August, subject to any special restrictions which may be found necessary to impose on such persons.\n\n**Telegraphic.**\n\n## No. 11.\n\n28th August, 1914.\n\nFrom the Secretary of State to His Excellency the Governor.\n\nYour telegram of 26th August as to trade with German and Austrian firms; full information included in separate telegram being sent shortly.\n\n**Confidential.**\n\n## No. 12.\n\n— 7 —\n\n3. The general application of your instructions, with the assistance of the above principles, appears from the two letters, copies of which are annexed. That of the 28th August refers to transactions already embarked upon, in which persons in enemy territory are interested, and that of the 29th August to new business to be entered upon by enemy subjects allowed to remain in the Colony. The letter of the 28th August is only a model, and the permission referred to has been given in other cases as well as to the firms specified therein. I may mention that the reservation of the right of capture at sea had, before the arrival of your telegram, been inserted in the draft letter which had been prepared in anticipation of your approval of my proposals.\n\n4. Enquiries are constantly being received with regard to particular transactions, and these are dealt with as they arise in accordance with your instructions and above principles.\n\n5. The following general points are now under consideration:-\n\n| Point | Description |\n| --- | --- |\n| (a) | The execution of export contracts already entered into by firms which have partners in enemy territory. |\n| (b) | Certain cases where it is possible that some such firms have been carrying on business under the names of British employees. |\n| (c) | The rights of neutral banks in view of the conditions contained in the letter of the 28th August annexed. |\n\nThe last is the only point which is likely to cause any difficulty, and that will doubtless be satisfactorily arranged.\n\n6. The reason why the rights of such banks were not dealt with before is that in the information received from the German firms, no mention was made of any liabilities to any banks except the three British banks referred to in the letters annexed. The only bank which has raised any objection is the `Nederlandsche Handel Maatschappij`.\n\n7. I am informed that as the German firms are financed almost entirely from Europe, and will not be able to obtain credit from the banks locally, the practical result of the conditions laid down in the letter of the 29th August will be to stop almost completely, at least for the present, any future trading by the German subjects who have been allowed to remain here. This result, whether desirable or not, appears to be inevitable. Hungarian commercial interests in the Colony appear to be of little importance.\n\nI have, &c.,\n\nFrom His Excellency the Governor to the Secretary of State.\n\n**GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 7th September, 1914.**\n\nSIR,-With reference to paragraph 7 of my despatch of the 26th of August, I have the honour to report that the question of the German and Austro-Hungarian firms established in the Colony, which is of much importance on account of the number of the German firms and the British, allied, and neutral interests involved, has been dealt with in accordance with the general instructions contained in your telegram of the 27th August, which was in reply to my telegrams of the 15th and 24th August.\n\n2. The main principles which have been relied upon in working out and applying these instructions may be shortly stated as follows:-\n\n| Principle | Description |\n| --- | --- |\n| (a) | Enemy subjects allowed to remain in the Colony are, for such time as they in fact stay, placed in the same position as other resident aliens. |\n| (b) | Such enemy subjects are of course subject to the general law against trading with the enemy, and accordingly they must not, without permission, take part in any transaction which is for the benefit of any person in enemy territory. |\n| (c) | In order that firms which are branches of firms in enemy territory, and firms which have a partner in enemy territory, may complete transactions embarked upon before the war, special permission is necessary. |\n\nNote. (i.) Such permission was thought highly desirable here owing to the magnitude of the British, allied, and neutral interests involved, apart from any other considerations.\n\n(ii.) It was considered that practically in no local case could it be certain that such current business involved no transaction with enemy territory, because the German firms are all financed from Europe.\n\n(d) | No money must be remitted to enemy territory during the war.\n\nThe Right Honourable Lewis Harcourt, M.P., &c., &c., &c.\n\n**Enclosure in No. 12.**\n\nF. H. MAY, Governor.\n\n**COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE, HONGKONG, 29th August, 1914.**\n\nGENTLEMEN,-As it is understood that you act for various persons in this Colony of German and Austro-Hungarian nationality, I am directed to inform you, for the purpose of communication to any of your clients who may consult you on the point, that any enemy subject who is allowed to remain in the Colony will, during good behaviour, be permitted to trade here under the following conditions:-\n\n| Condition | Description |\n| --- | --- |\n| (a) | He must not enter into any transaction which may, either wholly or in part, be for the benefit of any person residing, carrying on business, or being, within the German or Austro-Hungarian Empire, whether such person be a former partner or not. |\n| (b) | He must not, without permission previously obtained from this Government, take part in any transaction relating in any way to any goods or contract in which any person residing, carrying on business, or being, in the German or Austro-Hungarian Empire, may have any property or interest. |", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-421 - Governor Sir May - 1915 [3-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 455817, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-424 - Governor Sir May - 1915 [9-10]", "page_number": 513, "title": "CO129-424 - Governor Sir May - 1915 [9-10]", "content_text": "507\n\n80\n\nHONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL\n\nthose Colonial armed forces are the less seldom comes round the duty which weighs heavily on men who have their ordinary avocations to follow in the day-time and very often far into the night. I feel certain that now His Most Gracious Majesty's wishes have become publicly known that in a short time I will be able to assure the Secretary of State for the Colonies that there is not a British subject in Hongkong who is physically fit for the duty who has not tendered his services either to assist the General Officer Commanding in the defence of the Colony or to assist in the preservation of order within its borders.\n\nFull Court Ordinance\n\nTHE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled, \"An Ordinance to amend the Full Court Ordinance, 1912, and to make further provision for the constitution of the Full Court.\"\n\nThe Objects and Reasons state that one object of this Bill is to enable a Full Court of two judges to dispose of all incidental matters relating to applications for leave to appeal to His Majesty in Council, including such matters as the adjournment of an application. This is necessary on account of the fact that one of the judges who constitute the Full Court of three judges does not reside in the Colony. The actual hearing of the appeal will as before have to come before a Full Court of three judges, except in the case dealt with in the next paragraph.\n\nThe other object of the Bill is to provide that the Full Court may in any case consist of only two judges if in the opinion of the judge whose judgment or order is being appealed from is unnecessary. This provision could be utilised in order to prevent the congestion of work which might occur during a long session of Court of three judges.\n\nFull\n\nBe-\n\nTHE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a first time.\n\nTrading with the Enemy\n\nTHE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled, \"An Ordinance to amend further the Trading with the Enemy Ordinance, 1914.\"\n\nThe Objects and Reasons state that the main object of this Bill is to introduce the provisions of the Trading with the Enemy Amendment Act, 1915, 5 and 6 Geo. 5, c. It also makes certain other minor amendments in the law.\n\nClauses 2 and 3 are intended to improve the provisions for restraining the registration of companies formed for the purpose of acquiring the whole or any part of the undertakings of firms or companies, which, though not entirely of enemy character, yet contain such an amount of enemy character, or such a connection with the enemy as to render them liable to suspicion.\n\nThe effect of the amendments will be to make the law on this point the same as the law in the United Kingdom.\n\nClause 4 is taken from the Trading with the Enemy Amendment Act, 1914, 5 and 6 Geo. 5, c. 12, and provides an additional ground for the appointment of a controller under section of the Principal Ordinance.\n\nClauses 5 to 7 are taken from the Trading with the Enemy Amendment Act, 1916.\n\nClause 5 includes in the list of moneys which must be paid to the custodian (a) the interest on securities issued by any government or corporation and (b) any amount payable on the payment off of any security issued by a company. It also throws on the person through whom any interest on such securities would be paid in the Colony the duty of making the payment to the custodian. A sub-clause gives the Governor power to exempt any liquidator or any other person from the operation of this clause.\n\nClause 8 adds to the forms of property held on behalf of an enemy which must be notified to the custodian (a) balances and deposits standing to the credit of enemies at any bank and (b) debts to the amount of $500 or upwards which would have been due to enemies. It also requires the custodian to keep a register of all property returns which will be open to inspection by persons interested. The Governor is given power to exempt from this section also.\n\nClause requires companies which are liable to inspection on account of their connection with an enemy, to give notice to the custodian before commencing any legal proceedings.\n\n-0-8\n\nTHE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a first time.\n\n79", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-424 - Governor Sir May - 1915 [9-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 463520, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-435 - Governor Sir May & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1916 [9-11]", "page_number": 612, "title": "CO129-435 - Governor Sir May & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1916 [9-11]", "content_text": "# HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL\n\nthey should remember that the stronger those Colonial armed forces are, the less seldom comes round the duty which weighs heavily on men who have their ordinary avocations to follow in the daytime and very often far into the night. I feel certain that now His Most Gracious Majesty's wishes have become publicly known, that in a short time I will be able to assure the Secretary of State for the Colonies that there is not a British subject in Hongkong who is physically fit for the duty who has not tendered his services either to assist the General Officer Commanding in the defence of the Colony or to assist in the preservation of order within its borders.\n\n## FULL COURT ORDINANCE\n\n**THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL** moved the first reading of a Bill intituled, \"An Ordinance to amend the Full Court Ordinance, 1912, and to make further provision for the constitution of the Full Court.\"\n\nThe Objects and Reasons state that one object of this Bill is to enable a Full Court of two judges to dispose of all incidental matters relating to applications for leave to appeal to His Majesty in Council, including such matters as the adjournment of an application. This is necessary on account of the fact that one of the judges who constitute the Full Court of three judges does not reside in the Colony. The actual hearing of the appeal will, as before, have to come before a Full Court of three judges, except in the case dealt with in the next paragraph.\n\nThe Objects and Reasons state that the main object of this Bill is to introduce the provisions of the Trading with the Enemy Amendment Act, 1915, 5 and 6 Geo. 5, c. 79. It also makes certain other minor amendments in the law.\n\nClauses 2 and 3 are intended to improve the provisions for restraining the registration of companies formed for the purpose of acquiring the whole or any part of the undertakings of firms which, though not entirely of enemy character, yet contain such an amount of enemy character, or such a connection with the enemy as to render them liable to suspicion.\n\nThe effect of the amendments will be to make the law on this point the same as the law in the United Kingdom.\n\nClause 4 is taken from the Trading with the Enemy Amendment Act, 1914, 5 and 6 Geo. 5, c. 12, and provides an additional ground for the appointment of a controller under section 4 of the Principal Ordinance.\n\nClauses 5 to 7 are taken from the Trading with the Enemy Amendment Act, 1915.\n\nClause 5 includes in the list of moneys which must be paid to the custodian (a) the interest on securities issued by any government or corporation and (b) any amount payable on the payment off of any security issued by a company. It also throws on the person through whom any interest on such securities would be paid in the Colony the duty of making the payment to the custodian. A sub-clause gives the Governor power to exempt any liquidator or any other person from the operation of this clause.\n\nClause 6 adds to the forms of property which must be notified to the custodian (a) balances and deposits standing to the credit of enemies at any bank and (b) debts to the amount of $500 or upwards which would have been due to enemies. It also requires the custodian to keep a register of all property returns which will be open to inspection by persons interested. The Governor is given power to exempt from this section also.\n\nClause 7 requires companies which are liable to inspection on account of their partial enemy character or their former connection with an enemy, to give notice to the custodian before commencing any legal proceedings.\n\n**THE COLONIAL SECRETARY** seconded, and the Bill was read a first time.\n\n## TRADING WITH THE ENEMY\n\n**THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL** moved the first reading of a Bill intituled, \"An Ordinance to amend further the Trading with the Enemy Ordinance, 1914.\"\n\nThe other object of the Bill is to provide that the Full Court may in any case consist of only two judges if, in the opinion of the judge whose judgment or order is being appealed from, it is unnecessary. This provision could be utilised in order to prevent the congestion of work which might occur during a long session of a Full Court of three judges.\n\n**THE COLONIAL SECRETARY** seconded, and the Bill was read a first time.\n\n## THE MAGISTRATES' ORDINANCE\n\n**THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL** moved the first reading of a Bill intituled, \"An Ordinance to amend the Magistrates' Ordinance, 1890, and for purposes connected therewith.\"\n\nThe Objects and Reasons state that Clauses 2 and 3 of this Bill are to enable a magistrate to proceed ex parte upon the failure of the defendant to appear in answer to his summons. The effect of these clauses will be to assimilate the law on this point to that in force in England. Clause 4 is inserted in order to make it clear that the above two clauses will apply to all summonses issued after the commencement of the Ordinance, whether the offence was committed before or after that date.\n\nClause 5 proposes to raise the maximum fine to $250 in the case of indictable offences tried summarily. This is in order to assimilate the maximum fine in this class of case to the maximum fine adopted in clause 6 in accordance with the law in force in England.\n\nClause 6 is intended to give a magistrate power in all cases to impose a fine instead of imprisonment. It is taken from the Summary Jurisdiction Act, 1879. The magistrates in Hongkong already have power to fine in most cases, but a few cases exist in which they have not. Examples are the offence of unlawful pawning and the offences punishable under the Vagrancy Act, 1824.\n\nClause 7 is intended to assign to Ordinance No. 28 of 1913 a different short title from that of Ordinance No. 3 of 1913.\n\n**THE COLONIAL SECRETARY** seconded, and the Bill was read a first time.\n\n## DEBATE ON THE BUDGET\n\n**THE COLONIAL SECRETARY** moved the second reading of the Bill intituled, \"An Ordinance to apply a sum not exceeding nine million eighty-one thousand two hundred and nine dollars to the Public Service of the year 1916.\"\n\n**THE COLONIAL TREASURER** seconded.\n\n## 81\n\n**THE HON. MR. HEWETT**--Your Excellency, I have been asked by the Unofficial Members to make the first reply on their behalf to the speech your Excellency made a fortnight ago when laying the Estimates for next year before us. I very much regret the unavoidable absence of two of my unofficial colleagues, but perhaps it would be just as well if I added that all the unofficial members met in my office last week, when we considered your Excellency's speech and the Budget, and what I am about to say is done with the unanimous approval of my unofficial colleagues. Generally speaking, the Budget, considering the abnormal conditions under which we are existing, must be considered as a satisfactory one, particularly in view of the very heavy public works in which we are engaged, many of which are suspended, and the difficulty in making the Budget meet. We are glad your Excellency has been able to put before us a Budget which does not call for increased taxation, although probably that may have to follow before very long. On behalf of the unofficial members, and I am sure I am speaking on behalf of the whole community, we realise the very great stress that has fallen on our great Empire, and in every possible way we are prepared to support your Excellency in any scheme you may bring forward with a view to our taking a full share of the burdens thrust upon us. We entirely agree with your Excellency that this is a time when rigid economy should be practised, and we regret very much that it has been found necessary to temporarily suspend necessary public works, but we realise that, whatever the cost is, certain works such as the Yaumati Refuge, the Tai-Tam-Tuk water scheme, and one or two other such works must be proceeded with, and the money must be found, either by short loans or other means found most convenient.\n\nThere is another point, of course, in the public works expenditure extraordinarily which should also be pressed forward -I do not think your Excellency especially referred to it. That is, the erection of quarters for the Government staff. That is practically a remunerative investment, and should be proceeded with. Your Excellency spoke of ruthless economy. That is rather a harsh term,", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-435 - Governor Sir May & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1916 [9-11].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 464593, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-437 - Public Offices - 1916", "page_number": 153, "title": "CO129-437 - Public Offices - 1916", "content_text": "# 151 \n\n## 2\n\nThe main road from Kueichow to the Yang-taze and Szechuan, i.e., from Kueiyang, through Tsunyi, to Chungking. The more westerly roads from Yunnan into Szechuan, i.e., from Tali and Tengyueh, can be left out of account as they lead into the March country. There are thus three points of strategic importance on the Upper Yang-tsze—Suifu, Luchow, and Chungking, being the Szechuan leads of the three main roads from Yunnan and Kueichow. At Suifu was a small garrison, which was reinforced on the outbreak of trouble by 2,000 troops from Chengtu; at Luchow was stationed a General Lin with a division of Szechuan troops of doubtful loyalty; and at Chungking was a garrison of Ch'en Yi's northern troops.\n\nOn the outbreak of civil war the Imperial forces at Suifu and Luchow were pushed southwards, the former entering Yunnan and advancing down the Chaotung road for 70 miles or so, and the latter being moved south to Yungning on the Weining road.\n\nThe Yunnan rebels advancing from Yunnan-fu by the Tungchuan-Chaotung road met and defeated the Szechuanese Imperialists from Suifu at Laoyatan about the 16th January, advanced and repulsed them again at Ampien about the 18th January, and occupied Suifu, the most important centre on the Yang-taze west of Chungking on the 20th January. It appears probable that General Wu and his Szechuanese at Suifu did not fight seriously, but withdrew or went over to the rebels. Meanwhile, at Yungning the attitude of General Liu and his 8,000 Szechuanese covering Luchow is most uncertain; the Chengtu authorities are doubtful about them, and the Yunnan-fu authorities claim to count on their support. Thus, of the two main roads leading from Yunnan to Szechuan, the rebels hold the Tungchuan-Chaotung-Suifu one throughout, and appear likely to be in possession of the Weining-Yungning-Luchow one shortly. General Tsai Ao, Commander-in-chief of the rebel forces, left Yünnan-fu for Weining on the 6th January, from which it seems probable that another rebel force will shortly debouch into Szechuan by this road and join hands with the wavering Szechuanese troops at Yungning and Luchow.\n\nAlthough the Yunnan rebels by acting promptly have seized Suifu, and possibly the whole of the Upper Yang-tsze as far down as Luchow, the campaign cannot yet be said to have seriously commenced, since the Government expeditionary force of northern troops has not yet had time to reach the scene of action. This expeditionary force consists of the 3rd Hupei Division (from Yochow) with some additional troops, amounting in all to about 10,000 men, under General Ts'ao Kun, followed by the 7th Division (from Peking) with additional mixed brigade, also totalling about 10,000 men under General Chang Yao. The 10th Division (from Peking) is also said to be moving as a reserve. These troops have got to be hauled up the Yang-tsze from Ichang in native boats, there being no steam navigation to speak of at this time of the year. The journey from Ichang to Chungking in a native boat takes at least three weeks. General Tsao Kun's troops (the 3rd Hupei Division) were passing through Ichang during the first half of January, and the main body cannot possibly get to Chungking before the end of the month or early February.\n\nIt is possible, therefore, that the Yunnan rebels may meet with further success on the Upper Yang-taze in the near future, since there is nothing to stop them but Szechuan troops, many of whom are a doubtful quantity. But the real test will not come till the Imperialist expeditionary force gets beyond Chungking. Then, according to the official plan, General Ts'ao Kun's 3rd Division, with his rear protected by the following 7th Division, will join hands with General Chen Yi's northern troops and attack Yunnan in earnest. Wholesale defections by the Szechuanese troops to the rebel side before General Ts'ao Kun gets up-river would completely change the whole outlook. The attitude of Kueichow is also of great importance in connection with the campaign, owing to its position on the flank of the expeditionary force rendering possible an attack on Chungking from Kueiyang by the Tsunyi main road.\n\nThe Yunnanese are good soldiers with a great reputation in Szechuan. In 1911 a Yünnanese army entered Szechuan by the Suifu route, ostensibly to fight the Imperialists, but in reality to levy contributions on the rich cities of southern Szechuan. Though vastly outnumbered, they did as they liked in the province for months, and only withdrew of their own accord after the declaration of the republic. It remains to be seen whether they will prove a match for the well-equipped northern troops. Similarly, the Kueichow army showed its worth vis-a-vis the Szechuanese when in occupied Chungking during the interprovincial fighting in the autumn of 1913. The Kueichow troops only withdrew of their own accord after negotiation. During the troubles of 1911, 1912, and 1913 there was always a tendency on the part of the authorities of Yünnan and Kueichow, both poor but warlike provinces, to regard the rich and peaceable Szechuanese as a legitimate field for their freebooting expeditions, and to aim at the incorporation of Szechuan with Yunnan and Kueichow to form a federated south-western Chinese State. Szechuan has, in the past, also shown strong separatist tendencies, and for geographical and other reasons has always been in much closer touch with Yunnan and Kueichow on the south than with Hupei, Shensi, and Kansu on the north.\n\nPeking, January 23, 1916.\n\n## Enclosure 2 in No. 1\n\n**Joint Despatch signed and sealed by the Military and Civil Governors to Consul-General Gough.** (Translation.)\n\nSir,\n\nThe Republic of China was duly recognised by all the friendly Powers, but the President, Yuan Shih-kai, in violation of the Constitution and his oath, has now taken advantage of the continuance of the European war to plan a rebellion and cast his eyes upon the Imperial dignity. His Majesty's Minister in Peking has more than once counselled and warned him, but in utter disregard of all sense of right he ruthlessly pursues his way. Consequently, the friendly Powers have abandoned him, and the Chinese people regard him as of no account.\n\nWe received our appointments from the Republican Government and only recognise loyalty and duty towards the republic. All the provinces have unitedly declared that they will uphold the republic and continue in that path.\n\nWe recall that Great Britain previously recognised the republic, and we feel assured that on this occasion the British Government, as well as yourself, will approve our purpose of safeguarding the republic and upholding the Constitution. It is, accordingly, our duty to formally notify you of our intentions in order to strengthen our good relations with your country.\n\nIt is now our duty to inform you, for communication to your Government and the British Minister at Peking, of the course we propose to follow with regard to the treaties, and of our earnest desire for cordial relations with Great Britain :-\n\n1. From the date of the declaration of independence all the treaties negotiated with the Manchu and Republican Governments, as well as the separate conventions regarding Burmah and Tonkin, to continue in force.\n2. The lives and property of all foreign officials, merchants, and missionaries residing or travelling within our sphere of influence to be afforded full protection, as provided by treaty. Compensation will be paid by us for any actual losses incurred; but losses incurred through proceeding, in despite of our warning, into the territory of the tribesmen or disturbed districts will not be included in this category.\n3. We request you to telegraph to the Government of Burmah asking that the civil and military officials on the frontier be instructed to co-operate, as before, with the military and civil officials of the Republic of Yunnan for the preservation of order on the frontier.\n4. The neutrality in the European war proclaimed by the Republican Government will be fully enforced in our sphere of influence.\n5. In future, important affairs will be dealt with directly by us; in other matters we request you to continue to negotiate with the Foreign Affairs Bureau of Yunnan.\n\n[Signatures and seals of Tang Chi-yao and Jen K'o-ch'eng, Military and Civil Governors, respectively.]\n\nYünnan-fu, December 29, 1915.\n\n## Enclosure 3 in No. 1\n\n**Military and Civil Governors of Yunnan to Sir J. Jordan.** (Translation.)\n\nSir,\n\nYünnan-fu, December 31, 1915.\n\nWhen on the 10th October, 1911, the standard of right was first raised in China, and all the other provinces responded, the reason was that the people of the whole country had long been weary of oppression under an autocrat: they arose with enthusiasm and brought about a political revolution. At that time the friendly Powers...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-437 - Public Offices - 1916.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 467666, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 436, "title": "CO129-441 - Governor Sir May - 1917 [1-3]", "content_text": "430\n\n23885\n\nReport\n\non an Ordinance intituled An Ordinance to make further provision for the protection of trees on Crown land and other Crown property from wilful damage,\n\nREC READ 8 MAY 17\n\nThe principal object of this Ordinance is to alter the composition of the Court created by the Crown Land Preservation Ordinance, 1910, Ordinance No. 10 of 1910. The Superintendent of the Botanical and Forestry Department will now be a member of the Court in all cases, and not only in the old Colony. In the New Territories the other member of the Court will be the District Officer or Assistant District Officer, and in the rest of the Colony the other member will be either the Secretary for Chinese Affairs or one of his assistants.\n\nThe other object of the bill is to make the incidence of the fine fairer. Under the previous Ordinance the fine fell on the owners who were on the Crown rent roll while the owners on the village rent roll escaped. This was probably due to an oversight at the time when the former Ordinance was passed. The intention seems to have been to make all owners of land in the neighbourhood liable.\n\nSub-section (5) of section 8 gives the Governor in Council power to remit the apportioned amount in the case of any owner who was not resident in the village or area when the damage occurred or who was not a party to the damage. No doubt the power of exemption will be used very carefully.\n\nSection 9 is drawn in the form in which it appears in order to avoid giving the Ordinance a retrospective effect.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-441 - Governor Sir May - 1917 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 468640, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-443 - Governor Sir May - 1917 [7-9]", "page_number": 403, "title": "CO129-443 - Governor Sir May - 1917 [7-9]", "content_text": "(17)\n\n392\n\n19TH APRIL, 1904.\n\nPRESENT:- HIS EXCELLENCY THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT, F. H. MAY, CMG\n\nHIS EXCELLENCY MAJOR-GENERAL VILLIERS HATTON, C.B. (Commanding the Troops).\n\nHon. A. M. THOMSON (Colonial Secretary).\n\nHon. Sir H. S. BERKELEY (Attorney-General).\n\nHon. L. A. M. JOHNSTON (Colonial Treasurer).\n\nHon. A. W. BREWIN (Registrar-General).\n\nHon. Captain L. A. W. BARNES-LAWRENCE R.N. (Harbour Master).\n\nHon. P. N. H. JONES (Director of Public Works).\n\nHon. Sir C. P. CHATER, C.M.G.\n\nHon. Dr. HO KAI, C.M.G.\n\nHon. WEI A YUK\n\nHon. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C.\n\nMr. R. F. JOHNSTON (Clerk of Councils).\n\nNEW MEMBER.\n\nHon. P. N. H. JONES, Director of Public Works, was duly sworn and took his seat as an Official Member of Council.\n\nFINANCIAL.\n\nThe COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table Financial Minutes (Nos. 21 to 23) and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee. The COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.\n\nThe COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the Report of the Finance Committee (No. 4), and moved its adoption.\n\nThe COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.\n\nPAPERS.\n\nThe COLONIAL SECRETARY laid on the table the following sessional papers-Report of the Director of Public Works for the year 1903, despatch from the Secretary of State on tropical diseases research, financial returns for the year 1903, returns of the Subordinate Court for year 1903, report on the Health and Sanitary condition of the Colony for the year 1903, and Blue Book for the year 1903.\n\nNOTICE OF QUESTIONS.\n\nHon. Mr. POLLOCK-Your Excellency, I beg to give notice that I shall ask certain questions at next meeting of Council, of which I gave notice on Friday last. I understand Government is not prepared to answer these questions now. I beg to give notice that I shall ask them at next meeting.\n\nHIS EXCELLENCY-Has the Clerk the questions?\n\nHon. Mr. POLLOCK-Yes.\n\nEMPLOYMENT OF PILOTS.\n\nThe ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to provide for and regulate the Employment of Pilots. He said-The object of this Bill is to provide for the exercising of control over persons who practise as pilots in the waters of the Colony. There is at present, I understand, a so-called pilot service, but the men who ply for hire as pilots are not licensed or qualified in the sense of having passed under examination or had the approval of any person competent to say whether the man offering his services as a pilot knows anything of what he undertakes to do. In one sense it may be said that a place like this does not require pilots; the navigation is open. But apparently the Harbour is so extremely crowded and the difficulties of finding berths so considerable, that the Government has been approached by the shipping community and asked to provide some safeguard that persons who offer themselves for pilots within the waters of the Colony shall know what to do. That application was considered, with the result that this Bill has been brought in. There is no compulsion for anyone to take a pilot, nor will taking a pilot exempt the ship that takes him from any consequences that may occur from collision or otherwise. The Government accepts absolutely no responsibility in the matter. People are free to take a pilot or not as they please. What the Government wants to do is to see that no one shall offer his services as a pilot who is not reasonably considered to be capable of performing the duties of a pilot. I think that the measure, which is a new one, will be found useful in its application.\n\nThe COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the motion was agreed to.\n\nThe Council then went into committee on the Bill and considered it clause by clause, only a few minor amendments being made.\n\nOn the Council resuming, the Bill was read a third time and passed on the motion of the ATTORNEY-GENERAL, seconded by the COLONIAL SECRETARY.\n\nHILL RESERVATION.\n\nThe ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance for the Reservation of a Residential Area in the Hill District. He said-Sir, the necessity for this measure and the expediency of passing such a measure is, I think, very clearly if succinctly stated in the objects and reasons appended to the Ordinance itself. It will be found stated there that \"The reservation of this district is desirable in order that a healthy place of residence may be preserved for all those who are accustomed to a temperate climate and to...\"", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-443 - Governor Sir May - 1917 [7-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 468857, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 77, "title": "CO129-444 - Governor Sir May & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1917 [10-12]", "content_text": "74\n\n=\n\n91\n\n# HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL\n\nThe and one 3rd Grade Clerk have been added \"Accounts Correspondence and to Stores\" and \"Water Works,\" respectively. Under Public Works Recurrent the main increase is that of $15,000 in Maintenance of Waterworks for City and Hill District. This is due to the increased price of stores and of coal for pumping. A sum of $1,000 has been inserted for Special Repairs to the Filter Beds in Kowloon. The item for Stores Depreciation has been entered at the nominal sum of $100, as a credit balance was obtained in 1916, while the amount to be written off the value of the St, Enoch disappears, as the dredger is no longer borne on the Store Books.\n\nDetails will be found in Appendix 11. Hongkong Volunteer Corps and Hong Kong Volunteer Reserve having been embodied in the Hongkong Defence Corps, the form of the Estimates has been recast. The Capitation Grant no longer appears and the posts of Inspecting Officer and Adjutant of the Volunteer Reserve have been abolished. The salary of the Administrative Commandant has been fixed at £375 per annum with House Allowance of $800; the allowance to the Adjutant has been increased from $5 to $7 a day and allowances are included for the Officers Commanding the Artillery and Engineer Companies. The Subordinate Staff, formerly paid out of Volunteer Corps Funds, is now shown under Personal Emoluments and one clerk for the Engineer Company has been added. Separate votes are inserted under Other Charges for all expenses of the Corps.\n\nThe change brought about in the constitution of the Local Auxiliary Forces necessitated the retirement of Lieut. Colonel A. Chapman, who for nearly twenty-five years had been connected with the Hongkong Volunteer Corps, for ten of which he was in command. I desire to express my appreciation of his long and faithful service in the Corps.\n\nIn the Public Works Department, under Personal Emoluments, \"General Staff,\" the number of 1st Grade Assistant Engineers on the permanent staff has been increased to five and none now remain on the temporary establishment; the number of 2nd Grade Assistant Engineers has been increased to seven by the transfer of two from the temporary establishment and by the transfer of two Assistant Land Surveyors to the Engineering Branch. The number of 1st Class Overseers is increased by one transferred from the temporary establishment and the number of Overseers 1st Class on the temporary establishment correspondingly reduced. The number of Assistant Land Surveyors on the permanent staff has been increased to five and the number on the temporary establishment reduced to three.\n\nWith a view to strengthening the department the Clerk in \"Accounts Correspondence and Stores\" has been transferred to \"Water Works,\" one 1st Grade Clerk has been transferred from \"Water Works\" to \"Accounts Correspondence and Stores\" and one 5th Grade Shroff...\n\nThe Estimate of Expenditure under the head Public Works, Extraordinary, is $1,585,800, a rather larger sum than is provided for in the estimates of this year, but every endeavour has been made to confine the programme of works to the necessities of the development of this young and rapidly growing Colony. Apart from certain sanitary works, it is therefore only proposed to continue the building of the extension to the Central Police Station, the erection of certain quarters for Government officers at Leighton Hill and in Kowloon and of a market at Shamshuipo, and to begin the erection of new offices for the Superintendent of Imports and Exports next to the Harbour Office, and a small market at Tai O.\n\nThe feature in the estimates is the programme of main road construction, for which a sum of $367,000 is provided, while a sum of $247,500 will be expended in the improvement of existing roads. The great increase in the use of motor-cars in the Colony and the growing necessity of opening up residential sites beyond the limits of Victoria and Kowloon has rendered it imperative for the Government to provide safe means for rapid transport. By their use in opening up new areas, in facilitating transport, and in rendering the Colony more attractive to visitors and residents, especially Chinese who show a remarkable appreciation of motoring, these new roads will all tend to produce revenue of a permanent nature. They are therefore remunerative works. I will go into the matter in greater detail under the proper heads.\n\n22\n\nIn Hongkong under Buildings a sum of $150,000 is provided for continuing the work on the extension to the Central Police Station, and $70,000 for beginning the erection of large offices for the Department of Imports and Exports, the plans for which have been considered by The Public Works Committee and referred to the Secretary of State. The provision under item 3 for the erection of quarters on Leighton Hill includes a re-vote of the sum of $60,000 provided in this year's estimates.\n\nUnder Roads item 5 (a) and (b) and (d) to (i) provision is made for completing the main road round the Island. Beginning at Aberdeen the work already in progress will result in a wide road being made from the docks passing outside the village on to a widened bund (d). Thence the mile of narrow road to Little Hongkong will be widened and straightened at a cost of $15,000 (i). The improvements now in progress between Deep Water Bay and Repulse Bay will be completed at a further outlay of $6,000 (a). From Repulse Bay to a point on the road between Stanley and Tytam Tuk it is proposed to make a new road on an improved trace with easy gradients and with a summit considerably lower than that of the present path. The alignment is not yet settled, but a sum of $80,000 has been entered in anticipation of the work being finished next year (e). The remainder of the road to Tytam Tuk will be improved and widened at an estimated cost of $66,000 (f). The approach road to the reservoir and the road over the dam will be completed this year. Under (b) a sum of $30,000 has been provided for completing the road from the dam to Tytam Gap. From Tytam Gap it has been suggested ultimately to proceed to Shaukiwan through a deep cutting and entirely new road at a much lower level than the existing road, but in order to avoid the great expense of this work at present provision has been made for a small loop road at Tytam Gap joining the new road to the existing road (h) and a sum of $49,500 for improving the existing road to Shaukiwan. The circle of the major portion of the island by a good road will thus be completed, and it is difficult to estimate the boon which such a road will be, not only as a means of recreation, but as an aid to the development of a portion of the island hitherto quite out of reach as a practical place of residence for business men.\n\n92\n\nItem 6. The sum of $5,000 provided is required for the laying of a cable from the General Post Office to No. 2 Police Station to carry telephone wires underground and so to relieve the poles which are becoming over-loaded.\n\n21\n\nUnder Miscellaneous items 14 and 16 are for very desirable improvements in the sanitation and administration of Victoria Gaol, while items 10 and 17 provide for jetties for the more speedy removal of refuse. The provision of jetties is found to be necessary for the preservation of the lighters, which suffer damage by lying alongside the Praya wall at low tide.\n\nUnder Item 24, a larger sum than usual has been provided for \"Compensation and Resumptions,\" as it is anticipated that considerable expenditure will be required for resumptions in connection with road construction and improvement.\n\nUnder the heading Waterworks a sum of $102,000 is entered to complete the additional service reservoir and filter beds at West Point. The sum of $50,000 for the Tytam Tuk Scheme, Second Section, is almost entirely retention money on the contract.\n\nIn Kowloon under Buildings a sum of $68,000 has been provided for erecting a block of six quarters for Subordinate Officers, and $10,000 to complete the market at Shamshuipo. Negotiations for the resumption of a strip of land required in connection with the former item have delayed the commencement of the quarters hitherto, while the site of Shamshuipo market has only recently been settled.\n\nItem 32 (a) is for a road connecting Yaumati with Taikoktsui. The lessees of certain lots have represented that they are unable to proceed with the development of their lots until reasonable means of communication with them are provided.\n\nUnder Item 36 a sum of $3,500 is provided for a shelter of picturesque design in the playground on Chatham Road.\n\nUnder Item 39 a sum of $50,000 is provided for Compensation and Resumptions, as it is expected that considerable payments will have to be made in connection with the extension of the system of main roads.\n\n11\n\nIn the New Territories the only work under Buildings is a market at Tai O, which is much required.\n\nUnder Roads a sum of $10,000 is entered to complete the Tsun Wan section of the road to Castle Peak now under construction, and a sum of $215,000 for the portion from Tsun Wan to Castle Peak. To complete the widening of the road from Fanling to Castle Peak a sum of $25,000 is provided, and it is proposed to continue the widening and improving of the road to Taipo at a cost of $10,000.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-444 - Governor Sir May & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1917 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 468889, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 109, "title": "CO129-444 - Governor Sir May & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1917 [10-12]", "content_text": "# HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL\n\nDetails will be found in Appendix II. The Hongkong Volunteer Corps and Hong Kong Volunteer Reserve having been embodied in the Hongkong Defence Corps, the form of the Estimates has been recast. The Capitation Grants no longer appear and the posts of Inspecting Officer and Adjutant of the Volunteer Reserve have been abolished. The salary of the Administrative Commandant has been fixed at £375 per annum with a House Allowance of $900; the Adjutant's salary has been increased from $5 to $7 a day and allowances are included for the Officers Commanding the Artillery and Engineer Companies. The Subordinate Staff, formerly paid out of Volunteer Corps Funds, is now shown under Personal Emoluments and a clerk for the Engineer Company has been added. Separate votes are inserted under Other Charges for all expenses of the Corps.\n\nThe change brought about in the constitution of the Local Auxiliary Forces necessitated the retirement of Lieut. Colonel A. Chapman, who for nearly twenty-five years had been connected with the Hongkong Volunteer Corps, for ten of which he was in command. I desire to express my appreciation of his long and faithful service in the Corps.\n\nIn the Public Works Department, under \"Personal Emoluments, General Staff,\" the number of 1st Grade Assistant Engineers on the permanent staff has been increased to five and none now remain on the temporary establishment; the number of 2nd Grade Assistant Engineers has been increased to seven by the transfer of two from the temporary establishment and by the transfer of two Assistant Land Surveyors to the Engineering Branch. The number of 1st Class Overseers is increased by one transferred from the temporary establishment and the number of Overseers 1st Class on the temporary establishment correspondingly reduced. The number of Assistant Land Surveyors on the permanent staff has been increased to five and the number on the temporary establishment reduced to three.\n\nWith a view to strengthening the department, the Clerk in Accounts Correspondence and Stores has been transferred to \"Water Works,\" one 1st Grade Clerk has been transferred from \"Water Works\" to Accounts Correspondence and Stores, and one 5th Grade Shroff and one 3rd Grade Clerk have been added to \"Accounts Correspondence and Stores\" and \"Water Works,\" respectively. Under Public Works Recurrent, the main increase is that of $15,000 in Maintenance of Waterworks for City and Hill District. This is due to the increased price of stores and of coal for pumping. A sum of $4,000 has been inserted for Special Repairs to the Filter Beds in Kowloon. The item for Stores Depreciation has been entered at the nominal sum of $100, as a credit balance was obtained in 1916, while the amount to be written off the value of the St. Enoch disappears, as the dredger is no longer borne on the Store Books.\n\nPage 92\n\nThe Estimate of Expenditure under the head \"Public Works, Extraordinary,\" is $1,645,800, a rather larger sum than is provided for in the estimates of this year, but every endeavour has been made to confine the programme of works to the necessities of the development of this young and rapidly growing Colony. Apart from certain sanitary works, it is therefore only proposed to continue the building of the extension to the Central Police Station, the erection of certain quarters for Government officers at Leighton Hill and in Kowloon and of a market at Shamshuipo, and to begin the erection of new offices for the Superintendent of Imports and Exports next to the Harbour Office, and a small market at Tai O.\n\nThe feature in the estimates is the programme of main road construction, for which a sum of $367,000 is provided, while a sum of $217,500 will be expended in the improvement of existing roads. The great increase in the use of motor-cars in the Colony and the growing necessity of opening up residential sites beyond the limits of Victoria and Kowloon has rendered it imperative for the Government to provide safe means for rapid transport. By their use in opening up new areas, in facilitating transport, and in rendering the Colony more attractive to visitors and residents, especially Chinese who show a remarkable appreciation of motoring, these new roads will all tend to produce revenue of a permanent nature. They are therefore remunerative works. I will go into the matter in greater detail under the proper heads.\n\nIn Hongkong under \"Buildings,\" a sum of $150,000 is provided for continuing the work on the extension to the Central Police Station, and $70,000 for beginning the erection of large offices for the Department of Imports and Exports, the plans for which have been considered by the Public Works Committee and referred to the Secretary of State. The provision under item 3 for the erection of quarters on Leighton Hill includes a re-vote of the sum of $60,000 provided in this year's estimates.\n\nUnder \"Miscellaneous,\" items 14 and 15 are for very desirable improvements in the sanitation and administration of Victoria Gaol, while items 16 and 17 provide for jetties for the more speedy removal of refuse. The provision of jetties is found to be necessary for the preservation of the lighters, which suffer damage by lying alongside the Praya wall.\n\nIn Kowloon under \"Buildings,\" a sum of $68,000 has been provided for erecting a block of six quarters for Subordinate Officers, and $10,000 to complete the market at Shamshuipo. Negotiations for the resumption of a strip of land required in connection with the former item have delayed the commencement of the quarters hitherto, while the site of the market at Shamshuipo has only recently been settled.\n\nUnder \"Roads,\" item 5 (a) and (b) and (d) to (l) provision is made for completing the main road round the Island. Beginning at Aberdeen, the work already in progress will result in a wide road being made from the decks passing outside the village on to a widened bund (d). Thence, the mile of narrow road to Little Hong Kong will be widened and straightened at a cost of $15,000 (i). The improvements now in progress between Deep Water Bay and Repulse Bay will be completed at a further outlay of $8,000 (a). From Repulse Bay to a point on the road between Stanley and Tytam Tuk, it is proposed to make a new road on an improved trace with easy gradients and with a summit considerably lower than that of the present path. The alignment is not yet settled, but a sum of $80,000 has been entered in anticipation of the work being finished next year (e). The remainder of the road to Tytam Tuk will be improved and widened at an estimated cost of $86,000 (f). The approach road to the reservoir and the road over the dam will be completed this year. Under (b), a sum of $30,000 has been provided for completing the road from the dam to Tytam Gap. From Tytam Gap, it has been suggested ultimately to proceed to Shaukiwan through a deep cutting and entirely new road at a much lower level than the existing road, but in order to avoid the great expense of this work at present, provision has been made for a small loop road at Tytam Gap joining the new road to the existing road (h) and a sum of $49,500 for improving the existing road to Shaukiwan. The circle of the major portion of the island by a good road will thus be completed, and it is difficult to estimate the boon which such a road will be, not only as a means of recreation, but as an aid to the development of a portion of the island hitherto quite out of reach as a practical place of residence for business men.\n\nItem 6. The sum of $5,000 provided is required for the laying of a cable from the General Post Office to No. 2 Police Station to carry telephone wires underground.\n\nItem 32 (a) is for a road connecting Yaumati with Taikoktsui. The lessees of certain lots have represented that they are unable to proceed with the development of their lots until reasonable means of communication with them are provided.\n\nUnder Item 36, a sum of $3,500 is provided for a shelter of picturesque design in the playground on Chatham Road.\n\nUnder Item 39, a sum of $50,000 is provided for Compensation and Resumptions, as it is expected that considerable payments will have to be made in connection with the extension of the system of main roads.\n\nIn the New Territories, the only work under \"Buildings\" is a market at Tai O, which is much required.\n\nUnder \"Roads,\" a sum of $40,000 is entered to complete the Tsun Wan section of the road to Castle Peak now under construction, and a sum of $215,000 for the portion from Tsun Wan to Castle Peak. To complete the widening of the road from Fanling to Castle Peak, a sum of $25,000 is provided, and it is proposed to continue the widening and improving of the road to Taipo at a cost of $40,000.\n\nPage 105", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-444 - Governor Sir May & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1917 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 474943, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 637, "title": "CO129-445 - Public Offices - 1917", "content_text": "71\n\n70\n\nThe attitude of the British Exchange Banks is expressed by Mr. Stabb as follows:-\n\nThere is no doubt that Germans have secured business by means of extensive credit. They were enabled to do this owing to the assistance rendered by German institutions, and in some cases by the London discount houses. The larger German firms with considerable capital were able to finance themselves to no small extent, and also to obtain reasonable facilities from British banks, but not to an extent which would have enabled them to give long credit beyond the life of a bill. British banks certainly discourage long credit, and endeavour to have business carried on as much as possible on a cash basis. Tientsin is a good example of the unsoundness of long credit, and the disastrous consequences which generally result from the practice. So far as British exchange banks are concerned, facilities were not afforded to German firms which were not equally available to British ones,\n\nThe China Association deals with the subject at length, and is the only body which offers suggestions for the future. The Association writes as follows:-\n\nGermans have the same facilities as our own people for obtaining a share of the trade between the British Empire and China. They have taken advantage of this favourable situation systematically to undermine the position of British merchants in our own trade (i.e., the trade between Great Britain and China) by granting extended credit to the Chinese. This system has introduced unsound conditions into important sections of the trade on so large a scale that if British merchants had followed the German lead to the same extent all but the wealthiest firms would have been involved in serious financial difficulties during those periods of depression which so often recur in China. German firms in the past have been able to incur unduly heavy risks in granting credit, mainly owing to the system of financial facilities in vogue.\n\nIt is essential to the welfare and security of British trade in China that combined action be taken to prevent a return to the unsound methods fostered by the Germans of late years. The Board of Trade will be doing excellent work for British interests generally if it can assist in bringing about a general agreement to discontinue the financial facilities formerly given to Germans in China, which enabled them to conduct British trade on the unsound conditions which prevailed before the war.\n\nThe British Chamber of Commerce of China might be requested to appoint sub-committees to settle standard periods of usance for bills drawn either upon London financial houses, upon British banks, or upon Eastern exchange banks against shipments of British goods. That Chamber might also be asked to decide whether in the general interests of British trades any class of merchandise should be delivered on credit, and, if so, what the stipulated period of credit should be.\n\nWhen it is laid down that, in certain branches of trade, it is not permissible to deliver merchandise on terms of credit, banks, financial houses and merchants should be asked to bind themselves to conduct such business only on a cash basis, if the merchandise is hypothecated either under letters of lien or for bills drawn against it. In those cases in which merchandise is permitted to be within the control of the consignee in China, notwithstanding that it is hypothecated as above, procedure for the preservation of the security intact might be laid down by the British Chamber of Commerce in agreement with the banks.\n\nThe question is a very thorny one, and bristles with difficulties. It will be treated under the second heading in this section.\n\n7. In the case of large Government and Engineering contracts, valuable orders are frequently lost by British manufacturers on account of the disinclination of British banks to finance contracts involving deferred payments. Any remedy for this state of affairs, which may be suggested, would receive careful attention.\n\nThe three Chambers of Tientsin, Hankow, and Canton are in virtual agreement that engineering contracts are not lost solely for the reason that British banks are disinclined to finance contracts involving deferred payments. They point out that many such contracts could be secured by British firms if they were prepared to pay the bribes and adopt other debasing methods, which are often the means whereby these orders are obtained by their German competitors. The Chambers, however, do not admit, except by implication, that the state of affairs adumbrated in the question does in fact exist, and refrain from offering any suggestions.\n\nThe Shanghai Chamber submits a most remarkable reply by declining to admit that such a state of affairs exists. As this view is entirely at variance, not only with my own knowledge, but also with the opinions of such authorities as the British banks themselves, the British Engineering Association, and the China Association, it will be as well to give the Shanghai Chamber's statement in extenso:\n\n1\n\nIt is generally held that this statement is not correct; that on the contrary British banks have shown more willingness than those of any other nation to finance contracts; that the engineering work financed by the German banks in China probably does not amount to 1 per cent. of what has been financed by British banks directly or indirectly.\n\nIn their own and in the general interest it is clearly the duty of banks to make sure that a proposition is sound before they are willing to finance it, whether it be a contract for a cotton mill, or a packing credit for export cargo. German merchant houses were generally more willing than British houses to consider credit contracts, because they had to break their way into a new market. As a result, they gathered experience of credit business and the British banks trusted them on account of that experience. Another reason why the British banks were inclined to finance German firms was because the latter were generally houses having their active and senior partners resident in China and so were prepared to take the most important decisions on the spot without interference from their partners at home. The management of many British firms, on the other hand, do not have the same freedom of action. If a British bank at Shanghai, with the long experience and special knowledge at its disposal, is unwilling to finance a scheme, it is unlikely that any Government support would be productive of sound results. It has been suggested that an Industrial Bank (with or without a measure of Government support) should be established in England for the purpose of financing British business in China. Such a bank would be merely a competitor of the existing Far Eastern banks, but having less experience it is unlikely that it would be more open to proposals of a speculative nature. The existing Far Eastern banks are \"merchant banks\" to a far greater extent than any similar institutions in Europe. The existence of an Industrial Bank presupposes tangible security for industrial enterprise. So long as it is impossible for foreigners to own land outside the area of the Treaty Ports (under the present extraterritorial régime in China) industrial development must necessarily be too restricted to encourage extension of credit facilities from any source.\n\nMr. Stabb, the chief manager of the Hong Kong Bank, than whom there is perhaps no greater authority on banking questions in China, writes:—\n\nThere is no doubt that the Germans secured a large share of engineering contracts owing to facilities given by their manufacturing and financial institutions in financing deferred payments. Engineering contracts settled on a basis of deferred payments spread over long periods should be financed either by the local banks of the country from which the goods are supplied or by the local banks of the consuming country. In the case of China, the latter course is hardly possible as yet, as the country has not the necessary banks. Exchange banks, like ourselves, can assist to a certain extent, but the life of our advance should be limited to the usance of the bills drawn against shipments, the finance of the deferred payments being a matter for arrangement by the manufacturer with his home bankers or by the importer.\n\n8. An opinion as to the efficiency of British assistants as compared with their German rivals, together with suggestions as to what methods might be adopted, both at home and in China, to improve the education and training of the mercantile assistant in order to provide him with a deeper knowledge of the country and the market in which he labours,\n\nThe opinion of all the Chambers is lucidly expressed by Shanghai in the following terms:-\n\nThe efficiency of British assistants can probably be best gauged by the fact that they were employed as heads of departments in practically every\n\n632", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-445 - Public Offices - 1917.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 475712, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-447 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [1-3]", "page_number": 76, "title": "CO129-447 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [1-3]", "content_text": "! \n\nHinom end\n\n23..\n\nI\n\nทงวง\n\nسمان میوانده واحد المرتي\n\nAnsd 22155\n\nFor Athong 16073\n\n74\n\nDRAFT.\n\nMT\n\nMr.\n\nMr.\n\nInd.\n\nLu\n\nI\n\nus. 28.\n\n70\n\nMINUTE.\n\nMagrud\n\nRisley 20/4/18\n\nCourt 23.4.15\n\nMr. Grindle. 23\n\nMr. Lumbert.\n\nLar. Read.\n\nSir G. Fiddes.\n\nMr. Hewins.\n\nMr. Long.\n\nComon\n\n23 f\n\nD.\n\nFor conf 24 Jan Read Renewalon Ordu qoy\n\nYour\n\n26 Mail geh\n\nane che to request you to us.\n\nhur Dear Balfour that he has beme in\n\nCome\n\nwith the for of Ithoug\n\nTh\n\nthe\n\nproposed amendment\n\nsuffect of the propond\n\nof the\n\nA\n\nwith a\n\nPeak Reservation Ord\" 1904.\n\nof that order is curlosed, together\n\ncopy of a comf desp. pour the\n\nFor latest\n\nThe 24 to Jan\n\nthe draft of a Bill\n\nto introduce\n\naud\n\nmust submitting\n\nwhich it is proposedi\n\nin the Legistative Council.\n\n2. I am to explain that at the\n\ntime when the Peak Reservation Ordce\n\nwas passed the intention of the Gost\n\nwas quite clear\n\nsud\n\nWthey\n\nFallen Answe\n\nfully", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-447 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 475714, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-447 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [1-3]", "page_number": 78, "title": "CO129-447 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [1-3]", "content_text": "Objects which it secured, it was hoped had been the Read Reservation Order. But he considered it necessary to consult Mr. Balfour before giving his approval to the Bill, the draft of which is now before him.\n\nA waiver of the Certificate for complaint under the treaty was proposed, with Mr. Balfour's concurrence, to authorize Mr. Lin H. May to proceed with the Bill, drawing his attention to the Treaty of Commerce and Navigation of 3rd April between H.M. and the Emperor of China, to which Hong Kong adhered. It is provided by this treaty that the subjects of each of the high contracting parties shall be permitted to own and occupy houses in the same manner as native subjects.\n\nIt will be remembered that the Japanese Government have recently invoked this treaty in connection with the legislation to prevent the alienation of Malay lands in the Federated Malay States.\n\nIt does not appear to him that there is any ground for fear that the provisions of the treaty will conflict with those of the Bill, or that, given the Explanatory Memorandum, there is any necessity for cautioning that the Ordinance will not be administered in such a way as to give legitimate ground for complaint of any infringement of the spirit of this or any other treaty to which the Colony may adhere, or similar treaties.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-447 - Governor Sir May - 1918 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 480624, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-455 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [7-9]", "page_number": 354, "title": "CO129-455 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [7-9]", "content_text": "# HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL\n\n## Supplementary Votes\n\nTHE COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the second reading of the Bill intituled, **An Ordinance to authorize the appropriation of a supplementary sum of five million four hundred and sixty-six thousand three hundred and twenty-seven dollars and sixty-three cents to defray the charges of the year 1918**.\n\nHe said: In accordance with usual custom I propose to move that this bill shall be referred to the Finance Committee and I, therefore, will not make any remarks upon the present motion.\n\nTHE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the Bill was read a second time.\n\nTHE COLONIAL SECRETARY then moved that the Bill be referred to the Finance Committee.\n\nTHE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and this was agreed to.\n\n## Cheung Chau (Residence) Ordinance, 1919\n\nTHE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill intituled **\"An Ordinance to provide that no person shall reside within the southern portion of the Island of Cheung Chau, otherwise known as Dumb Bell Island, without the consent of the Governor-in-Council\"**. In doing so he said: It is probably well known to hon. members of this Council that, for a considerable number of years past, the southern portion of this island has been developed, and has been used as a place of residence by British and American Missionaries. It is proposed by this Bill to pass a law that no person shall reside within that southern portion without the consent of the Governor-in-Council. I regret to say, sir, that I am informed that there will be some comment and criticism with regard to this Bill and, therefore, I think it is well that I should point out the eminently reasonable nature of the Government scheme. The portion which it is proposed, by this Bill, to reserve is only the southern portion of the island of Cheung Chau, and it represents in area less than half of the total area of that island. It is in the vicinity of the part which has already been developed, as I said just now, by British and American missionaries. There is no question of bringing within the restrictions of this Bill the whole of the island, and there is no question of interfering with any vested rights. As will be seen, it is provided by Clause 2 of the Bill that the consent of the Governor-in-Council is required for residence within the limited area of the southern portion of the island which I have referred to, and any such consent given to such persons includes members of their families, bona fide employés, and bona fide visitors. This Bill has been modelled, roughly, on the Peak District Reservation Ordinance which passed through this Council last year without any opposition or comment. As I have said, it only affects less than one-half of the total area of this island and I submit it is quite a reasonable measure to pass.\n\nTHE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.\n\nHON. MR. LAU CHU PAK: Sir, it is not my intention to recall the history of the Peak Reservation Ordinance. The remarks I am going to make are to be confined to the merits of this Bill. The necessity for its passing, if necessity there be, is very vague according to the explanations just given by the Honourable Attorney-General. The locality to which the Bill applies is far away from any business or residential quarter and therefore the chance that over-crowding will overtake it in the immediate future is remote. If it were a request made by the people who are now living there, to reserve it entirely for their own convenience and benefit they need only be told that, if they like, they can buy up the place and arrange among themselves as to make it impossible for people outside their community to buy from them any house or land; otherwise to deprive their fellow citizens of their civic rights and give such to them is unfair and unreasonable. But I cannot believe that, of all people, they could have made such a request - preachers and teachers of equality and fraternity that they are.\n\nHON. MR. HO FOOK: In view of the fact that the war has been won by all races in the Empire I cannot be a party to the passing of this Bill which, in my opinion, is nothing more or less than racial legislation. I hope you will see your way to withdraw this Bill as suggested by my colleague. But if you are not disposed to do that I would ask you to leave it in abeyance until the new Governor arrives in order that he may decide whether our suggestion be adopted or disregarded by the Government.\n\nH.E. THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT: I am surprised at the remarks made by both of the Chinese members of the Council. I cannot observe anything in the Bill of a racial kind at all. This part of the island of Cheung Chau, as the Attorney-General has pointed out, has been the residence of missionaries and others for some time past. The Government feels that owing to the nature of this small portion of the island of Cheung Chau it ought to be in a position, both in selling land and in making conditions, to decide who shall live there and who shall not. It is not a question, as far as I can see, of anything disagreeable and I am surprised that such a suggestion has been made. If hon. members desire that the Bill should be kept in abeyance until the Governor arrives, I, personally, have no objection.\n\nHON. MR. LAU CHI PAK: I beg to move that the Bill be held in abeyance.\n\nHON. MR. HO FOOK: I second that.\n\nHON. MR. C. G. ALABASTER: I did not intend to address the Council on this Bill but I must oppose the amendment. Cheung Chau is an island which has been developed solely by residents who belong to a race which finds it necessary to take their children to the sea-side as much as possible in the summer and who are forced by circumstances to separate themselves from their children by sending them Home for education. A place such as this is not unique in any sense; places exist at Kuling and Kuliang. These are missionary resorts where missionaries are able to keep their children as long as possible with them and until it is time to send them to school. They have gone to Cheung Chau and a few others who are unable to leave the Colony have gone also. They have kept to a certain portion of the island and to a certain portion only. There are eleven beaches on the island and only five of them are affected by this Bill. They desire that their children should play on these beaches and if they are driven out by economic pressure, not by racial pressure, in the same way that persons in similar positions have been driven out of level after level of this Colony, they will simply have to go from there and find new places. They came to this Colony 10 years ago. Feeling that the pressure was too great for them to do what they did before - spend their holidays at the Peak - they looked for a holiday resort in Southern China and the choice rested between the Lo Fah mountains in Chinese territory and Cheung Chau which was then, as far as this part is concerned, uninhabited. They selected Cheung Chau because they thereby hoped to obtain the protection of the British flag and it is that protection they desire now. It is not a case of racial competition but of economic competition. It has been suggested by the senior Chinese member of Council that they should buy up the whole of the island. They do not wish to buy the whole of the island but they desire protection from those who are in a position to do it. If they desire to sell land they wish to sell it to one another so that they may keep these few beaches for themselves and their children. The reason why the Bill should be passed now and not held up is this. While this Bill was under consideration all sales of land in Cheung Chau were held up for one year, and other missionaries who desire...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-455 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [7-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 480630, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-455 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [7-9]", "page_number": 360, "title": "CO129-455 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [7-9]", "content_text": "# HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL\n\n2. The definition of \"former enemy alien\" is in accordance with the above instructions and has been specially drawn so as to exclude subjects of new friendly States from such definition.\n\n3. The duration of the measure is limited to three years from the date of the commencement thereof.\n\n## Supplementary Votes\n\nTHE COLONIAL SECRETARY moved the second reading of the Bill intituled, **An Ordinance to authorize the appropriation of a supplementary sum of five million four hundred and sixty-six thousand three hundred and twenty-seven dollars and sixty-three cents to defray the charges of the year 1918**.\n\nHe said: In accordance with usual custom I propose to move that this bill shall be referred to the Finance Committee and I, therefore, will not make any remarks upon the present motion.\n\nTHE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the Bill was read a second time.\n\nTHE COLONIAL SECRETARY then moved that the Bill be referred to the Finance Committee.\n\nTHE COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and this was agreed to.\n\n## Cheung Chau (Residence) Ordinance, 1919\n\nTHE ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the second reading of the Bill intituled **\"An Ordinance to provide that no person shall reside within the southern portion of the Island of Cheung Chau, otherwise known as Dumb Bell Island, without the consent of the Governor-in-Council\"**. He said: It is probably well known to hon. members of this Council that, for a considerable number of years past, the southern portion of this island has been developed, and has been used as a place of residence by British and American Missionaries. It is proposed by this Bill to pass a law that no person shall reside within that southern portion without the consent of the Governor-in-Council. I regret to say, sir, that I am informed that there will be some comment and criticism with regard to this Bill. and, therefore, I think it is well that I should point out the eminently reasonable nature of the Government scheme. The portion which it is proposed, by this Bill, to reserve is only the southern portion of the island of Cheung Chau, and it represents in area less than half of the total area of that island. It is in the vicinity of the part which has already been developed, as I said just now, by British and American missionaries. There is no question of bringing within the restrictions of this Bill the whole of the island, and there is no question of interfering with any vested rights. As will be seen, it is provided by Clause 2 of the Bill that the consent of the Governor-in-Council is required for residence within the limited area of the southern portion of the island which I have referred to, and any such consent given to such persons includes members of their families, bona fide employés, and bona fide visitors. This Bill has been modelled, roughly, on the Peak District Reservation Ordinance which passed through this Council last year without any opposition or comment. As I have said, it only affects less than one-half of the total area of this island and I submit it is quite a reasonable measure to pass.\n\nTHE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.\n\nHON. MR. LAU CHU PAK: Sir, It is not my intention to recall the history of the Peak Reservation Ordinance. The remarks I am going to make are to be confined to the merits of this Bill. The necessity for its passing, if necessity there be, is very vague according to the explanations just given by the Honourable Attorney-General. The locality to which the bill applies is far away from any business or residential quarter and therefore the chance that over-crowding will overtake it in the immediate future is remote. If it were a request made by the people who are now living there, to reserve it entirely for their own convenience and benefit, they need only be told that, if they like, they can buy up the place and so arrange among themselves as to make it impossible for people outside their community to buy from them any house or land; otherwise, to deprive their fellow citizens of their civic rights and give such to them is unfair and unreasonable. I fail to see that there exists any necessity for having recourse to disagreeable legislation. I do not propose, sir, to argue on grounds which will involve unpleasant discussions. By the few remarks I have made, I hope that it has been made clear that the Bill is not a necessity and should, therefore, be withdrawn.\n\nHON. MR. G. ALABASTER: I did not intend to address the Council on this Bill but I must oppose the amendment. Cheung Chau is an island which has been developed solely by residents who belong to a race which finds it necessary to take their children to the sea-side as much as possible in the summer and who are forced by circumstances to separate themselves from their children by sending them Home for education. A place such as this is not unique in any sense. Such places exist at Kuling and Kuliang. These are missionary resorts where missionaries are able to keep their children as long as possible with them and until it is time to send them to school. They have gone to Cheung Chau and a few others who are unable to leave the Colony have gone also. They have kept to a certain portion only. There are eleven beaches on the island and only five of them are affected by this Bill.\n\nHON. MR. HO FOOK: In view of the fact that the war has been won by all races in the Empire I cannot be a party to the passing of this Bill which, in my opinion, is nothing more or less than racial legislation. They see their way to withdraw this Bill as suggested by my colleague. But if you are not disposed to do that I would ask you to leave it in abeyance until the new Governor arrives in order that he may decide whether our suggestion be adopted or disregarded by the Government. They selected Cheung Chau because they thereby hoped to obtain the protection of the British flag and it is that protection they desire now. It is not a case of racial competition but of economic competition. It has been suggested by the senior Chinese member of Council that they should buy up the whole of the island. They do not wish to buy the whole of the island but they desire protection from those who are in a position to sell land they wish to sell it to one another so that they may keep these few beaches for themselves and their children. The reason why the Bill should be passed now and not held up is this. While this Bill was under consideration all sales of land in Cheung Chau were held up for one year, and other missionaries who desire...\n\nH.E. THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING THE GOVERNMENT: I am surprised at the remarks made by both of the Chinese members of the Council. I cannot observe anything in the Bill of a racial kind at all. This part of the island of Cheung Chau, as the Attorney-General has pointed out, has been the residence of missionaries and others for some time past. The Government feels that owing to the nature of this small portion of the island of Cheung Chau it ought to be in a position, both in selling land and in making conditions, to decide who shall live there and who shall not. It is not a question, as far as I can see, of anything disagreeable and I am surprised that such a suggestion has been made. If hon. members desire that the Bill should be kept in abeyance until the Governor arrives, I, personally, have no objection.\n\nHON. MR. LAU CHU PAK: I beg to move that the Bill be held in abeyance.\n\nHON. MR. HO FOOK: I second that.\n\nPage 360 \nPage 361", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-455 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [7-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 487159, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-467 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1921 [1-5]", "page_number": 133, "title": "CO129-467 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1921 [1-5]", "content_text": "132 \n\nIt would be possible to insert these as a clause of the draft bill, yet for the greater convenience of amending and altering them at a later date, it would seem best to take powers for the Governor in Council to make regulations for Passports, and for him to issue the present regulations under authority of the new Ordinance, when it becomes law. \n\n(d.) Article 12 of the Order regarding the deportation of aliens. (vide clause 5 of the draft bill). In the Colony, there is already in existence the Deportation Ordinance, 1917. Section 3 of that Ordinance provides for the summary deportation of various classes of persons: in all other cases, a specified procedure must be carried out before the deportation can take place. The Peace Preservation Ordinance, 1886, mentioned in section 3 has not been used for years, and a simple method of providing for the summary deportation of aliens as such would be to substitute for the present section 3(2) of the Ordinance a power to deport aliens summarily on an occasion of emergency or public danger. This has accordingly been done in clause 5(1) of the draft bill, and a sub-clause amending Form No. 7 in the Schedule has been added. \n\n(e.) Article 22 of the Order regarding the exemption of the head of foreign diplomatic missions and others from the provisions of the Order. \n\n3. \n\nWith reference to the definition of \"former enemy alien\" which appears in section 15 of the Act and Article 20(2) of the Order, and to which my attention was drawn in paragraph 6 of Your Lordship's despatch under reference, I regret to inform Your Lordship that the application of the words \"and does not retain according to the law of his state of origin the nationality of that state\" is not clearly understood. \n\nBefore", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-467 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1921 [1-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 487163, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-467 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1921 [1-5]", "page_number": 137, "title": "CO129-467 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1921 [1-5]", "content_text": "## \n2. Every person who contravenes or attempts to contravene any of the provisions of any regulations made under this section shall be liable upon summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars and to imprisonment for any term not exceeding six months.\n\n## 5. \n(1) Sub-section two of section 3 of the Deportation Ordinance, 1917, is repealed and the following sub-section is substituted therefor:- \n\n\"(2) On any occasion which the Governor in Council may consider to be an occasion of emergency or public danger, the Governor in Council may summarily issue a deportation order against any person who in his opinion is an alien, if he deems it to be conducive to the public good that such an order should be issued.\"\n\n(2) Form No. 7 in the Schedule to the Deportation Ordinance, 1917, is amended by the deletion of the words, figures and marks \"(or during the continuance of the proclamation issued on the...... day of ...... under the Peace Preservation Ordinance, 1886,)\".\n\n## 6. \n(1) Nothing in this Ordinance shall apply to any duly accredited head of a foreign diplomatic mission or any member of his household or of his official staff.\n\n(2) Unless the Governor otherwise directs, either generally or in any particular case, nothing in this Ordinance or regulations made thereunder shall apply to any alien who for the time being is in receipt of full pay as a member of His Majesty's naval, military, or air forces, or to the wife or child under the age of twenty-one years of any such alien.\n\nPage 136", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-467 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1921 [1-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 487165, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-467 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1921 [1-5]", "page_number": 139, "title": "CO129-467 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1921 [1-5]", "content_text": "## \n(2.) Every person who contravenes or attempts to contravene any of the provisions of any regulations made under this section shall be liable upon summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars and to imprisonment for any term not exceeding six months.\n\n5.-(1.) Sub-section two of section 3 of the Deportation Ordinance, 1917, is repealed and the following sub-section is substituted therefor:-\n\nNo. 25 of 1917, s. 3 (2),\n\n\"(2.) On any occasion which the Governor in Council may consider to be an occasion of emergency or public danger, the Governor in Council may summarily issue a deportation order against any person who in his opinion is an alien, if he deems it to be conducive to the public good that such an order should be issued.\"\n\n(2.) Form No. 7 in the Schedule to the Deportation Ordinance, 1917, is amended by the deletion of the words, figures and marks \"(or during the continuance of the proclamation issued on the.. day of ..19......under the Peace Preservation Ordinance, 1886,)\".\n\n8. (1) Nothing in this Ordinance shall apply to any duly accredited head of a foreign diplomatic mission or any member of his household or of his official staff.\n\nto diplomatic heads and others,\n\n(2.) Unless the Governor otherwise directs, either generally or in any particular case, nothing in this Ordinance or regulations made thereunder shall apply to any alien who for the time being is in receipt of full pay as a member of His Majesty's naval, military, or air forces, or to the wife or child under the age of twenty-one years of any such alien.\n\nPage 138", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-467 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1921 [1-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 487167, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-467 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1921 [1-5]", "page_number": 141, "title": "CO129-467 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1921 [1-5]", "content_text": "## \n\n(2.) Every person who contravenes or attempts to contravene any of the provisions of any regulations made under this section shall be liable upon summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars and to imprisonment for any term not exceeding six months.\n\n5.-(1.) Sub-section two of section 3 of the Deportation Ordinance, 1917, is repealed and the following sub-section is substituted therefor:-\n\n\"(2.) On any occasion which the Governor in Council may consider to be an occasion of emergency or public danger, the Governor in Council may summarily issue a deportation order against any person who in his opinion is an alien, if he deems it to be conducive to the public good that such an order should be issued.\"\n\n(2.) Form No. 7 in the Schedule to the Deportation Ordinance, 1917, is amended by the deletion of the words, figures and marks \"(or during the continuance of the proclamation issued on the... day of ...19.. under the Peace Preservation Ordinance, 1886,)\".\n\n6.(1.) Nothing in this Ordinance shall apply to any duly accredited head of a foreign diplomatic mission or any member of his household or of his official staff.\n\n(2.) Unless the Governor otherwise directs, either generally or in any particular case, nothing in this Ordinance or regulations made thereunder shall apply to any alien who for the time being is in receipt of full pay as a member of His Majesty's naval, military, or air forces, or to the wife or child under the age of twenty-one years of any such alien.\n\nPage 140", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-467 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1921 [1-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 487169, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-467 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1921 [1-5]", "page_number": 143, "title": "CO129-467 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1921 [1-5]", "content_text": "## \n\n(2.) Every person who contravenes or attempts to contravene any of the provisions of any regulations made under this section shall be liable upon summary conviction to a fine not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars and to imprisonment for any term not exceeding six months.\n\n5.-(1) Sub-section two of section 3 of the Deportation Ordinance, 1917, is repealed and the following sub-section is substituted therefor :-\n\n\"(2.) On any occasion which the Governor in Council may consider to be an occasion of emergency or public danger, the Governor in Council may summarily issue a deportation order against any person who in his opinion is an alien, if he deems it to be conducive to the public good that such an order should be issued.\"\n\n(2.) Form No. 7 in the Schedule to the Deportation Ordinance, 1917, is amended by the deletion of the words, figures and marks \"(or during the continuance of the proclamation issued on the...day of......19......under the Peace Preservation Ordinance, 1886,)\".\n\n6.-(1) Nothing in this Ordinance shall apply to any duly accredited head of a foreign diplomatic mission or any member of his household or of his official staff.\n\n(2.) Unless the Governor otherwise directs, either generally or in any particular case, nothing in this Ordinance or regulations made thereunder shall apply to any alien who for the time being is in receipt of full pay as a member of His Majesty's naval, military, or air forces, or to the wife or child under the age of twenty-one years of any such alien.\n\n## Page 142", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-467 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1921 [1-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 488386, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 127, "title": "CO129-469 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1921 [9-12]", "content_text": "# HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL\n\n\"A deportation order may be made in any of the following cases: — (c) if the Secretary of State deems it to be conducive to the public good to make a deportation order against the alien.\" The reference in the existing section to the Peace Preservation Ordinance is out of date, as the Ordinance has not been used for years.\n\n3. The object of the first amendment effected by clause 3 is to remedy a difficulty that might arise from a literal construction of the opening words of section (14) of the Ordinance. It might be argued that, as the law stands at present, no part of section 4 applies to British subjects, except to those classes specified in sub-section (14). The result would be that any proceedings under the section against a British subject would be illegal, though the nationality of the person in question might be discovered only in the course of the proceedings. It is, therefore, considered advisable to amend sub-section (14) by providing that sub-section (11) only, which deals with the actual deportation, shall not apply to British subjects, except the classes particularly specified.\n\n4. The second amendment effected by clause 3 of the bill is based on Article 2 of the China (Amendment) Order-in-Council, No. 3, 1920, which was published in the **Gazette** of May 20th, 1921. It is considered necessary to take power to deport any person whatsoever who, in the opinion of the Governor-in-Council, has acted or is about to act in a manner prejudicial to the public safety, etc.\n\n5. Clause 4 effects an amendment in Form No. 7 of the Schedule to the Deportation Ordinance, 1917, by deleting the reference to the Peace Preservation Ordinance, 1886.\n\n6. Clause 5 is new and is based on Article 21(3) of the Aliens Order, 1920. It provides that any person deported under the Deportation Ordinances, 1917, and 1921, shall be deemed for the purposes of the deportation order to retain his nationality as at the date of the order, unless the Governor otherwise directs.\n\n## Tobacco Ordinance\n\nThe **ATTORNEY-GENERAL** moved the first reading of a Bill intituled, An Ordinance to amend the Tobacco Ordinance, 1916.\n\nHe said: This Bill deals, almost entirely, with matters of detail which might be better considered in committee than in the introduction of the Bill on its first reading. I would only like to say that clause 7—which deals with penalties—proposes to give the magistrate power to impose a fine of ten times the duty, instead of the ordinary fine authorised by the present Ordinance, in any case where the magistrate is of opinion that there has been an intent to avoid payment of duty. Lately, large quantities of tobacco have been brought in without paying duty and the fine authorised by the present Ordinance—$500—has been quite insufficient in view of the inducement offered to the smuggler to get a large quantity of tobacco through. Clause 4 is an attempt to close up gaps in the net so as to provide that any tobacco imported by railway shall be brought into Kowloon Station. At present, it may be taken off at an intermediate station and in that way escape duty. Clause 2 deals with the powers of the Governor-in-Council to alter the tobacco duties. Of course, the Legislative Council has full control in this matter as it is a matter of taxation, but it is obviously necessary to have the power to amend the tobacco taxes at short notice, to prevent dealers getting the tobacco out of bond and escaping new duties. The present section is not quite full enough to deal with all cases. For example, the Governor-in-Council cannot reduce duties. It might be found that some were too high and it might be desirable to reduce them; under this clause, it will be possible. At present, that cannot be done.\n\nThe **COLONIAL SECRETARY** seconded, and the Bill was read a first time.\n\nThe \"Objects and Reasons\" state:\n\n1. The object of this Bill is to amend the Tobacco Ordinance in certain respects where experience has shown it to be defective.\n\n2. Clause 2 gives the Governor-in-Council a wider power of dealing with tobacco duties in anticipation of a resolution of the Legislative Council. The powers now conferred correspond with those entrusted to the Legislative Council by section 7 of the Ordinance.\n\n3. Clause 3 provides that duty shall be paid on tobacco manufactured in the Colony which is removed into a bonded or licensed warehouse, before removal from such bonded or licensed warehouse.\n\n4. The object of clause 4 is to prevent the smuggling of tobacco into the Colony by rail. As the law stands at present, it is possible for persons to bring tobacco into the Colony by rail from Chinese territory, and to evade detection by alighting with the tobacco at any of the stations before the Kowloon terminus. As long as they remain on the train and do not remove the tobacco from the train, they are within the law and cannot be arrested, and detection at intermediate stations is difficult. Clause 4 requires all tobacco imported by the railway to be consigned through to Kowloon by railway invoice, and any persons found on the train in possession of tobacco not so consigned will be liable to arrest and prosecution.\n\n5. Clause 5 gives certain Railway officials the same powers under the Ordinance as are given to revenue officers, the object being to enable arrests and seizures to be made on the train by Railway officials.\n\n6. Clause 6 effects two formal amendments in section 41 of the Ordinance, both of which tend towards a clearer interpretation of the section.\n\n7. Clause 7 amends section 59 of the Ordinance, which is the general penalty section, by empowering a magistrate to impose a fine of ten times the duty on the tobacco in question, instead of the fine authorised by section 59, whenever he is of the opinion that there has been intent to avoid payment of duty. There have recently been cases of smuggling tobacco which have obviously required a pecuniary penalty greater than that authorised by the principal Ordinance, and it has been thought advisable to give the magistrate the option of imposing a fine of ten times the duty, where such will be greater than the present maximum fine. The power of the magistrate to inflict imprisonment in lieu of or in addition to any fine remains unaltered.\n\n## Stamp Amendment Ordinance\n\nThe **ATTORNEY-GENERAL** moved the first reading of a Bill intituled, An Ordinance to amend the Stamp Ordinance, 1921.\n\nHe said: Much of this Bill is purely formal; for example, clause 2, which supplies a drafting omission and corrects a drafting mistake in the principal Ordinance. Another part of the Ordinance consists of the clauses which propose to collect together and place in the new Ordinance certain regulations which have been made under the principal Ordinance. It seems more convenient to have them embodied in the Ordinance and the schedule than to have them scattered about in regulations. Clause 3 deals with what is called \"splitting.\" A section of the principal Ordinance which prohibits splitting—the execution of more instruments than would be ordinarily required for the transaction in order to evade duty thereby—that is to say, if I receive payment of $18 and make out two receipts for $9 each to avoid the stamp duty: that is not allowed. The prohibition is clear: the difficulty is to enforce it. It is very difficult for the Collector to prove, affirmatively, that there has been splitting to evade duty, and the effect of this clause is to throw the onus of proof on the person who asserts that there has been no splitting. He is the person who knows all the facts, and it is only fair that he should be required to show that the splitting up into two documents or more was done bona fide and not to evade duty. Clause 4 deals with exchange contracts. It makes three main changes in the collection of that duty. In the first place, it imposes on the banker, if either party to the contract is a banker, the duty of seeing that the stamp duty is paid. If both parties are bankers, the seller is to put the stamps. If neither party is a banker, the seller again has to put the stamp. The reason for the first of these requirements is that bankers are used to collecting these duties; they have the necessary stamps and they are less likely to find difficulty and less likely to overlook the necessary stamping. Another change is to give the Collector...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-469 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1921 [9-12].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": 492288, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 218, "title": "CO129-475 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1922 [5-7]", "content_text": "September 3rd, 1921.] Regulations for any particular case. As none of these arbitrational boards exist in Hongkong, clause 3 provides for tribunals which are to consist of one of the judges as president, and of two other members, one nominated by the Governor and the other by the claimant. The Imperial Act provides for an appeal on a point of law from the arbitration tribunal to the Court of Appeal. Clause 5 provides that the president of the local tribunal may reserve any point of law for the decision of the Full Court, and that the decision of the Full Court on such point of law shall be final. The Imperial Act provides for an appeal from the Court of Appeal to the House of Lords, but only by leave of the Court of Appeal.\n\nCHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT\n\nIt might be argued that, as the law stands at present, no part of section 4 applies to British subjects, except to those classes specified in sub-section (14). The result would be that any proceedings under the section against a British subject would be illegal, though the nationality of the person in question might be discovered only in the course of the proceedings. It is, therefore, considered advisable to amend sub-section (14) by providing that sub-section (11) only, which deals with the actual deportation, shall not apply to British subjects, except the classes particularly specified.\n\n225\n\n2.—Clause 2 gives the Governor-in-Council a wider power of dealing with tobacco duties in anticipation of a resolution of Legislative Council. The powers now conferred correspond with those entrusted to the Legislative Council by section 7 of the Ordinance.\n\n3.—Clause 3 provides that duty shall be paid on tobacco manufactured in the Colony which is removed into a bonded or licensed warehouse, before removal from such bonded or licensed warehouse.\n\n4. The object of clause 4 is to prevent the smuggling of tobacco into the Colony by rail. As the law stands at present, it is possible for persons to bring tobacco into the Colony by rail from Chinese territory, and to evade detection by alighting with the tobacco at any of the stations before the Kowloon terminus. As long as they remain on the train and do not remove the tobacco from the train, they are within the law and cannot be arrested, and detection at intermediate stations is difficult. Clause 4 requires all tobacco imported by the railway to be consigned through to Kowloon by railway invoice, and any persons found on the train in possession of tobacco not so consigned will be liable to arrest and prosecution.\n\n8.—Clause 6 saves all Prize Court proceedings from the operation of the Bill.\n\n5.—Clause 4 effects an amendment in Form No. 7 of the Schedule to the Deportation Ordinance, 1917, by deleting the reference to the Peace Preservation Ordinance, 1886.\n\n9.—It may be pointed out that sub-clause (1) of clause provides that if any legal proceedings which are barred by the Ordinance shall have been instituted before the commencement of the Ordinance, it shall be discharged, subject to such order as to costs which the Court may think fit to make. Sub-clause (4) of the same clause provides that nothing in the clause shall affect a final judgment given before the passing of the Ordinance.\n\nDEPORTATION ORDINANCE.\n\nThe ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled an Ordinance to amend the Deportation Ordinance, 1917.\n\nHe said: This Bill falls into two portions. Clause 2, clause 4, and clause 5 are founded on the recent Aliens registration in the United Kingdom. The important part of clause 3 is founded on a recent Alien Order in Council. I do not know that I need refer in detail to the clauses based on the Aliens' legislation of the United Kingdom, but I would like to refer to section (b) of clause 3. That is the part of the Bill which is based on the Alien amendment Order in Council No. 3 of 1920. It gives the Governor-in-Council power to deport any person who it is considered has acted or is about to act in a manner prejudicial to the public safety. That power to deport can only be exercised after what we may call the long procedure of the Deportation Ordinance has been gone through. It is not a summary power; the person it is proposed to deport has to have a definite charge put before him and is given the opportunity of answering that charge.\n\nThe COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a first time.\n\nThe \"Objects and Reasons\" state: 1.—The object of this Bill is to amend the Deportation Ordinance, 1917, by remedying certain apparent defects therein and by inserting certain new provisions in order to conform with recent legislation in the United Kingdom.\n\n2.—Clause 2 of the Bill is based on a combination of the present section 3 (2) of the Ordinance and the provisions of Article 12 (6) (c) of the Aliens Order, 1920, which reads as follows:-\n\n\"A deportation order may be made in any of the following cases: (c) if the Secretary of State deems it to be conducive to the public good to make a deportation order against the alien.\" The reference in the existing section to the Peace Preservation Ordinance is out of date, as the Ordinance has not been used for years.\n\n3. The object of the first amendment effected by clause 3 is to remedy a difficulty that might arise from a literal construction of the opening words of section (14) of the Ordinance.\n\n6.—Clause 5 is new and is based on Article 21 (3) of the Aliens Order, 1920. It provides that any person deported under the Deportation Ordinances, 1917, and 1921, shall be deemed for the purposes of the deportation order to retain his nationality as at the date of the order, unless the Governor otherwise directs.\n\nTOBACCO ORDINANCE.\n\nThe ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled an Ordinance to amend the Tobacco Ordinance 1916.\n\nHe said: This Bill deals, almost entirely, with matters of detail which might be better considered in committee than in the introduction of the Bill on its first reading. I would only like to say that clause 7—which deals with penalties—proposes to give the Magistrate power to impose a fine of ten times the duty, instead of the ordinary fine authorised by the present Ordinance, in any case where the magistrate is of opinion that there has been an intent to avoid payment of duty.\n\n5.—Clause 5 gives certain Railway officials the same powers under the Ordinance as are given to revenue officers, the object being to enable arrests and seizures to be made on the train by Railway officials.\n\n6. Clause 6 effects two formal amendments in section 41 of the Ordinance, both of which tend towards a clearer interpretation of the section.\n\n7. Clause 7 amends section 59 of the Ordinance, which is the general penalty section, by empowering a magistrate to impose a fine of ten times the duty on the tobacco in question, instead of the fine authorised by section 59, whenever he is of the opinion that there has been an intent to avoid payment of duty. There have recently been cases of smuggling tobacco which have obviously required a pecuniary penalty greater than that authorised by the principal Ordinance, and it has been thought advisable to give the magistrate the option of imposing a fine of ten times the duty, where such will be greater than the present maximum fine. The power of the magistrate to inflict imprisonment in lieu of or in addition to any fine remains unaltered.\n\nThe ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill intituled an Ordinance to amend the Stamp Ordinance, 1921.\n\nHe said: Much of this Bill is purely formal; for example, clause 2, which supplies a drafting omission and corrects a drafting mistake in the principal Ordinance. Another part of the Ordinance consists of the clauses which propose to collect together and place in the new Ordinance certain regulations which have been made under the principal Ordinance.\n\nClause 4 is an attempt to close up gaps in the net so as to provide that any tobacco brought by railway shall be brought into Kowloon Station. At present, it may be taken off at an intermediate station and in that way escape duty.\n\nClause 2 deals with the powers of the Governor-in-Council to alter the tobacco duties. Of course, the Legislative Council has full power in this matter, but it is obviously necessary to have the power to amend the tobacco taxes and the liquor taxes at short notices, to prevent dealers getting tobacco out of bond and so escaping new duties. The present clause is not quite full enough to deal with all cases. For example, the Governor-in-Council cannot reduce duties. It might be found that some duties were too high and it might be desirable to reduce them. At present, that cannot be done, but under this clause, it will be possible.\n\nThe COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and the Bill was read a first time.\n\nThe \"Objects and Reasons\" state:-\n\n1.—The object of this Bill is to amend the Tobacco Ordinance in certain respects where experience has shown it to be defective.\n\nIt seems more convenient to have them embodied in the Ordinance and the schedule than to have them scattered about in regulations.\n\n3. Clause 3 deals with what is called \"splitting.\" A section of the principal Ordinance prohibits splitting—the execution of more instruments than would be ordinarily required for the transaction in order to evade duty thereby; that is to say, if I receive payment of $16 and have two receipts for $8 to avoid the stamp duty, that is not allowed. The prohibition is clear: the difficulty is to enforce it. It is very difficult for the Collector to prove, affirmatively, that there has been splitting to evade duty.\n\n12", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-475 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1922 [5-7].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 493709, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 100, "title": "CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922", "content_text": "Owing to the facilities for smuggling opium from the Indian States and elsewhere, and the deeply-rooted nature of the habit, it proved impossible to pursue the ideal of prohibition, and a policy was substituted which aimed at keeping the consumption within the strictest possible limits by continuously raising the cost of opium to the consumer. The success of that policy cannot be gainsaid. The population of British India to-day consumes annually 26 grains of opium per head, 20 grains less than the probable per capita consumption of the United States of America, and a very small fraction of the per capita consumption of other opium-consuming countries in the East.\n\nIn India proper, apart from Burma, opium smoking seems only to an extremely limited extent. It is strongly reprobated by public opinion, and the Government of India have done everything short of absolute legal prohibition to check the practice. The manufacture of opium for smoking, except by an individual for his own use, is prohibited; opium smoking preparations cannot be bought; the amount of opium an individual can obtain for manufacture into preparations is strictly limited; and the amount he can have in his possession is generally limited to 90 grains. Opium smoking is essentially a social vice, and the question of making illegal any assembly of three or more persons for the purpose of smoking is at present being considered by Local Governments, together with the question of the practicability of prohibiting opium smoking altogether.\n\nBurma, where opium smoking was introduced from China, and affects Burmans adversely, presents a separate problem. Since 1885 there has been absolute prohibition of the use of opium except for medical purposes for all Burmans in Upper Burma. The same prohibition has been in force since 1887 in Lower Burma, except for registered consumers. No new consumers are registered, and the number has now fallen from 34,000 to 5,405. The population of Burma consists of 12,000,000 people. Non-Burmans in Upper Burma, and non-Burmans and registered Burmans in Lower Burma can obtain opium at licensed shops, subject to limitations of amount, but, as in the rest of India, the sale of prepared opium is prohibited.\n\nThose who advocate the suppression of poppy cultivation in India do so on two grounds. First, that the inhabitants of India are being drugged against their will, and, second, that India is flooding the world, especially China, with her opium. Space need not be wasted over the first of these contentions. It has been seen that the Government have been engaged in a struggle to keep the consumption of opium in India as low as possible during the last hundred years, and the opinions expressed by the Royal Commission of 1893 were described in Chapter I. If the Government of India ceased to control the production of opium and prohibited poppy cultivation in British India, an unregulated supply would at once begin to flow from the Indian States, over the border from China, and from Persia and the Levant. Armies could not stop it. Further, as Provincial Governments have now been invested with control over excise, it may be expected that under the pressure of public opinion, exerted through the new Legislative Councils, the policy of restriction hitherto followed will not be abandoned. It may indeed become more stringent.\n\nIt is not clear why the delusion should persist in some quarters that India floods the world with opium, and that Indian production is responsible for the morphia epidemic in China and the Western countries. Once the amount of opium produced in India and exported is viewed in its proper perspective, compared with production and export in other parts of the world, that delusion must immediately vanish. The legitimate markets for Indian opium, apart from export to China, took 16,000 chests of Indian opium a year in days when the China trade was in full swing, and there was no inducement to smuggle to that country. Now those markets take only 6,000 to 11,000 chests, and will very probably take less in future. Indian opium is not exported to the United States, and Chinese opium is sold retail in China at less than the cost of production in India. Such are the facts regarding the statements sometimes made that India is drenching America and China with her opium.\n\nThe production of opium by the Government of India in 1919-20, including a certain quantity supplied by the Native States, amounted to 936 tons, of which 643 tons were exported. In 1906 China produced 34,852 tons, and in 1908, according to an estimate by Mr. Hamilton Wright, 21,887 tons. So far as it is possible to ascertain, she produces to-day about 20 per cent. of her output in 1906, say 7,000 tons, or more than seven times the production of India. So far as Turkey is concerned, accurate information is not obtainable in respect of total production, but authorities agree that in normal times the average Turkish export amounts to 7,000 chests annually, each chest containing 150 lbs. of opium, rising in a good year to 12,000 chests. Seven thousand chests of Turkish opium represent by weight 469 tons, but when comparing Turkish with Indian opium it must be remembered that the former contains 12 per cent. of morphine, while the average morphine content of Indian opium is only 8 per cent. Seven thousand chests (469 tons) of Turkish opium are the equivalent in morphine of 662 tons of Indian opium, and Turkey has not signed the Hague Convention. Persia, according to the Encyclopædia Britannica, produced 10,000 piculs of opium in 1907, nearly all of which was exported, and there is no reason to believe she exports much less to-day. Ten thousand piculs (594 tons by weight) of opium, with a morphia content of 12 per cent., are equivalent to 838 tons of Indian opium containing only 8 per cent. of morphine, and Persia signed the Hague Convention with a reservation of Article 3 (a), which deals...\n\nPage 41\n\n...\n\nPage 40\n\n97\n\nL\n\nPage 42\n\n4983\n\nE", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 493949, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 340, "title": "CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922", "content_text": "15\n\n335\n\n14\n\ncustoms revenue. They suggested, therefore, that the Commissioner of Customs should be instructed to make a monthly provision for the service of this loan from the customs revenue, so as to put it upon the same footing as the Anglo-German loans, any deficit in respect to the indemnity service to be met out of salt revenue. This was agreed to.\n\n\"It will be seen, therefore, that, in accordance with the procedure finally adopted, the balance of the revenue available after payment of the monthly instalments due for the Russian Loan of 1895 and the Anglo-German Loans of 1896 and 1898 is not all to be divided amongst the banks charged with the indemnity service in proportion to their share of that service, but only up to the amount of the instalment of the indemnity service due to them for the current month.\n\n3. The above procedure was confirmed in the despatch of the doyen to the Wai-chiao Pu of the 20th July, 1915, subject to the following additional reservation of the right of any interested Power to insist that, in the event of any doubt arising as to the sufficiency of the maritime customs revenues and the salt revenues to defray all charges secured thereon in respect to the loan and indemnity service, the payments of the proceeds of maritime customs revenues to the indemnity banks shall be deferred until full provision has been made for meeting the service of the loans contracted prior to 1900.\n\n\"4. As the memorandum declares that it is the intention to leave unchanged the existing order of things, the above procedure should be observed up to the point when the banks charged with the service of the indemnity would in ordinary circumstances remit to their respective Governments in gold the amounts received as above, but instead of so remitting them are now to pay them over to the Chinese Government.\n\n5. The following procedure, in essential conformity with the proposals of the memorandum, is therefore proposed for the operation:\n\n\"(a) On the last day of each month, when the service of the indemnity becomes due, each of the allied banks, instead of transferring the funds in gold to the credit of its Government, as they do at present, shall hand to the Chinese Government a cheque in taels equivalent at the rate of the day to the sum which the Customs would have paid to them to effect this transfer, it being understood that the Russo-Asiatic Bank will give a cheque only for the amount of the share agreed to.\n\n(b) In making this payment, each bank will obtain from the agent of the Chinese Government duly authorised to receive these funds a receipt in triplicate for the tael equivalent at the rate of exchange fixed of the gold sum which would have been remitted. These receipts will furnish to each Government a voucher for the ultimate recovery of the amount due to them in gold, which should be reimbursed in taels at the rate of the day on which such reimbursement is made.\n\nAccepted by the undersigned:\n\n\"December 21, 1917.\"\n\n\"J. N. JORDAN. \"G. HAYASHI.\n\nPAUL MAY.\n\n\"Prince N. KOUDACHEFF.\n\n\"D. de MARTEL.\n\n\"J. B. de FREITAS.\n\nThe second, which was formally communicated to the Chinese Government, runs as follows:-\n\n\"In view of the impending suspension of the payments of the Boxer indemnity, the undersigned representatives of Belgium, France, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Portugal, and Russia, have the honour to state that they consider it desirable to settle forthwith the procedure by which the transfer to the Chinese Government of the funds freed by the suspension of the service shall be effected.\n\nThey have accordingly agreed upon the following:-\n\n\"(a) On the last day of each month, when the service of the indemnity becomes due, each of the allied banks, instead of transferring the funds in gold to the credit of its Government, as they do at present, shall hand to the Chinese Government a cheque in taels equivalent at the rate of the day to the sum which the Customs would have paid to them to effect this transfer, it being understood that the Russo-Asiatic Bank will give a cheque only for the amount of the share agreed to.\n\n(b) In making this payment, each bank will obtain from an agent of the Chinese Government duly authorised to receive these funds a receipt in triplicate for the tael equivalent at the rate of exchange fixed of the gold sum which would have been remitted. These receipts will furnish to each Government a voucher for the ultimate recovery of the amount due to them in gold, which should be reimbursed in taels at the rate of the day on which such reimbursement is made.\n\n\"It is requested that the name of the agent authorised as above by the Chinese Government should be communicated as soon as possible to the undersigned.\n\n'Peking, December 22, 1917.\"\n\nJ. N. JORDAN.\n\nG. HAYASHI.\n\nPAUL MAY.\n\nPrince KOUDACHEFF.\n\nD. de MARTEL.\n\n**ALIUTTI.\n\n\"B. de FREITAS.\n\n51. In a subsequent exchange of notes with the French Ambassador in London, M. Cambon, Mr. Balfour upheld our point of view.\n\nJuly 8, 1918 (\"Loans and Concessions,\" Part VI, No. 74.)\n\nM. Cambon, Aug. 16. (\"Loans and Concessions,\" Part VI, No. 60.)\n\nNo. 386, Concessions.\n\n52. Meanwhile, owing to good customs returns, the customs surplus again began to swell, and in October 1917, a second release of 2,000,000 taels was agreed to by the Diplomatic Body. Within a few weeks, the Chinese Government made yet a third application, but this time in a slightly different form. They suggested that it would simplify matters if the net balance of revenue for the forthcoming quarter were transferred to them automatically at the end of each month.\n\n53. The Diplomatic Body refused to accede to this, and one of the considerations actuating them was a fresh complication that seemed imminent. The possibility of trouble with the South suggested itself for the first time. Should the Canton Government take the not unnatural view that the surplus revenue—which was partially at least drawn from the Southern ports—was being applied to their destruction by the North, it might well lead to an interference by the Southern authorities with the customs administration at the Southern ports, which was much to be deprecated. Later, other counsels prevailed, and during the next two months, releases of 4,000,000 taels and 2,000,000 taels were agreed to. For the moment, the question of the South dropped, but it will be reverted to and dealt with more fully later.\n\nRussian Indemnity.\n\n54. The Allied Powers, with the exception of Russia, had all agreed to suspend the whole of their share of the indemnity for a period of five years, commencing the 1st December, 1917. As regards the Russian indemnity, the Russian Government had only agreed to suspend a proportional amount—one-third of the payments due to them. Certain payments thus continued to be made on Russian account. But with the collapse of any recognised Government in Russia, the Chinese Government became nervous lest they should later be called to account for making the payments to a discredited Russian Minister. It was only on receiving assurance that the Governments of Great Britain, Japan, and France considered China justified in continuing those payments, in view of an undertaking given by the Russian Minister,\n\nNo. 388, Concessions, Part VI, No. 22.)\n\nPage 336\n\nPage 336\n\nPage 336", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-478 - Public Offices & Others - 1922.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 495695, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 361, "title": "CO129-481 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1923 [8-12]", "content_text": "354\n\n49\n\nHONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL\n\nI have given all the suggestions that have been brought to our notice our careful consideration; and if we are not advocating more amendments than those mentioned by the Honourable Senior Unofficial Member, it is because we realise that the Ordinance is, after all, a purely temporary measure, at which it would be undesirable to tinker more than is absolutely necessary.\n\nWe strongly support the proposed amendment for giving power to a Committee, to be appointed by the Governor-in-Council, to postpone the operation of notices to quit and the demolition and reconstruction of domestic tenements for a prescribed period. The amendment which has just been read by the Hon. Senior Unofficial Member is so framed as to impose a penalty on any lessor who, with mala fide intent, demands more than the standard rent. We trust that this amendment will be accepted by the Government so as to give a check to the machinations of the unscrupulous landlord, and the iniquitous intermediate tenant.\n\nTurning now to the complaints of the landlords, my Chinese colleague and I are aware that the operation of the Ordinance does entail hardship on some, especially on those to whom their rent constitutes their sole source of income: but such a condition of affairs is unavoidable in special legislation of this kind.\n\nWe hope that the demand for houses will soon be met to such an extent as to obviate any possible imputation of bad faith on the part of the Government in regard to the measure which, whatever good it may do, does not, after all, get to the root of the evil. But, Sir, while the shortage exists, the continuation of the Ordinance appears to us to be necessary, and we will, therefore, vote for its extension for another twelve months. (Applause.)\n\nMy Chinese colleague and I also support the proposed amendment for giving power to a Committee to postpone certain actions. We ran the risk that hardship may be inflicted on some landlords, or that a good opportunity of having old and insanitary houses rebuilt would be lost, because the proposed Committee is to be allowed absolute discretion in the exercise of its power.\n\nWhile on this subject of reconstruction, I wish to say that I am deeply indebted to the learned Attorney-General, to whom I went to seek enlightenment, for the opinion that a domestic tenement reconstructed under Section 1(f) of the principal Ordinance is not necessarily an entirely new building within the meaning of Section 9, Sub-section 2 of that Ordinance, unless it is, in point of fact, an entirely new building; and that therefore, a building reconstructed under the former Section, but not coming within the latter, is subject to the Rents Ordinance.\n\nWhether the standard rent of such a building would be the rent on the 31st December, 1920, or the rents at which the building was first let after the reconstruction, would probably depend upon whether the reconstructed house was or was not substantially identical with the former house. I have ventured, Sir, to repeat this important opinion here in order to give wide publicity to a point of law which probably is not generally known to the public.\n\nTHE COLONIAL SECRETARY-In view of the numerous points which have been raised, I am afraid I must ask the patience of the Council while I traverse a rather wide field. But before I begin I may take the opportunity to express the obligation of the Government and my own personal gratitude to the Senior Unofficial Member for his assistance in investigating numerous cases of hardship and in exploring all avenues which might possibly lead to an adequate solution of this most difficult housing and rents question.\n\nI would like to add my thanks for the excellent work done by the hon. members representing the Chinese community on behalf of their compatriots. The matters most immediately before this Council are petitions from the tenants of Belilios Terrace and the residents of Rutter Street, to the latter of which I will refer later.\n\nRegarding Belilios Terrace there are forty-two families, numbering about 200 souls, housed in the 27 buildings of these three terraces, and it undoubtedly is, as the Senior Unofficial Member has said, a very great hardship that this sheltered, self-contained community should be evicted at such short notice; but it must be remembered that they owe it to the generosity of the Belilios family that their rents have not been appreciably increased over a long period of years, while during the same period their salaries, and consequently their rent-paying capacity, have been considerably augmented.\n\nHONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL\n\n50\n\nMade for getting all these people into new homes. With regard to the Senior Unofficial Member's remarks about the Beaconsfield Arcade property, I may mention that these flats have been, and are tenanted, by Sanitary Inspectors and other Europeans in the Government service. Some of them have been there a considerable time.\n\nNow, coming to the European aspect of the question, I have been directly approached by one family, and in that case found a flat, and I was able to arrange with the landlord next day for them to be put in. Various representations were made relating to persons employed in the Naval Yard. That is an Admiralty affair, and all I need say is that these men have a house allowance which adequately meets the rent of available flats in Kowloon.\n\nI have also been approached regarding two private hotels,-Kingsclere and a private boarding house, consisting of four houses in MacDonnell Road. It is proposed to put 25 houses on the Kingsclere site, and to substitute for two houses of the boarding house, and one other independent house in MacDonnell Road, eight or ten houses. I am afraid I could do nothing in this case except to propose blocks of flats in Kowloon, and I was met by various objections more or less valid-rather more valid than less.\n\nI also suggested taking the new hotel in Kowloon on which I had at the time an option, and I now repeat that suggestion. Hon. Members have no doubt seen an advertisement in the papers that this hotel is to let and I suggest that those having experience of European hotel management might get together and rent this building as a boarding house for European occupation-by those persons who may be evicted from their present tenements.\n\nThe matter came to my attention some time before the Petition reached me. On the very morning on which I first heard of it I got the option of 34 flats at West Point-two-roomed flats of European style. I had not seen them at the time, but I sent the Committee of the tenants to investigate and they reported that they were not suitable, partly on account of the sanitary arrangements and partly on account of danger from fire, and also because they were in a Chinese locality.\n\nI went down personally and looked at them. The rent was $45 for a two-roomed flat, but by putting two flats into one they would get a four-roomed flat for $90. I agreed with the tenants that they were not suitable. At the same time the Belilios Terrace houses, which I also visited, struck me as being in the last stage of decay and literally tumbling to bits.\n\nI invited the assistance of Mr. J. M. Alves, who has rendered me very great assistance in this matter, and we went over together to Kowloon and visited blocks containing altogether some 130 new flats, and I also visited the new hotel. When I returned I sent for various landlords, including the landlord of the hotel, and got the option on a number of buildings at rentals varying from $70 to $150.\n\nI consulted the owners of Belilios Terrace, who met more than half way, and have been most considerate. I put these flats before the tenants. At the same time I got in touch with Bishop Pozzoni, who put at my disposal ten flats for these tenants in Robinson Road, which will be ready at the end of the year.\n\nWith regard to the Senior Hon. Unofficial Member's reference to Palermo Buildings the landlord very kindly reduced the rents from $80 to $50, and I put this offer to the tenants, but they came to me with a refusal to take the ground floors because they were tiled.\n\nBut the root of the matter goes deeper than that. It goes right down to the question of European reservations. I do not propose to deal with this somewhat thorny subject, except from the aspect of the economic pressure which is gradually driving the Europeans out of the districts in which they have lived for many years.\n\nA number of persons have been persistently crying \"stinking fish\" against the Government and some of those who have cried loudest have the least cause to do so. It may interest Honourable Members to know that a year or two ago the Government initiated a proposal to make a European reservation in a certain area.\n\nI hope I may not give offence when I say that the attitude of some of these tenants-by no means the majority of them-but the attitude of some of them is in accordance with Mr. Micawber's maxim of waiting for something to turn up, rather than in accordance with the more strenuous proverb that \"God helps those who help themselves.\" I am satisfied that satisfactory arrangements will eventually be made.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-481 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1923 [8-12].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": 501522, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-490 - Public Offices - 1925", "page_number": 549, "title": "CO129-490 - Public Offices - 1925", "content_text": "Having been made aware of Dr. Dun's concurrence, we embodied the revised terms in a formal communication to him. We are at a loss to understand why you should reply, reviving the previous wording, which has already been found to be unacceptable. Nevertheless, in order to avoid delaying a settlement and thus causing ill-feeling, we are prepared to accept the wording suggested in your letter, with the addition of the words \"which shall be finally settled by agreement between the Chinese and British authorities, as suggested by Dr. Dun\". The clause would then read as follows: –\n\n\"Public employees will be reinstated and their wages paid for the period of the strike, reservation being made on the question of disciplinary measures in the case of the police, which shall be finally settled by agreement between the Chinese and British authorities, as suggested by Dr. Dun\". Alternatively, would you be prepared to have the amended article as drafted by us and submitted to Dr. Dun, detailing the arrangements agreed between the Chinese and ourselves regarding the police, as follows:-\n\nIt is mutually understood, as regards the police, that as a token of high appreciation of your Excellency's offer to find employment for those who, out of sympathy for the fundamental principles of public security, may not be maintained in the Public Service, and giving due consideration to the desire that they shall not be victimised and with the common purpose of avoiding any misunderstanding or ill-feeling in the future, both sides agree that, instead of their being subjected to disciplinary measures, they shall be allowed to return to their respective Police Stations and to tender their resignations.\n\nThose whose resignations are accepted will receive their pay in full to the 15th of July, and in addition gratuity based on length of service\".", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-490 - Public Offices - 1925.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 503273, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-493 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [6-8]", "page_number": 348, "title": "CO129-493 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [6-8]", "content_text": "# No. 5.\n\n## STATEMENT\n\n## MADE BY THE\n\n## BRITISH DELEGATION\n\n## AT THE\n\n## MEETING OF MONDAY, THE 19TH JULY, 1926,\n\nThe Chinese delegation, in putting forward their statement on the origin of the anti-British boycott in the Liang-Kuang, have asked for our views on their presentation of this issue before proceeding further with the business of the conference.\n\nWe should have preferred to have heard the Chinese delegation's whole case, including their proposals for a settlement, before being called on for a reply, for we feel that the sentiments they have now expressed and the answer which must inevitably be evoked from our side have already been set out in despatches exchanged between British and Chinese officials, and have been fully discussed in the press of both nations, and that to continue the discussion in this manner by the exchange of statements intended for publication will only exacerbate public opinion and render difficult the amicable adjustment of points of difference, which it is the object of these negotiations to achieve.\n\nIf, however, the Chinese delegation feel strongly that the document read to us at the last sitting, full as it is of controversial points, calls for a reply now, an answer can and must be made.\n\nThe Chinese statement takes the causes of the boycott back to the incident of May the 30th in Shanghai. It is not within the province of this delegation to deal with affairs which have occurred in Central China, nor is it possible to do so adequately within the scope of a short statement, but the following are some material facts which have been omitted from the document to which this is a reply.\n\nThe Shanghai trouble arose out of labour disputes in Japanese cotton mills, with which the British were not concerned. A demonstration was held by Chinese students in the busiest streets of the International Settlement in defiance of by-laws designed to secure the preservation of order and the free circulation of traffic for residents of all nationalities. The Settlement Police, who are employees of the International Council, endeavoured to do their duty and maintain respect for the law by arresting the ringleaders. This in turn led to an attack on a police station by a mob of between two and three thousand people, of whom a few of the leaders were students, but many were loafers and bad characters from the less reputable quarters of Shanghai. The handful of police on duty tried for some time to disperse the crowd by persuasion and then by baton charges, but they were driven back by increasing numbers, and finally when the inflamed mob was within six feet of the station's gates, and Inspector Everson, the officer in charge, feared that his men would be overwhelmed and the station and its armoury captured, as had occurred once before, he ordered a volley to be fired.\n\nThe resulting casualties must be deplored by all, but unless Inspector Everson was to abdicate his functions as a police officer and make a criminal surrender to the mob of the interests in his charge, which, be it remembered were mainly Chinese, it is difficult to see what else he could have done in the circumstances, and his personal conduct in the matter was vindicated in the fullest manner by all three judges in the international judicial enquiry which was held subsequently. It merely clouds the issue to compare this affair with what occurred on its anniversary in 1926, when disturbances were definitely expected, and a large show of force was prepared as a result of previous experience, to deal with any trouble which might arise.\n\nThis then is the incident, which, distorted out of all semblance to the truth, was used to arouse anti-British feeling in all parts of China. Outbreaks against small and defenceless communities occurred in Chinkiang, Kiukiang, Chungking and a number of other places, where mobs unrestrained by the local authorities destroyed the property and menaced the lives of British subjects.\n\nPage 9\n\nAt Hankow a crowd of roughs, who had been worked up to a pitch of frenzy by student agitators, made a determined attack on the foreign quarter. The small British defence force, in their desire to avoid further bloodshed, remained passive until the last possible moment, and it was only after the mob had already, in its blind fury, murdered one of the foreign residents, and was in the act of invading the quarter where the others had taken refuge, that shots were fired to repel its advance.\n\nIt has been necessary, briefly to recall these events in order that the subsequent tragedy at Canton should be viewed in its proper setting. Anti-foreign feeling was running high in this province by the middle of June, 1925, and it was definitely stated in Chinese circles in Canton and Hongkong on June the 22nd that an attack was to be made on Sha-meen on the following day, and prominent Chinese actually took refuge in Hongkong and made other dispositions to meet such an eventuality. Furthermore, on the morning of June the 23rd, two motor cars were distributing leaflets throughout the City signed by the Students' Union of the Military School of the Kwang-tung Army, inciting all and sundry to rise and chase out the foreigners.\n\nThe Shameen residents therefore, having in mind these facts and the events which had just befallen their compatriots in other parts of the country, had every reason to fear for their own safety, and to prepare for their defence.\n\nIn these circumstances the Canton authorities permitted on June the 23rd, a very large demonstration to be conducted on the Shakee bund facing Shameen, and this demonstration included armed troops from the military academy. During the course of this demonstration fire was opened at Shameen from the Shakee side.\n\nWe notice that in the statement of the Chinese delegation, an attempt is made to pass lightly over the question of responsibility for the first firing. It is suggested that it is a point of secondary importance and \"is not a capital issue\" and stress is laid instead on the intensity of the fire returned by the people who found themselves thus attacked. But we consider that the question of whose act gave rise to the tragedy is of vital importance, and on this point we must insist that not only the evidence of British and French witnesses attest the fact that the shooting began on the Chinese side, but there are also on record written statements by the Danish and Swedish Consuls, and American citizens, who were present at the time, and assert definitely of their own knowledge that the first shots were fired from Shakee. The shots were returned in self-defence by the British and French forces on Shameen, who as explained above, had reason to believe that an attack on the island was intended, and in this one action it may be noted that the statement of the Chinese delegation does not attempt to explain why the British have been made the sole objects of resentment for incidents in which they were not the only foreigners concerned.\n\nThe deaths and casualties caused amongst the Chinese on June the 23rd are a matter for sincere regret, but the grave responsibility for the sacrifice of those lives must rest with those who wantonly began the attack, and with the Chinese authorities, who disregarding the folly and danger of their action, allowed inflammable material to be placed ready to the hands of agitators seeking for an opportunity to cause a conflagration.\n\nThe Chinese delegation, in their definition of the ensuing boycott of British trade, have implied that this movement is a voluntary abstention from all commercial relations with the British, and they add that the boycott has been sustained by the Chinese people for more than a year. With great respect we say most emphatically that that definition and that statement are entirely at variance with the facts.\n\nThe abstention is not a voluntary one. It is imposed on an unwilling people by a small but powerful organisation of persons who maintain the boycott by force of arms and who do not hesitate to shoot down their own fellow countrymen when the latter try to continue those normal relations which ought to exist between close and friendly neighbours, and which will certainly, sooner or later, burst through the artificial and economically unsound barriers which prevent their free action at present. It would be easy to test the correctness of this assertion, and we are quite sure that if these barriers were removed the current of trade and friendly intercourse would flow freely again, bringing mutual benefit to Chinese and British alike.\n\nPage 1\n\nPage 346", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-493 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [6-8].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 504657, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-495 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [11-12]", "page_number": 526, "title": "CO129-495 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [11-12]", "content_text": "40\n\napathetic on this question, and they have accordingly had recourse to the tactics of terrorism, which proved so successful in the seamen's strike in 1922. The Chinese have been and still are most reluctant to go, but an anonymous letter or a whispered remark by an unknown passer-by puts them into a state of such abject fear that they simply dare not carry on their work. There is in the case of many of them the added threat of reprisals against their families in the country, which the Communists would be quite capable of putting into effect. A large number of workers are still standing fast, notably the members of the Chinese Engineers and Mechanics Union, which is the most important of all the unions. It is reported that at a recent meeting the head of this union stated that the matter at issue was a political one, and as such did not concern labour in the colony, and in any event the question could not be decided by the Hong Kong Government.\n\n4. There is at present no sign of any anti-foreign feeling. The colony was first flooded with pamphlets from outside, but the effect of these was to frighten the people rather than to inflame their passions. Chinese employed by foreigners have for the most part given due notice that they are being compelled to leave through circumstances beyond their control, and in cases such as that of the Peak Tram and Cross-Harbour Ferry the men have instructed the Europeans who are to take over in the method of operation. The Peak Tram is still operated by Chinese.\n\nThe seamen of the ferry service reported this morning that they must come out to-night, but they have since stated that the matter is not decided, and they will work to-morrow. It is noteworthy that the first workers to strike were the motor-men and conductors of the low-level tramways. These trams carry 70,000 people daily, practically all of whom are Chinese.\n\nThe recent repulse of the attack on Shameen has not apparently affected the local situation, and the opinion is freely expressed among the better-class Chinese that the large majority, both in Hong Kong and in Canton, are glad that the Communist section of the Cantonese army has been taught a salutary lesson.\n\n5. Early steps were taken to get into working order the machinery which had been carefully prepared after the seamen's strike, with the result that everything was in readiness when the strike began on the 20th June, and there was no dislocation of any important service. The volunteers were mobilised on the 21st June, and on the same date guards were posted at the Electric Light Works, Water Works and other important points. On the following day controllers of labour, food and transport began to function, and volunteer helpers, comprising practically the whole of the foreign community, men and women, were speedily enrolled and were allotted to various duties. The Americans in particular have shown themselves eager to help. The Ambulance Corps and the Boy Scouts were called up, the former to assist at the hospitals and the latter to give help wherever needed. The Boy Scouts are acting as messengers, are delivering telegrams for the telegraph offices and are generally making themselves useful.\n\n6. The Chinese community have been coming forward very readily to the assistance of the Government, under the energetic leadership of Mr. Chow Shou-son and Mr. Kotewall, their representatives on the Legislative Council. Special constables are being enrolled, committees are being formed to deal with various questions, as, for instance, the distribution of food, and a number of Chinese are doing most useful work in censoring Chinese letters, telegrams and newspapers. The Chinese of the New Territories were among the first to volunteer their help, offering both their labour and their produce in the shape of vegetables and pigs. Their offer is gratifying evidence of the goodwill which was recently cemented at the Kam Tin ceremony reported in despatch No. 231 of the 29th May, 1925.\n\n7. I consider it to be necessary for the Government to take to itself the fullest possible powers to deal with any emergency, and I enclose copies of regulations* which have been made under \"The Emergency Regulations Ordinance, 1922,\" together with a copy of a proclamation* putting into force \"The Peace Preservation Ordinance, 1886.\" I decided not to re-enact the regulations which, on the occasion of the seamen's strike, gave powers to commandeer labour, as such regulations would form obvious material for hostile propaganda, and labour is being readily obtained, subject to police protection being provided. It will be seen that the export of rice, flour, tinned and preserved foodstuffs and money has been prohibited, and that a kind of moratorium has been granted to Chinese banks. These banks had been involved in some difficulty owing to over-speculation in connection with the land boom, which has collapsed, and the present crisis brought a run upon them which they could not withstand. The stoppage of rice exports is reacting upon Canton, where prices are soaring, and the authorities are hard put to it to feed the strikers who have come penniless from Hong Kong. A number of strikers and others have returned to Hong Kong, finding conditions preferable here, and it is stated that many others would come back if they were not prevented by force.\n\n41\n\n8. I referred at the time of the seamen's strike to the extraordinary effect that intimidation produces upon the Chinese mind. The matter is one which it is difficult to cope with, but I am satisfied that most useful work is being done in this connection by means of propaganda which is being edited and issued by a Chinese committee, to all appearance spontaneously and without the prompting of the Government. The printing of statements of fact is done in the gaol, and other printing is in charge of the Missions étrangères, who have kindly lent their press. The American Consul has volunteered to supply contributions from American missionaries in China, which may prove useful in putting the true facts of the situation before the world. Copies of two telegrams received from him have been passed on to Reuter. I enclose a copy of a statement* which I made at a meeting of the Legislative Council on the 24th June. I am satisfied that the measures taken to reassure the community are having an excellent effect in putting a stop to the panic which at first prevailed.\n\n9. Another method of combating terrorism, most comforting to the Chinese, is the display of the forces available to the Government for the preservation of peace and good order in the community. To this end, in addition to strong police pickets, the navy, troops and volunteers make route marches through the town from time to time, the last named with their armoured car, which is particularly reassuring.\n\n10. You will have gathered from what I have written that there is nothing in the situation at present which gives any ground for apprehension from the point of view of the safety of the colony. It must, however, be borne in mind that there is a considerable force of troops in Canton trained, armed and officered by Russians, that the Russians are supplying money for the support of the Hong Kong strikers, and will do all in their power to harm Hong Kong. I am, however, informed to-day that the Commander-in-Chief of the Cantonese army is sending down an emissary privately to sound this Government as to possible methods by which friendly relations between Hong Kong and Canton may be restored. I took the opportunity of the arrival in the colony yesterday of Vice-Admiral Sir E. Alexander Sinclair, en route to hoist his flag, to discuss the situation with him. There is no British warship at present in port, owing to the demands from all parts of China, and I hope that no occasion will arise to call for further naval assistance here.\n\n[F 4054/2/10]\n\nANNEX X.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nR. E. STUBBS, Governor, &c.\n\nConsul-General Sir J. Jamieson to Mr. Austen Chamberlain.-(Received August 20.) (No. 18.) Sir,\n\nCanton, July 9, 1925.\n\nWITH reference to the local political situation, I have the honour to enclose herewith an extract from the \"Canton Gazette\" of the 8th July, 1925.\n\nEnclosure.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nJ. W. JAMIESON.\n\nExtract from the \"Canton Gazette\" of July 8, 1925.\n\nTHE INAUGURATION DECLARATION OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT OF CANTON.\n\n(Translation.)\n\nUNDER the oligarchy of the Kwangsi militarists in 1919, the city administration of Canton was languishing in its stunted growth. Since 1920, when the provincial armies routed the usurpers, the city administration assumed its normal and modern existence. However, after the rebellion of the 16th June, 1922, the city administration", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-495 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 504988, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 253, "title": "CO129-496 - Public Offices - 1926", "content_text": "added that he had been authorised by the British Minister at Peking to be a member of the delegation.\n\nOn 22nd June the Canton Foreign Minister replied:\n\n\"While it is obvious that the strike still continues to be such a considerable political and economic reality as to make any denial of its existence appear at once evasive and futile, my Government—averse from any view of your reply that may lead to a fresh impasse, and desirous that the issues involved shall be frankly and resolutely faced—is prepared to authorise its delegates also to negotiate with the official representatives of the Hong Kong Government or any other duly appointed representatives of the British Government regarding measures and means of settling the anti-British boycott, which has been sustained by the Chinese people in Kwangtung for precisely a year.\n\nIf the forthcoming negotiations are to be undertaken seriously, it is essential to clear up two points arising out of your reply. When handing that reply to me you explained that a rule of the British Imperial Service debarred the Governor and Government of Hong Kong from direct communication with my Government or any other Government. As this rule seems to apply à fortiori to the representatives appointed by the Governor of Hong Kong, I am to ask you whether the representatives named in your despatch will negotiate as members of a purely Hong Kong delegation or as members of a British Imperial delegation.\n\nThe other point relates to the powers of the British delegates. In my note to the Governor of Hong Kong I stated that my Government was prepared to appoint three delegates with plenipotentiary powers, and I indicated the wish of my Government that your delegates might be vested with equal powers. I am to repeat that any settlement reached by the delegates shall be subject to the usual ratification by the respective Governments.'\n\nChinese Information Bureau,\n\n65, Belgrave Road, S.W. 1,\n\nJune 26, 1926.\n\n(18.)\n\n*Cablegram from the Correspondent of the Chinese Information Bureau in Canton. (Communicated by China Information Bureau in London.)\n\nCanton, July 1, 1926.\n\nThe Canton Foreign Office issued the following communiqué on 1st July:-\n\nIn continuation of the correspondence relating to the strike and boycott negotiations, Brenan, acting British consul-general, addressed the following letter to Eugene Chen, Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, dated 25th June:\n\nReplying to your letter of 21st June, I have the honour to inform you that the British delegation which has been appointed to negotiate a settlement of the anti-British trouble arising in this province will principally represent the Hong Kong Government, but that I have been made a member of the delegation, so that the negotiations may include the anti-British boycott throughout the province, together with any other cognate questions which the Canton Government may wish to raise.\n\nThe Hong Kong delegates will be sent with plenipotentiary powers as regards matters relating to the colony, and I, in addition to my ordinary authority as acting consul-general, have been given by His Majesty's Government reasonable discretion in consultation with the Hong Kong delegates to negotiate an agreement.\n\nYour reservation that any settlement reached by the delegates shall be subject to the usual ratification by the respective Governments is noted and accepted by the British authorities concerned.\n\n'I trust that the above information will clear up the doubt expressed in your letter, and I may add that it is the sincere desire of His Majesty's Government and of the Hong Kong Government to reach a settlement with the Canton authorities that may be mutually satisfactory.\n\n* Not yet corroborated from official sources.\n\nI have submitted the terms of this reply to the Governor of Hong Kong, who authorises me to state that it is sent to you at his request and with his full concurrence. I shall be glad, therefore, if you will let me know when the negotiations can begin.'\n\nEugene Chen, on 29th June, communicated the following reply to the British consul-general:--\n\n\"I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 25th June in reply to my note requesting information as to the precise character and powers of your delegation.\n\n\"I understand your letter to mean that your delegation as a whole will represent both His Britannic Majesty's Government and the Government of Hong Kong, and will be competent to discuss and deal with all questions to arise in the course of the negotiations, of which the determination will be necessary for a mutually satisfactory settlement of the anti-British trouble as expressed in the Canton-Hong Kong strike and the anti-British boycott in the province.\n\nIn confirming my verbal statement that my Government has appointed T. V. Soong, K. P. Chen and myself as delegates with full powers, I have to inform you that arrangements are being made for the negotiations to begin on 15th July at the Foreign Office here.\n\n**EUGENE CHEN, Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs.\n\nChinese Information Bureau,\n\n65, Belgrave Road, S.W. 1,\n\nJuly 2, 1926.\n\nIII. His Majesty's Government and Canton.\n\nNegotiations are to begin on the 15th July between the Canton delegation (consisting of the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Labour) and a Hong Kong delegation, of which the acting consul-general will be a member.\n\nHis Majesty's Minister, Peking, has expressed misgivings on two points (see Peking telegrams Nos. 203 and 218):\n\n1. As to the expediency of a loan to the Extremist faction now in power at Canton, as he fears part of the proceeds might be employed against Wu Pei-fu or his adherents. An answer to this is firstly, that it is intended that the Hong Kong loan should be devoted to specific public works of a non-military character, and should be doled out in instalments as a security for good behaviour, and secondly, that nothing except a loan offers a reasonable prospect of the settlement required by British interests, which must take precedence over those of Wu Pei-fu, particularly since it becomes increasingly less probable that Wu, or any of the leading militarists, alone or in combination with others, can succeed in establishing unity and order in China. (In this connection, see Mr. O'Malley's views in Canton telegram No. 25.)\n\n2. That the inclusion of the acting consul-general in the Hong Kong delegation will encourage Canton to expect the recognition of their independence. This point involves, in some degree, the wide question of our future attitude towards China as a whole. Peking's grasp on the provinces is now definitely relaxed. Some competent observers hold that an effective Central Government will not be seen again for a number of years.\n\nHowever this may be, it is safe to predict that Peking will not resume lasting control over so distant and turbulent a province as Kwangtung in the immediate future. Past experience suggests that even a successful campaign by a northern military leader would have no permanent effect on South China. The balance of probability, indeed, seems perhaps to lie rather in the direction of an extension of Canton's influence over neighbouring provinces. In the meanwhile, the settlement of outstanding questions is urgently demanded, and it is possible that it may prove necessary, in view of claims raised in the past by the local administration at Canton, to revise existing arrangements in regard to customs revenues.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-496 - Public Offices - 1926.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 507620, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-500-3 Canton situation- governor's despatches 29-7-1927 - 1-9-1927", "page_number": 86, "title": "CO129-500-3 Canton situation- governor's despatches 29-7-1927 - 1-9-1927", "content_text": "### \n\nunderstanding. Wong Ching Wai has not yet grown old, but he will very soon become worthless. I was born late, and therefore did not witness the preservation of our Viceroy with sugar, but those who are older than I also appeared to have been too insensitive to be aware of this. Later successive diplomatic failures gradually brought this to light. After the birth of our President and the rising of the Boxers, we appeared, despite general chaos and disorder, to have recovered to a certain extent from our state of numbness, and after May the 9th we have made further progress, for in one day every year, we and especially our children have been roused from this state.\n\nNext year perhaps we may find it unnecessary to observe our Humiliation Day but we shall have an opportunity to celebrate our success. Mr. Chan has already made some reference to Communism, and I find it necessary to tell you some strange diplomatic experiences. Do you know the condition of China before the Opium War? I am old and stupid, but I can relate some history to you. When I was a young child 50 or 60 years ago, I held foreign devils in very low esteem; it appeared to me that they were more like monkeys than men. At that time all Chinese despised foreigners. After the War of the Kap Ng year, 20 years later, China proved herself no better than a paper tiger, and it then appeared to me that the foreign devils were very noble; I even felt sorry that I had not had a prominent nose and yellow hair, so that I could carry a walking stick in my hand and be taken for a perfect foreign devil. Alas! this was how my mind had been influenced.\n\nYou must know that during the regime of Kin Lung, our Chinese treated Ministers of foreign countries no better than ordinary individuals, and a marquis who came to China had even to perform the ceremony of thrice kneeling and nine times knocking his head. He was unwilling to do this, and he pleaded", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-500-3 Canton situation- governor's despatches 29-7-1927 - 1-9-1927.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 509109, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-502-6 China- general situation 7-1-1927 - 3-3-1927", "page_number": 35, "title": "CO129-502-6 China- general situation 7-1-1927 - 3-3-1927", "content_text": "## (c.) Canton. The problem as to the defence of the Shameen is as set forth in paragraph 10. Its evacuation should be the necessary preliminary to the institution of a blockade. The measures to be taken for the protection of Shameen or for its evacuation can only be decided in accordance with the situation at the moment and must be left to the men on the spot.\n\n## (d.) Chinkiang.—At Chinkiang the Naval Forces available are sufficient for the maintenance of order, but in the event of the arrival of Chinese Nationalist troops the Concession might have to be evacuated.\n\n## (e.) Tientsin.--At Tientsin the Allied Forces are sufficient only for the maintenance of order in times of popular disturbance, and would be in a position of grave danger if exposed to attack by a large organised Chinese force. It is doubtful if they could keep open communications with the Legation at Peking in any grave circumstances. In the event of serious trouble threatening, reinforcements can only be obtained from Japan. Our Naval Forces cannot co-operate, as Tientsin cannot be reached by water.\n\n**(3.)** In cases where evacuation of Concession ports is necessary, the Navy will undertake the arrangements. The moment of evacuation or of preparation for evacuation must be left to the men on the spot, who will act in accordance with the circumstances prevailing at the moment.\n\n**(4.) Shanghai.** To protect the Concessions at Shanghai by military means against Nationalist troops that might be brought against it in the near future, a force of at least one division and one squadron of aeroplanes would be necessary, and would have to be despatched without delay. This should be an international force, with a preponderance of Japanese, and commanded by a Japanese Officer, in view of the fact that Japan alone can provide large forces at short notice. In the present circumstances we must in fact rely primarily on Japan to protect our interests in Shanghai. Owing to the magnitude of British interests, British participation on the scale of a mixed brigade, with a proportion of naval aircraft, although it may be late, is essential. These forces should be additional to those required to control the population. Such steps for the protection of Shanghai might involve war with China, the consequences of which cannot be foreseen.\n\n**(5.) Military Reserve in the Far East.** The present situation clearly shows the necessity for a strategic military reserve in the Far East, which, we think, should be at Singapore.\n\n**(6.) Economic Pressure.** It is recommended that the Advisory Committee on Trading and Blockade should be assembled at once to report on all the possibilities of economic pressure on the Nationalist Government of China, whether by international action or in the last resort by the British alone.\n\n**(7.) General** The importance of securing international co-operation in any action against China, whether economic or military, cannot be too strongly emphasised.\n\n3. This report was examined by the Cabinet at a meeting held at 3:45 P.M. on the 12th January, 1927, when the following conclusions were formulated (`Cabinet 1(27)`, Conclusion 2) :—\n\n**(a.)** That the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs should telegraph a summary of the Report of the Chiefs of Staff Sub-Committee and the full text of the conclusions to Sir Miles Lampson, at Peking, for his information.\n\n**(b.)** That the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs should instruct Sir Miles Lampson to do his utmost to obtain definite undertakings from his diplomatic colleagues at Peking that their respective Governments will take their proper share in sending to Shanghai reinforcements already arranged for at Peking (`Peking telegram No. 57` dated the 10th January, 1927) as soon as the Local authorities consider necessary (`telegram No. 22` to Peking).\n\n**(c.)** That the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs should instruct the British Ambassador at Tokyo to enquire whether the Minister for Foreign Affairs shared the desire of the Japanese General Staff, as set forth in `telegram No. 7` from Tokyo, for conversations between the British and Japanese General Staffs in regard to the situation at Shanghai.\n\n**(d.)** That the Chief of the Imperial General Staff should be ready to advise the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs as to the instructions to be sent out for the use of the British Military Attaché in the event of a favourable reply from the Japanese Government.\n\n**(e.)** That the Chief of the Imperial General Staff should have authority to make preliminary arrangements, including enquiries as to shipping transport for the movement of a mixed Brigade to Shanghai as quickly as possible; but that, until the co-operation of other Powers in a scheme of reinforcement had been obtained, it was of the utmost importance that no hint should be made public that we were considering any large military movement, and that, in any necessary outside enquiries the War Office should make every effort to secure the preservation of secrecy.\n\n**(f)** That the Trading and Blockade Sub-Committee of the Committee of Imperial Defence, of which the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is Chairman, should assemble forthwith, in accordance with the suggestion made separately by the Lord President of the Council and the Chiefs of Staff Sub-Committee, to report on all the possibilities of putting economic pressure on the Nationalist Government of South China, by blockade or by other measures, whether by international action or, in the last resort, by the British alone. The Chairman was authorised to consult Sir Charles Addis, the Chairman of the Hong-Kong and Shanghai Bank, and was asked to discuss with him, inter alia, the question of how far it was feasible and desirable to continue to use the closing of British banks at Hankow as a lever for securing the return of the Concession.\n\n**(g.)** That the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs should be authorised to send the following telegram (which he drafted during the meeting to give effect to the views of the Cabinet) to Sir Miles Lampson :-- 'We also should like to insist on return of concession before entering on any negotiations. You and Mr. O'Malley will be the best judges whether this is possible or whether it would lead to immediate breakdown of the conversations and complete breach with the South. You will bear in mind that forcible reoccupation of the concession is not a possible operation.\"\n\n**(h.)** To take note that the Chief of the Imperial General Staff would ask the Secretary of State for War to bring before the Committee of Imperial Defence, in due course, proposals in regard to the recommendation of the Chiefs of Staff Sub-Committee in favour of a strategic military reserve in the Far East.\n\n**(i.)** That the Cabinet should hold themselves in readiness to meet at short notice during the next few days if Sir Miles Lampson's reports of Mr. O'Malley's conversations should render a meeting desirable.\n\n4. In accordance with Conclusion **(f)** above (see paragraph 3) the Advisory Committee on Trading and Blockade met at 11:30 A.M. on the 13th January, to consider the reference set forth therein. At this meeting the Committee had the benefit of the opinion of Sir Charles Addis, Chairman of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, on the possibilities of exerting financial pressure on the Cantonese at Hankow by means of maintaining the closure of the British banks. The Advisory Committee held a further meeting at 11:45 A.M. on the 17th January, which was attended for part of the time by Mr. J. T. Pratt, C.M.G., late Acting Consul-General at Shanghai. In the afternoon of that day (the 17th January) the Chairman informed the Cabinet provisionally of the conclusions of the Advisory Committee, which may be summarised as follows:-\n\n**(1.)** Financial Pressure by Maintaining the Closure of the British Banks at Hankow. This pressure, though to some extent effective for the time being, would diminish with the passage of time, and cannot be relied on as a permanent means of affecting Cantonese policy.\n\n**(ii.)** A General Blockade, assuming a State of War.—Here, at first sight, the situation appears favourable, since the foreign trade of South China could be stopped. But China has, in the past, got on without any foreign trade. Moreover, sooner or later, trade would find its way...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-502-6 China- general situation 7-1-1927 - 3-3-1927.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 516937, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-513-2 Problem of extra-territorial privileges in China and the abolition of extra-territoriality 15-8-1929 - 15-11-1929", "page_number": 9, "title": "CO129-513-2 Problem of extra-territorial privileges in China and the abolition of extra-territoriality 15-8-1929 - 15-11-1929", "content_text": "## SCRAPS OF PAPER\n\n[Reprinted from the Peking & Tientsin Times of July 6, 1929.]\n\nIf we return to-day to the case of the forcible seizure of a consignment of Japanese paper, consigned to the Min Yen Pao, it is not because we desire to exaggerate the importance of the barefaced robbery of a comparatively small cargo of newsprint, but because we intend to show that what has occurred at Peking, under the very nose of the President of the National Government, strikes at the very root of China's pretensions, administrative, judicial, and diplomatic. We propose to deal with the issues raised under these headings, taking the diplomatic aspect first.\n\nIt may be recalled that the Notes embodying the settlement of the Tsinan question contained a stipulation on the Japanese side that the Chinese Government guarantee, on their sole responsibility, the safety of the lives and property of the Japanese subjects resident in China after the withdrawal of the Japanese troops from Shantung. The Chinese Government accepted this stipulation, recognizing its responsibility \"in accordance with international law\" to \"afford protection to foreign nationals in China, and that they consider it incumbent on them to extend such protection to resident Japanese in future.\"\n\nIt is not stretching the meaning of this undertaking to insist that it applies not only to the actual protection of the persons of Japanese and of property actually in their possession, but also to the Chinese Government's responsibility \"in accordance with international law\" to permit the free circulation in Chinese territory of articles of Japanese manufacture which have paid the stipulated import duties. That was the Japanese, and as we shall show later, the Chinese understanding of the agreement. No one in his senses can suppose that the Japanese Minister would have signed the Tsinan Notes had there been appended thereto a reservation to the effect that goods of Japanese origin or manufacture would be liable to seizure immediately they left the Japanese importers' hands. The mere collection of import duty is official recognition of the right of the Japanese to dispose, as and where they will, of the cargoes on which it has been paid. And the use of the word \"protection\" becomes meaningless if the value of Japanese property is destroyed by the inability of the importers to deliver their goods to bona fide and law-abiding purchasers. The Min Yen Pao incident, then, is a gross violation of a solemn international obligation, and raises in an acute form, the question whether the National Government is able or willing to fulfil the responsibilities it assumes as a result of negotiations with Foreign States.\n\n## \n\nFrom the administrative point of view, the failure of the National Government is equally glaring. Shortly after the signature of the Tsinan agreement, orders were issued by the Central Kuomintang Headquarters to the effect that all anti-Japanese movements throughout the Country were immediately to be terminated, and all existing anti-Japanese organizations were thenceforward to devote their attention to the development of national industry, instead of enforcing an anti-Japanese boycott. The Peking and Tientsin boycott organizations, we believe, in common with those in Mid-China, changed their name to that of \"Committee for Accelerating the Abolition of the Unequal Treaties.\" But they absolutely refused to relax their anti-Japanese activities, which were, in fact, intensified to an extent which has brought about collisions between the members of the Boycott Committee, and the merchants' organizations, in various parts of this province. The merchants not unnaturally resented continued interference with their trade after the Government's order that the boycott should cease.\n\nAnd they have protested, repeatedly, but ineffectively, against the confiscation or taxation of their cargo by organizations which were never strictly legal, and have now been formally banned by the National Government. Yet in Peking, while General Chiang Kai-shek has actually been in residence there, the local boycott Committee has not only openly defied the authorities, but won the day. It rejected the request of the proprietor, the military and the police authorities, and the mayor, for the release of a consignment of Japanese paper which had been illegally seized at the Chienmen Station; and after the Joint Military and Police Office sent troops to remove the cargo and deliver it to its lawful owner, the local Committee had the audacity to raid the Min Yen Pao offices, armed with clubs and iron bars, and remove most of the cargo to its headquarters. Two of the ringleaders in this act of robbery with violence were arrested by the Police. They have since been released with profuse apologies, and are now being treated as heroes by the local Kuomintang. It is evident, therefore, that the orders of the Government are of no effect in Peking, and that they can be treated with complete contempt by any gang of hooligans that poses as a \"patriotic organization.\"\n\nBut it is perhaps from the judicial point of view that the incident is most serious. Attempts are being made by the Nanking Government to bring about the immediate and unconditional abolition of extraterritoriality. Dr. Wang Chung-hui, the Minister of Justice, is at present abroad conducting a propaganda campaign with this object in view. He has already been giving interviewers glowing pictures of the modernization of China's judicial codes, Courts, and prisons, and attacking extraterritoriality as an obsolete system \"not in keeping with the dignity of New China.\" Is it in keeping with that \"dignity\" that criminals arrested in the very act of committing a felony—to wit, robbery with violence—should never even be brought to trial, but, on the threat of hostile demonstrations by their accomplices, should be released with profound apologies by the Director of the Military and Police Department, and humbly persuaded to accept their freedom? The incident is such a travesty of justice that the facts would be read with incredulity in any law-abiding country in Europe or America. Imagine, if it is possible, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Lord Byng, pleading with a couple of armed burglars to leave Vine Street Police Station, after they had been arrested in flagranti delicto, breaking into the office of the Morning Post, and carrying off bales of newsprint for which it had paid. Imagine a demonstration of the \"London Burglars' Union\" outside No. 10 Downing Street while the Prime Minister was in residence, to demand the release of their colleagues and the surrender by the Morning Post of a quantity of paper to which they had no legal or moral claim. Imagine the Headquarters of the British Labour Party in London welcoming as heroes a couple of hooligans who had been caught breaking into private premises and removing private property, and could offer no justification except that they had done the same thing, without being punished, before. The administration of justice becomes farcical when lawbreakers become heroes, and the officials responsible for the maintenance of law and order, and the administration of justice, apologize even for arresting them. No international undertakings that the Chinese Government may offer, no administrative order that it may issue, and no Courts it may establish, can be of the slightest use when such things can happen. Treaties, laws, and judicial regulations simply become worthless scraps of paper. And what remains?\n\n\"Perpetual emptiness! Unceasing change!\nNo single volume paramount, no code,\nNo master spirit, no determined road;\nBut equally a want of books and men!\"\n\n## PEKING OFFICIAL'S STATEMENT\n\n[Reprinted from the North China Standard of July 6, 1929.]\n\nMr. Li Yu, director of the Joint Military and Police Office, for whose dismissal and punishment the anti-Japanese Boycott Association has been agitating, has issued a statement setting forth his side of the controversy with the Association arising from the seizure of 57 bundles of Japanese paper by the professional agitators. After characterizing the Association as an illegal organization and giving a summary of the circumstances leading up to the arrest of two pickets of the association on the morning of July 2nd, Mr. Li goes on to say:\n\nIt should be noted that the paper was bought in Tientsin by the Garrison Headquarters here and intended for the use of the Publicity Department of the Garrison. When it was shipped from Tientsin, the authorities there had examined it and issued a Huchao for its safe transportation. But when the shipment arrived at Chienmen station, it was seized by the anti-Japanese Association as \"enemy goods.\"\n\nActing on orders from our superiors, we repeatedly negotiated with the Association for its release, but its officers simply ignored us.\n\nIt should be further noted that this paper was bought after the Nanking National Government had formally ordered the dissolution of all anti-Japanese Associations in the country. The argument that we have violated the anti-Japanese movement therefore does not apply. What is more, the shipment was intended for the use of the Propaganda Department and not destined to any newspaper. The Min Yen Pao has a job printing department and has a contract from the Garrison Headquarters to print all its propaganda literature and posters.\n\nIt has become a long practice for the Garrison to store its paper supply with the paper. What justification does the Association have for its repeated attacks and raids on the offices of the Min Yen Pao?\n\nIt is a matter of record that the local authorities have received repeated orders from Nanking to close the Boycott Association and suppress the anti-Japanese movement. All the anti-Japanese slogans and posters which once filled the walls of the city have been removed by the authorities. Yet the Association continues to function in defiance of the orders of the Government and is carrying on the blackmailing and extortion game without fear. We are in duty bound to suppress its activities.\n\nIt is for intelligent public opinion to say whether the Association has the right to confiscate a shipment of paper bought after the official cancellation of the anti-Japanese boycott. We hereby set forth all the circumstances of the case and appeal for the impartial consideration of all the wise and virtuous men in the country.\n\n[Note: The Boycott Committee has since been permitted to \"seal up\" half the cargo of paper in the offices of the Min Yen Pao, and has decided to \"fine\" the paper $10,000 (£1,000) in addition to confiscating the consignment.]\n\nPage 12\nPage 19\n\n181, Victoria Road, \nTientsin. \nFor the Tientsin British Committee of Information. \nH. G. W. WOODHEAD, \n(Acting Chairman). \n\nPage 10\nPage 11", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-513-2 Problem of extra-territorial privileges in China and the abolition of extra-territoriality 15-8-1929 - 15-11-1929.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 517891, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-514-3 Mui Tsai system- correspondence 27-8-1929 - 21-11-1929", "page_number": 74, "title": "CO129-514-3 Mui Tsai system- correspondence 27-8-1929 - 21-11-1929", "content_text": "# \n22 \n\n(2) Mui-tsai are slaves, because they are deprived of their rights and liberty, are not paid for their labour, and can be re-sold at any time.\n\n(3) There have been innumerable cases of ill-treatment and neglect of mui-tsai. There have also been some cases of employers seducing their mui-tsai, or selling them for immoral purposes. In all such cases it is very difficult for these girls, owing to their ignorance, to defy their employers.\n\n(4) Child-drowning bears no relationship to the mui-tsai system, inasmuch as in child-drowning the victim is invariably one or two days old, while girls sold as mui-tsai have generally attained the age of five or six years, an age at which they can be useful to their purchasers.\n\n(5) The argument that the abolition of the system would lead to the starvation of a large number of poor children can be met by the argument that when employers lose the services of their mui-tsai, they would have to employ paid servant-girls to take their place; and so the daughters of the poor, instead of being sold as chattels, would become paid servants.\n\n(6) Mui-tsai keeping is not charity but, on the contrary, tends to encourage selfish and mercenary men to part with their children in order to enable themselves to be more self-indulgent.\n\n(7) To pass a law with the object of merely preventing cruelty would mean the preservation of the poison in the system by neglecting the source of the disease.\n\n(8) Registration should not cause undue inconvenience and trouble. At present, schools, companies, births and deaths, and medical practitioners have to be registered, and no inconvenience has been experienced by the parties concerned.\n\n(9) The system was abolished by law in China towards the end of the Manchu regime, and again at the beginning of the Republic; and if such could be done in so vast a country as China, there is no reason why it should not be done in this small Colony.\n\n(10) Even if there were some flaws in the draft Bill, the proper way would be to point them out in order to have them remedied, instead of asking that the whole Bill be withdrawn.\n\nThe arguments of the other side for the withdrawal of the Bill are, roughly, as follows:-\n\n(1) Mui-tsai are not slaves, and have never been so regarded in China either by law or by custom. When a mui-tsai is married, she is allowed to look upon the home of her former employer as her own home and is treated as a member of the family.\n\n(2) The lot of the majority of the mui-tsai in Hong Kong is far better than that of the children of poor families in the interior of China, the former being much better fed and clothed. Their parents, if they so wish, are allowed to see them at regular intervals.\n\n(3) Mui-tsai are not always sold; some poor people, having too many children and being unable to support them all, may present some to well-to-do families in order to enable them to be properly brought up and married off.\n\n(4) It can truthfully be said that about ninety or even ninety-five per cent. of the mui-tsai in Hong Kong are well-treated. Those employers who overwork or otherwise ill-treat their mui-tsai would not be deterred by registration, and the only remedy would seem to be imprisonment without the option of a fine in case of gross cruelty. If there are cases of ill-treatment of mui-tsai, there are also cases of ill-treatment of one's own children; a cruel-hearted person in a rage loses the sense of discrimination. Ill-treatment of children is not the fault of a system, but of individuals. The illustration that to take measure merely for preventing cruelty to mui-tsai, without abolishing the system, resembles leaving the poison in the system, is not as convincing as the one that to get rid of a boil on the head, one does not cut off the head.\n\n(5) Before the Bill, with its present irksome provisions, becomes law, some people may send their mui-tsai to the interior to be sold, or given away, or kept with friends. With the already over-populated state of the country, the condition of the mui-tsai would become worse, as a direct outcome of the legislation.\n\n(6) If mui-tsai of or over the age of eighteen are suddenly released from control, when control is more than ever desirable, they may misuse their freedom in all sorts of ways; and so to free them would in reality mean the removal of necessary and salutary control.\n\n(7) The abolition of mui-tsai would not do away with kidnapping of children, but, on the contrary, would increase the sale of girls to evil-disposed persons as \"daughters\". These girls are brought up as \"daughters\" without being required to do domestic work; some with such tender care that their hands are not exposed to hard labour in order not to coarsen them! The object is obvious.\n\n(8) If the Bill is passed, the Government will be faced with the stupendous task of finding accommodation or employment for the large number of mui-tsai who may seek emancipation, or whose employers may voluntarily surrender them to the Government. If the Government does not take charge of all these girls, they must perforce make their employers continue to keep them. Thus, whatever may be the change in the name of the mui-tsai, they can have no change in their position, and it may further be said that they are kept in such a position with the approval or even the authority of the Government.\n\n(9) To enforce the provisions of the Bill, particularly that part relating to inspection and registration, means the employment of a large army of inspectors and detectives for domiciliary visits, and for inspection work upon the arrival and departure of all the trains and steamers which bring in and take out thousands of people every day. This would be costly to the Government, and vexatious to the people.\n\nThese, Sir, are the views of those who ask for the withdrawal of the Bill. There is, besides, another section of the Chinese Community who, while advocating the ultimate abolition of the mui-tsai system, consider that the time is not yet, and in any case strongly deprecate registration. Now, I have given, to the best of my ability, the arguments put forward by the various parties, for and against the measure. The English Secretary of the Anti-Mui-tsai Society has also sent me a letter giving a gist of the views of his Executive Committee on the Bill, which I have handed to the Honourable the learned Attorney-General for his consideration. I am, however, asked to say here that what they recommend constitutes the irreducible minimum. In effect, they support the Bill, with certain proposed amendments which, they consider, should strengthen it. My Chinese colleague and I have also received from the Chinese Labour Unions, the Chinese Y.M.C.A. and Y.W.C.A., the Chinese Christian Union, and the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce written representations which we have likewise turned over to the Government.\n\nHaving divested myself of the task imposed upon me by the two sides, of restating their opinions here, I will endeavour to express the views of my Chinese colleague and myself. We feel that where there is a divergence of opinion it is not enough for a member of this Honourable Council merely to express the views, however impartially, of the people whom he represents. He should also weigh the value of the conflicting arguments, endeavour to unravel the web of confusion woven by the disputation, and form his own judgment. In expressing our own conclusion, our honest convictions, it would be necessary for me to go over some of the grounds already traversed, but I know I can count upon a patient hearing. The crux of the matter seems to us to be whether a mui-tsai is a slave or not. If she is, we should not tolerate the system for even one day longer in this Colony; but this point is disposed of by clause 2 of the Bill. Still, in spite of such a definite pronouncement from the Government, we cannot get away from the fact that cases of cruelty have from time to time come to light. We therefore consider that the mui-tsai need special protection by the Government. While I abhor cruelty to children...\n\n23 \n\n*2", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-514-3 Mui Tsai system- correspondence 27-8-1929 - 21-11-1929.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 520054, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 27, "title": "CO129-518-9 The Mui-Tsai question- printed papers relating to the system 20-9-1929 - 1-11-1929", "content_text": "30 \n\nI would like to repeat here their respective arguments and to express our own views on this important subject which so intimately concerns the Chinese. I would, therefore, crave the indulgence of this Honourable Council for so doing.\n\nSince the Bill was read for the first time, meetings have been held by various sections of the Chinese community to discuss it--by the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, by the Kaifong at the Tung Wah Hospital, by thirteen Chinese Commercial Unions, the Anti-mui-tsai Society, the Y.M.C.A. and Y.W.C.A., and by the Chinese Labour Guilds. Views on the measure have also been enunciated in both the English and Chinese Press. As representatives of the Chinese Community, the Honourable Mr. Ng and I welcomed such views which have helped us to no small extent in arriving at our own conclusions. The views expressed have resolved themselves into two broad divisions--one in support of the Bill almost in its entirety with certain amendments designed to strengthen it; the other in opposition to it as it now stands, though recognising that the mui-tsai system has its evils.\n\nBriefly, the supporters of the Bill argue that:\n\n(1) The sale and purchase of human beings is a degrading and inhuman custom. It is tantamount to treating human beings as chattels and beasts, and it encourages kidnapping, licentiousness, and other serious abuses.\n\n(2) Mui-tsai are slaves because they are deprived of their rights and liberty, are not paid for their labour, and can be re-sold at any time.\n\n(3) There have been innumerable cases of ill-treatment and neglect of mui-tsai. There have also been some cases of employers seducing their mui-tsai or selling them for immoral purposes. In all such cases, it is very difficult for these girls, owing to their ignorance, to defy their employers.\n\n(4) Child-drowning bears no relationship to the mui-tsai system, inasmuch as in child drowning, the victim is invariably one or two days old, while girls sold as mui-tsai have generally attained the age of five or six years, an age at which they can be useful to their purchasers.\n\n(5) The argument that the abolition of the system would lead to the starvation of a large number of poor children can be met by the argument that when employers lose the services of their mui-tsai, they would have to employ paid servant-girls to take their place; and so the daughters of the poor, instead of being sold as chattels, would become paid servants.\n\n(6) Mui-tsai keeping is not charity but, on the contrary, tends to encourage selfish and mercenary men to part with their children in order to enable themselves to be more self-indulgent.\n\n(7) To pass a law with the object of merely preventing cruelty would mean the preservation of the poison in the system by neglecting the source of the disease.\n\n(8) Registration should not cause undue inconvenience and trouble. At present, schools, companies, births and deaths, and medical practitioners have to be registered, and no inconvenience has been experienced by the parties concerned.\n\n(9) The system was abolished by law in China towards the end of the Manchu regime and again at the beginning of the Republic; and if such could be done in so vast a country as China, there is no reason why it should not be done in this small Colony.\n\n(10) Even if there were some flaws in the draft Bill, the proper way would be to point them out in order to have them remedied, instead of asking that the whole Bill be withdrawn.\n\nThe arguments of the other side for the withdrawal of the Bill are, roughly, as follows:\n\n(1) Mui-tsai are not slaves and have never been so regarded in China either by law or by custom. When a mui-tsai is married, she is allowed to look upon the home of her former employer as her own home and is treated as a member of the family.\n\n31 \n\n(2) The lot of the majority of the mui-tsai in Hong Kong is far better than that of the children of poor families in the interior of China, the former being much better fed and clothed. Their parents, if they so wish, are allowed to see them at regular intervals.\n\n(3) Mui-tsai are not always sold; some poor people, having too many children and being unable to support them all, may present some to well-to-do families in order to enable them to be properly brought up and married off.\n\n(4) It can truthfully be said that about ninety or even ninety-five per cent. of the mui-tsai in Hong Kong are well treated. Those employers who overwork or otherwise ill-treat their mui-tsai would not be deterred by registration, and the only remedy would seem to be imprisonment without the option of a fine in case of gross cruelty. If there are cases of ill-treatment of mui-tsai, there are also cases of ill-treatment of one's own children; a cruel-hearted person in a rage loses the sense of discrimination. Ill-treatment of children is not the fault of a system but of individuals. The illustration that to take measures merely for preventing cruelty to mui-tsai, without abolishing the system, resembles leaving the poison in the system, is not as convincing as the one that to get rid of a boil on the head, one does not cut off the head.\n\n(5) Before the Bill, with its present irksome conditions, becomes law, some people may send their mui-tsai to the interior to be sold, or given away, or kept with friends. With the already over-populated state of the country, the condition of the mui-tsai would become worse, as a direct outcome of the legislation.\n\n(6) If mui-tsai of or over the age of eighteen are suddenly released from control, when control is more than ever desirable, they may misuse their freedom in all sorts of ways; and so to free them would, in reality, mean the removal of necessary and salutary control.\n\n44 \n\n(7) The abolition of mui-tsai would not do away with kidnapping of children but, on the contrary, would increase the sale of girls to evil-disposed persons as \"daughters.\" These girls are brought up as \"daughters\" without being required to do domestic work; some with such tender care that their hands are not exposed to hard labour in order not to coarsen them. The object is obvious.\n\n(8) If the Bill is passed, the Government will be faced with the stupendous task of finding accommodation or employment for the large number of mui-tsai who may seek emancipation, or whose employers may voluntarily surrender them to the Government. If the Government does not take charge of all these girls, they must perforce make their employers continue to keep them. Thus, whatever may be the change in the name of the mui-tsai, they can have no change in their position, and it may further be said that they are kept in such a position with the approval or even the authority of the Government.\n\n(9) To enforce the provisions of the Bill, particularly that part relating to inspection and registration, means the employment of a large army of inspectors and detectives for domiciliary visits, and for inspection work upon the arrival and departure of all the trains and steamers which bring in and take out thousands of people every day. This would be costly to the Government and vexatious to the people.\n\nThese, Sir, are the views of those who ask for the withdrawal of the Bill. There is, besides, another section of the Chinese Community who, while advocating the ultimate abolition of the mui-tsai system, consider that the time is not yet, and in any case strongly deprecate registration. Now, I have given, to the best of my ability, the arguments put forward by the various parties, for and against the measure. The English Secretary of the Anti-mui-tsai Society has also sent me a letter giving a gist of the views of his Executive Committee on the Bill, which I have handed to the Honourable the learned Attorney-General for his consideration. I am, however, asked to say here that what they recommend constitutes the irreducible minimum. In effect, they support the Bill, with certain proposed amendments which they consider should strengthen it. My Chinese colleague and I have also received from...", "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": 520121, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 92, "title": "CO129-518-9 The Mui-Tsai question- printed papers relating to the system 20-9-1929 - 1-11-1929", "content_text": "# \n\n5563-22 \n\nIn asking Your Excellency to put clauses 4 and 5 into Part III of the Bill, we would urge that, in view of the time and trouble spent by the Unofficial Members upon the consideration of this Bill, they are at least entitled to have their views on those clauses and on the registration clauses laid before the Secretary of State for the Colonies, before the solid weight of the Official Vote is brought to bear in opposition to the unanimous views of the Unofficial Members. We do not ask for any further or longer delay than is necessary for the above purpose, and in the meantime (in fact, this very day) the other provisions of this Bill which contain all its vital principles will be placed on the statute book of this Colony. There are two vital principles in this Bill and the Unofficial Members of Council accept both of them. The first is the abolition of the mui-tsai system, and this is effected by clause 2 of the Bill, which gives the death blow to the mui-tsai system as hitherto recognised and practised by Chinese custom.\n\nThe second principle is the provision for good treatment of mui-tsai. This is dealt with by clause 6 of the Bill. All of the amendments which the Unofficial Members will move in Committee on this Bill are framed for the purpose of furthering and strengthening the above two vital principles of the Bill and for the protection of mui-tsai.\n\n## HON. MR. CHOW SHOU SON\nSir, The Honourable Senior Unofficial Member having expressed the joint views of all the Unofficials, I would, ordinarily, have contented myself with merely endorsing his remarks; but in this case my Chinese colleague and I have promised both the supporters and opponents of the Bill to repeat here their respective arguments, and to express our own views on this important subject which so intimately concerns the Chinese. I would, therefore, crave the indulgence of this Honourable Council for so doing.\n\nSince the Bill was read for the first time, meetings have been held by various sections of the Chinese community to discuss it by the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, by the Kaifong at the Tung Wah Hospital, by thirteen Chinese Commercial Unions, the Anti-mui-tsai Society, the Y.M.C.A. and Y.W.C.A., and by the Chinese Labour Guilds. Views on the measure have also been enunciated in both the English and Chinese Press. As representatives of the Chinese Community, the Honourable Mr. Ng and I welcomed such views which have helped us to no small extent in arriving at our own conclusions. The views expressed have resolved themselves into two broad divisions--one in support of the Bill almost in its entirety with certain amendments designed to strengthen it; the other in opposition to it as it now stands, though recognising that the mui-tsai system has its evils.\n\nBriefly the supporters of the Bill argue that :-\n\n| Argument # | Argument |\n| --- | --- |\n| (1) | The sale and purchase of human beings is a degrading and inhuman custom. It is tantamount to treating human beings as chattels and beasts, and it encourages kidnapping, licentiousness and other serious abuses. |\n| (2) | Mui-tsai are slaves, because they are deprived of their rights and liberty, are not paid for their labour, and can be re-sold at any time. |\n| (3) | There have been innumerable cases of ill-treatment and neglect of mui-tsai. There have also been some cases of employers seducing their mui-tsai, or selling them for immoral purposes. In all such cases it is very difficult for these girls, owing to their ignorance, to defy their employers. |\n| (4) | Child-drowning bears no relationship to the mui-tsai system inasmuch as in child drowning the victim is invariably one or two days old, while girls sold as mui-tsai have generally attained the age of five or six years, an age at which they can be useful to their purchasers. |\n| (5) | The argument that the abolition of the system would lead to the starvation of a large number of poor children can be met by the argument that when employers lose the services of their mui-tsai they would have to employ paid servant-girls to take their place; and so the daughters of the poor, instead of being sold as chattels, would become paid servants. |\n| (6) | Mui-tsai keeping is not charity but, on the contrary, tends to encourage selfish and mercenary men to part with their children in order to enable themselves to be more self-indulgent. |\n| (7) | To pass a law with the object of merely preventing cruelty would mean the preservation of the poison in the system by neglecting the source of the disease. |\n| (8) | Registration should not cause undue inconvenience and trouble. At present, schools, companies, births and deaths, and medical practitioners have to be registered, and no inconvenience has been experienced by the parties concerned. |\n| (9) | The system was abolished by law in China towards the end of the Manchu regime, and again at the beginning of the Republic; and if such could be done in so vast a country as China, there is no reason why it should not be done in this small Colony. |\n| (10) | Even if there were some flaws in the draft Bill, the proper way would be to point them out in order to have them remedied, instead of asking that the whole Bill be withdrawn. |\n\nThe arguments of the other side for the withdrawal of the Bill are, roughly, as follows:-\n\n| Argument # | Argument |\n| --- | --- |\n| (1) | Mui-tsai are not slaves, and have never been so regarded in China either by law or by custom. When a mui-tsai is married, she is allowed to look upon the home of her former employer as her own home and is treated as a member of the family. |\n| (2) | The lot of the majority of the mui-tsai in Hong Kong is far better than that of the children of poor families in the interior of China, the former being much better fed and clothed. Their parents, if they so wish, are allowed to see them at regular intervals. |", "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": 527229, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 142, "title": "CO129-529-5 China- extraterritoriality 23-11-1931 - 31-12-1931", "content_text": "## American Action on Chinese Counter-proposals\n\n3. The Chinese counter-proposals and my comments and request for instructions thereon had reached the Foreign Office early in January 1931, and the next few weeks were occupied by their study in London and by consultation with the American Government. The latter had, in the meantime, been pursuing the same zigzag course which they had followed from the outset of their negotiations with the Chinese Government on this question. It will be recalled that the State Department had just a year before submitted proposals to the Chinese Minister at Washington omitting any mention of two of the major safeguards, namely, the reservation of criminal jurisdiction and the employment of foreign co-judges, on which we had up to that time proposed to insist, and that soon after, when His Majesty's Government, seeing their hand forced in this way, had suggested the desirability of seeking a bargain by offering to concede criminal jurisdiction, the State Department, professing a grievance at what they termed our surrender, had retraced their steps and announced their decision to stand out on these as on the other major points; all of which had accordingly been embodied in the British and American proposals presented to the Chinese Government in the autumn of 1930. The American Government now, as the result of their study of the Chinese counter-proposals submitted in December, formulated and communicated to His Majesty's Government in January a new draft, the principal features of which were the dropping of evocation and foreign co-judges. Following, it seems, on representations made from London, the State Department subsequently withdrew this draft; and on the 7th February they submitted instead to the Chinese Minister in Washington a statement intended to indicate the nature of the concessions they were willing to make. In this document no mention was made of the question of foreign co-judges, but evocation was definitely abandoned. To this statement the Chinese Government replied on the 20th February expressing their appreciation of the concessions offered, with special reference to the abandonment of evocation, but they repeated their inability to accept any of the three remaining major safeguards, namely, co-judges, reservation of criminal jurisdiction, and excluded areas, and requested a definite statement from the American Government as to their attitude towards these major issues before seeking to continue the negotiations on other points. The State Department thereupon took no further action for the moment and intimated to us that they would await further developments and see what came of my impending negotiations at Nanking. This was satisfactory enough, but unfortunately the only result of these American negotiations had been to abandon evocation, in itself at least a useful pawn in the negotiations, without getting, or even seeking to bargain for, anything in return. It was, in fact, obvious that no other results than alternate deadlock and surrender could ensue from these attempts to negotiate with the Chinese Minister in Washington by means of formal written proposal and counter-proposal, instead of bargaining in the usual Chinese way with the National Government itself at Nanking.\n\n## Arrival at Nanking early in March\n\n4. For the first few days of my stay in Nanking, from the 1st March to the 7th March, I was awaiting your instructions, which, I was already aware, were to be expected at the beginning of the month. Apart from the transaction of other business with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, I took the opportunity to make some preliminary soundings of the members of the Chinese Government, to whom I intimated that, anxious as we were to reach a settlement if we could, it was as a matter of fact the Chinese who were seeking something from us and who would be the greater losers if we failed to reach an agreement. I also had the opportunity of full and frank discussion with my American colleague, who had purposely proceeded to Nanking to meet me and who had been instructed by his Government to afford me all possible moral support in the negotiations. Mr. Johnson also explained to me that, while the State Department still insisted on keeping the American negotiations in their hands at Washington, there was at least a possibility, if not, indeed, a probability, of their being permitted to 'slide over into his hands at Nanking.\n\n## Receipt of Instructions on March 7\n\n5. On the 7th March I received your instructions, which were, in brief, to the effect that we should progressively abandon evocation, the reservation of criminal jurisdiction (subject to the American Government agreeing to adopt the same course) and foreign co-judges, in return for the retention of the other safeguards which were regarded by His Majesty's Government as really vital, namely, the exclusion of certain treaty port areas, with special reference in the last resort to the International Settlement at Shanghai, adequate arrangements in regard to the functions of the legal advisers, and satisfactory guarantees and assurances in regard to taxation, arrest, detention, bail, personal status matters, arbitration, titles to real property, expropriation, domiciliary visits, immunity of shipping, rights of business organisations, discrimination, and other minor points. It was further suggested that, pending consideration of the question of criminal jurisdiction by the United States Government, I might open the negotiations by stating that His Majesty's Government were prepared to make concessions in order to arrive at an agreed settlement, but that in order to carry public opinion in Great Britain with them it was essential that the Chinese Government should be prepared to give complete satisfaction in regard to certain vital safeguards concerning, inter alia, the functions of the legal advisers, methods of levying, assessing and enforcing taxation, and so on.\n\n## Opening of Negotiations on March 8\n\n6. I formally opened the negotiations with the Minister for Foreign Affairs on Sunday, the 8th March, being as usual accompanied by Mr. Teichman, Chinese counsellor to His Majesty's Legation, while Dr. Wang was assisted by Mr. Hsü Mo, head of the European and American Department of the Waichiaopu. Instead of acting at once on the above suggestion, which seemed to me to involve the introduction of the question of major concessions rather too abruptly and at too early a stage, I thought it better to skirmish at first on the ground of the four main principles, from which we had not as yet in theory in any way retreated. I was the more inclined to take this line because, when sounding informally the Minister for Foreign Affairs before the receipt of my instructions, I had offered him the alternative of discussing main principles at the outset or of seeking to find common ground on less contentious points of minor detail first, and he had expressed a very decided preference for, if, indeed, he was not going to insist on, the former method of approach.\n\n## Discussion of Four Major Points\n\n7. I, therefore, opened the discussion by formally examining the four main principles, namely, evocation, foreign co-judges, criminal jurisdiction and excluded areas. I purposely refrained from making concessions on any of these (though aware that the value of the first—evocation—as a bargaining pawn had been impaired, if not destroyed, by the action of the American Government in formally abandoning it). Dr. Wang, on his side, also confined himself to explaining why the Chinese Government could not possibly meet us on any of these major points. The only one on which there was the least give and take in this first discussion was that of the foreign co-judges, in regard to which, while insisting that adequate arrangements in this respect were a cardinal point in our attitude, I suggested that he should explore the possibilities of meeting us by strengthening the position of the legal counsellors in other ways. Having reached this point of apparent deadlock, I referred once more to the alternative method of approach and I mentioned the many so-called minor safeguards to which His Majesty's Government attached the greatest importance; and I thus gradually developed the argument that, if we secured complete satisfaction in regard to these legal safeguards, it might well influence our attitude towards the whole settlement, including the question of criminal jurisdiction.\n\n## Minister for Foreign Affairs agrees to Discussion of Legal Safeguards by Experts\n\n8. It was not easy to manoeuvre Dr. Wang on to this new ground, since the Chinese plan of campaign was obviously to force the issue over the four main principles, when, having driven us from our position on these major points, they [5822] B 2 \n\n## 195", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-529-5 China- extraterritoriality 23-11-1931 - 31-12-1931.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 527236, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 149, "title": "CO129-529-5 China- extraterritoriality 23-11-1931 - 31-12-1931", "content_text": "## 206\n\n\n14 \n\nin reasonably close touch with the American negotiators, thanks to the loyal co-operation of my American colleague (of whose attitude throughout I cannot speak too highly), to whom I communicated the texts of the various articles as and when agreed upon between myself and the Minister for Foreign Affairs, and with whom I discussed freely and frankly all points as they arose in the course of the negotiations. I also, at this stage, communicated, in the strictest confidence, the texts of the articles so far agreed upon to the Japanese and French representatives at Nanking.\n\n**Reserved Areas: His Majesty's Government's Instructions of April 27 and 29.**\n\n38. We were now closing in on the final and crucial point in the negotiations, the question of the reserved areas. On the 29th April, I received your telegraphic instructions (despatched on the 27th April) dealing generally with this point, and on the following day, your further telegram arrived dealing more specifically with the offer of the Minister for Foreign Affairs to concede the reservation of the International Settlement at Shanghai for a period of three years and nothing more. This offer was, you stated, unacceptable and could not even be made the basis of discussion. Your telegrams contained a full statement of the reasons why His Majesty's Government could not possibly give way on the question of the four reserved areas, and certain suggestions were put forward that we should now pause to give Japan and France the opportunity of reaching the point we were at, or, alternatively, that the Chinese should accept the reservation of the four areas and sign the treaty with us, and that provision should be made for a Joint Sino-British Commission to be set up after the entry of the treaty into force to study the question of the reserved areas and their settlements and concessions, on the understanding that negotiations on the basis of the recommendations of this commission would be entered into within a period of, say, three or five years.\n\n**Reserved Areas: Interview with Minister for Foreign Affairs on May 1.**\n\n39. On the 1st May, I had an interview with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and read to him the bulk of the above telegrams. Dr. Wang, who was evidently impressed by, as well as greatly disappointed at, the very firm tone of these messages, which, I was at pains to explain, represented the **ipsississima verba** of His Majesty's Government, repeated in the course of our subsequent conversation in the most categoric terms that it was absolutely impossible for his Government to meet us over the four reserved areas or the 50-li zone round Shanghai. I urged repeatedly and as strongly as I could that he should give consideration to your very weighty suggestion regarding the establishment of a joint commission to study the question of the reserved areas, but without result, and the discussion again ended without any apparent progress being made.\n\n**Reserved Areas: Doubts as to His Majesty's Government's Instructions.**\n\n40. I was at this point somewhat puzzled as to the real attitude and intentions of His Majesty's Government towards the question of the reserved areas. My original instructions, received at the beginning of March, had indicated that our \"last ditch\" was to be Shanghai, if necessary, even only the International Settlement. In subsequent secret telegraphic correspondence, I had myself expressed the view that, while we could, if necessary, give up the reservation of Hankow and Canton, and throw in the British Concession in Shameen, we should insist on the reservation of Tientsin as well as of all Shanghai (not merely the International Settlement). The full telegraphic instructions which I had now received, however, appeared to indicate that His Majesty's Government intended to hold out uncompromisingly for the reservation of all four areas. Yet, on top of these instructions, I received another telegram from home dealing separately with the question of the progressive abandonment of Hankow and Canton, with special reference to the necessity of consultation with the French as regards the rendition of Shameen. In reporting, therefore, the deadlock now reached, I pointed out that we had so far maintained our original demands intact for the full reservation of all four areas, and I enquired specifically whether I was authorised to bargain, as I had hitherto understood to be our intention, on the basis of dropping Hankow and Canton, and, if necessary, throwing in also the Shameen Concession, in order to secure satisfactory arrangements at Shanghai and Tientsin.\n\n## 15\n\n**Chinese Political Crisis: Canton declares against Chiang Kai-shek.**\n\n41. In the meantime, there had been sudden and unexpected developments in the general political situation in China. On the very eve of the assembling of the People's Convention on the 5th May, the generals and political leaders at Canton issued a declaration openly repudiating General Chiang Kai-shek, whom they accused of arrogating to himself the powers of a personal dictatorship. These developments had a definite bearing on the extra-territoriality negotiations. On the one hand, the National Government, Chiang Kai-shek, and the Waichiaopu, in their anxiety to justify their conduct of China's foreign relations, and, above all, of the campaign for the abolition of the unequal treaties, before the People's Convention on the 5th May, had again and again announced publicly that extra-territoriality was to come to an end, whatever the result of the negotiations, by that date; with the result that, as was to have been expected, the climax of the negotiations, namely, the deadlock over the reserved areas, appeared likely to synchronise with the opening of the convention. On the other hand, the National Government was, it seemed, at the same moment being shaken to its foundations by this internal split in the structure of the party, which threatened to result in the secession from the fold of Kwangtung, the traditional home of the Tang and the Revolution. Two leading members of the Government, Mr. Sun Fo and Dr. Wang Ch'ung-hui, who were both Cantonese, left Nanking at this time and retired to Shanghai, the former, as it subsequently transpired, en route to join the recalcitrant Southern chiefs in Canton, and the latter en route to Europe to resume his post as one of the judges of The Hague Court, on account, it seemed, of the unhealthy atmosphere in the capital for Cantonese political leaders. Thus, by the irony of circumstances, the two principal legal champions in the extra-territoriality issue on the Chinese side, Hu Han-min and Wang Ch'ung-hui, the heads of the Legislative and Judicial Yuan respectively, had disappeared from the scene at the very moment when the negotiations were reaching the most critical stage. This did not necessarily mean any diminution in the drive for the abolition of foreign extra-territorial rights, but it did mean the transfer of its direction to other and possibly less skilled and experienced hands.\n\n**Negotiations continued May 4 Minister for Foreign Affairs' further offer of Greater Shanghai for three years.**\n\n42. It was quite impossible to tell how serious the Canton movement might turn out to be, but in this somewhat delicate situation, I felt sure that the best course to follow was, as usual, to carry on, pending developments, as though nothing had happened; and, incidentally, it seemed that the political crisis might, from our point of view, not be altogether inopportune, since it might well serve to distract attention from our negotiations, which, I had throughout maintained in my discussions with the Chinese, were being conducted on our side without reference to the exigencies of Chinese domestic policy. At the conclusion of my interview with the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the 1st May, I had specially stated that, so far as I was concerned, I did not, in spite of our failure to make any progress towards reaching common ground on the question of the reserved areas, regard the door as in any way closed to further negotiation. To this Dr. Wang did not demur, and, in fact, the discussions between Mr. Teichman and Mr. Hsü-mo on the complicated question of personal status cases and other outstanding points were continued on the 4th May without reference to the political crisis and the opening of the People's Convention on the 5th May. On the same day, I had occasion to meet Dr. Wang privately for a discussion of other matters, after the disposal of which the question of the extra-territoriality negotiations was naturally touched upon. In the friendly and intimate atmosphere of private conversation, I was able to draw from him an advance on his previous offer of the reservation of the Shanghai Settlement alone to the extent of a tentative suggestion that the reserved area might be increased to cover \"Greater Shanghai,\" provided we could hold out hopes of a settlement of the \"outside roads\" controversy, so as to avoid creating the impression that we were seeking...\n\n## 207", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-529-5 China- extraterritoriality 23-11-1931 - 31-12-1931.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 528370, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-531-13 Proposed reorganization of the medical and sanitary services 18-11-1930 - 7-7-1933", "page_number": 22, "title": "CO129-531-13 Proposed reorganization of the medical and sanitary services 18-11-1930 - 7-7-1933", "content_text": "## \nHong Kong as a Colony is more or less unique in that almost all that matters is contained in the City and Port of Greater Hong Kong, which includes the port and town of Kowloon. Greater Hong Kong corresponds closely to those fine imperial cities of old Germany, which were run so successfully on bureaucratic lines.\n\nThe Governor, as head of the Colony, is head of the City and the Port.\n\nIf the Singapore Municipality were given control of Port matters, of Police, of Education, and of Medical Relief, its governmental machinery would closely correspond to that of Hong Kong, and the Colonial Heads of Departments (Director of Public Works, Director of Medical and Sanitary Services, Colonial Treasurer, Director of Education, Captain Superintendent of Police, Harbour Master) would correspond to Municipal Heads of Departments.\n\nIt is important that the above facts should be recognised, for it would seem that in the past, failure to do so has been responsible for much of the confusion of thought which has attended discussions on the subject of control of the Public Health machinery of the Colony, and for false comparisons with cities like Singapore and Colombo.\n\nIf it be realised that Colonial Government and Municipal Government are one and the same thing, so far as Hong Kong is concerned, and that the Colonial Heads of Departments are really Municipal Heads under another nomenclature, and that the Sanitary Board never has been and never can be anything but an advisory body, the issue will be cleared considerably.\n\n## Interpretation of the terms \"Medicine\" and \"Sanitation\"\n\nA perusal of past history makes it clear that one very important reason for failure to come to agreement as to what is the best organisation for the health of the Colony has been differences of opinion as to what exactly is the meaning of the terms \"medicine\" and \"sanitary\". Lay opinion has been based on the assumption that sanitary science, though allied to medicine, is a thing apart, and that a medical qualification is not necessary for its proper administration, and (judging from the report of the Lay Commission of 1906) is, in fact, a disqualification for an administrator.\n\nFifty years ago, medicine was described as the science of the cure of disease through therapeutics and surgery; and sanitation was interpreted to mean cleanliness and freedom from environmental nuisances through action taken by the individual and by the state.\n\nThe scope of modern medicine is expounded by Sir George Newman, the chief medical officer of the Ministry of Health, in his \"Outline of the Practice of Preventive Medicine\", which was presented to Parliament by command of His Majesty in 1919, and which was reprinted by the Government in 1926. The following are extracts from that work:\n\n\"The science and art of medicine is not restricted to the diagnosis and cure of disease in its gross forms; it includes a knowledge of how disease comes to be, of its earliest beginnings, and of its prevention. It is, in fact, the science and art of health, of how man may learn to live a healthy life at the top of his capacity of body and mind, avoiding or removing external or internal conditions unfavourable to such a standard, able to work to the highest power, able to resist to the fullest, growing in strength and efficiency\".\n\n\"Preventive medicine must not be understood to consist only of external sanitation. It is something wider than Public Health, one of a dozen subjects in the medical curriculum. In regard to disease, it is something more than the closing of its channels of communication, something more than an avoidance of the ways and means of its infection and invasion, certainly much more than a registration of its effects, a record of morbidity and mortality which follow in its train\".\n\n\"Its object is to prevent not only the spread of disease but its occurrence, to remove its occasion. Its spirit must not be confined to sanitation or the 'Public Health' alone, but must pervade and inspire all branches of medicine. For it is concerned with the causes and conditions of disease, which must be sought and known, then brought under control; in achieving this, or attempting to achieve it, Preventive Medicine must define and secure the maximum of those conditions of life for the individual and the community, which are the frontier defence against disease, and establish the foundation of sound living. For the health and physique of the people is the principal asset of the nation\".\n\nMedical opinion is emphatic that modern sanitary science, in its fullest sense, is based on physiology, bacteriology, parasitology, entomology, epidemiology, chemistry, and physics, all of which form part of the medical curriculum; and that no one who has not undergone a medical training can obtain a proper grasp of the whole subject or can judge the relative value of its different parts.\n\nChapters on town cleansing, scavenging, conservancy, and the disposal of refuse and excrement are to be found in all books which deal with the theory and practice of hygiene, and these subjects are all included in the syllabus of examinations for the Diploma of Public Health and the Diploma of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. The Sanitary Engineer is the adviser to the Health Authority on all matters of mechanics, and his is the executive branch which deals with the mechanical side of water supplies, drainage and sewerage, conservancy and night-soil disposal, town cleansing, scavenging, and the disposal of refuse. The Medical Officer of Health reports on the health aspects of these matters and tests waters and sewage effluents. It is his duty to bring to the notice of the Council any matter which is likely to endanger the public health.\n\nHong Kong has never given to medicine the rank it has accorded to finance, Chinese affairs, police, or engineering, and the reason is perhaps confusion as to what is covered by the term \"medicine\".\n\nIt is most important that the great difference between the \"medicine\" of the \"eighties\" and that of to-day should be realised in Hong Kong, and a decision made as to whether the term \"Sanitary\" shall have its modern interpretation or that of the early Victorian era. Without this decision, argument will be interminable, and the chances of getting an up-to-date organisation in this Colony very remote.\n\n## Factors bearing on the Public Health\n\nIn order to give a clear impression of the Public Health conditions obtaining in Hong Kong, it is necessary first to describe the situation of the Colony, its geographical features, its climate, the nature of the population, the housing conditions, and the bearing old Chinese customs, traditions, and beliefs have on the question of co-operation with the authorities in the promotion and preservation of the Public Health.\n\nThe territory under British jurisdiction includes the Colony proper, namely the Island of Hong Kong, with the Peninsula of Kowloon and the New Territories. The area of the Island is 32 square miles, that of Kowloon is 2 2/3rd square miles, while the New Territories cover approximately 300 square miles.\n\nSituated between 22°-9′ and 22°-37′ North Latitude, the area under discussion is just within the northern limits of the tropics. It is, in fact, practically on the same level as Calcutta. It may be said to form the lower extremity of the left bank of the estuary of the Canton River, at the head of which is the city of Canton, and on an island in which stands the Portuguese city of Macao.\n\nTopographically, the Island and the Peninsula may be described as a series of granite ridges separated by narrow valleys and having here and there flat areas facing the sea. The New Territories are of similar formation, with some fairly wide valleys towards the north and west. The features are such that flats suitable for town sites are few in number and limited in extent. In the Island, the only level of any size is that on which the City of Victoria stands, and this does not cover more than one square mile. With regard to Kowloon, not more than one half is flat and convenient for street formation.\n\n## The Climate\nSituated just within the northern limits of the tropics and occupying an insular position immediately south of the great mass of China, Hong Kong... \n\nPage 23", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-531-13 Proposed reorganization of the medical and sanitary services 18-11-1930 - 7-7-1933.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 531079, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-535-3 Nguyen ai Quoc- request for extradition to Indo-China by French authorities 29-6-1931 - 26-1-1932", "page_number": 65, "title": "CO129-535-3 Nguyen ai Quoc- request for extradition to Indo-China by French authorities 29-6-1931 - 26-1-1932", "content_text": "THE CHINA MAIL 25. 8.31.\n\nGOVERNOR'S POWERS DEFINED.\n\nAdmission in Habeas Corpus Hearing.\n\nJUDGMENT RESERVED.\n\nJudgment was reserved at the conclusion of the hearing of the habeas corpus application made by Sung Man-cho, this morning.\n\nIn the course of the hearing, the Attorney-General, Mr. G. C. Alabaster, said that he could not contend that the Order made in the first place was made in accordance with the Statutory procedure of sub-section 3a, and therefore, whichever way the matter was looked at, the first Deportation Order must be considered nugatory from the start. There was no necessity for it to be set aside, for it never had any legal existence.\n\nBut the Governor-in-Council had also, and at the same time, power to issue a separate Deportation Order in certain other events. They must be such that the Governor-in-Council deemed it conducive to the public good, to make the Order.\n\nGovernor's Powers.\n\nMr. Alabaster submitted that the Deportation Ordinance would not be properly carried out if a person who once got off owing to a defect in the first Order (not on the merits of the case, but owing to defect in the procedure leading up to the Order) could not be proceeded with again, by a proper procedure either under the same section, or as happens in this case, under an entirely different section.\n\n\"My friend inferred yesterday that the Executive having had the first Order fail, could not use another Order, at least for a very long time. He inferred further that such an argument was absurd, by the mere addition of the words as to 'a long time.' He realised there had to be some reservation.\n\n\"The object of this Ordinance is to get rid of an undesirable person, and if you take a wrong procedure, and that procedure is nugatory, there is nothing in the Ordinance to prevent your taking, either subsequently or contemporaneously, the right procedure.\"\n\nGovernor-in-Council.\n\nAnother point was brought up by the Attorney-General, when he stated that he understood the question of the Governor-in-Council had been brought up at yesterday's hearing. The Interpretation Ordinance had been mentioned.\n\nPage 64\n\nGOVERNOR'S POWERS DEFINED.\n\n(Continued from Page 1.)\n\nLocal Powers.\n\nYesterday afternoon Mr. Jenkin continued his review of the objects of local Deportation Ordinances. The history commenced with the Banishment Ordinance of 1882, giving power to the Governor to prohibit residence in the Colony for a period not exceeding five years. Counsel outlined the powers conferred by that Ordinance.\n\nAs regards the Deportation Ordinance of 1912, its object was to provide for the deportation of undesirable aliens, and certain other persons. Amendments had been made right up to the present year.\n\nApplicants' Admission.\n\nAfter considering definitions of what constituted a \"political offender,\" counsel went on to read extracts from various affidavits, including one made by the applicant in which he admitted being closely identified with the revolutionary movement in Annam and Indo-China. This was an offence punishable under the French law by death. He was wanted by the French authorities in Indo-China. He alleged that the Hong Kong Government were trying to deport him so as to hand him over to the Indo-China authorities.\n\nMr. Jenkin then took up his points as to the second Order being a bad one, claiming that there could not be two orders in existence at the same time. There was no jurisdiction to issue a second order until the first was discharged. An arrest under the second Order, even if the first had been discharged, was contrary to established law, that one could not re-arrest a man who had been discharged under habeas corpus for the same cause, matter, or pretext.\n\n\"A Subterfuge.\"\n\nMr. Jenkin then again submitted that the Order was a subterfuge. He also commented upon the date of the second Order, August 15, which was a Saturday. That meant that the Executive sat on a Saturday, which was a statement he would challenge.\n\nIn the course of the hearing, Mr. Jenkin said, \"I submit that that Ordinance goes the whole way.\" He said, \"We have had a request, which I saw for the first time this morning—in fact, it was only written this morning—asking that Mr. N. L. Smith (clerk of the Council) be present at the Court at 10 a.m. this morning, so that if necessary he may be questioned as to the making of the second Order, dated August 15.\n\nNo Power To Examine.\n\n\"I submit that neither Mr. Smith nor any member of the Council should answer any question as to this procedure. When the Order is made by the Governor-in-Council it is made as stated in the Interpretation Ordinance, and it must be presumed that members of the Council cannot be asked questions thereto. Mr. Smith, however, is here.\n\nMr. Alabaster submitted that the Order made under section 1-c, was good, as were the questions thereto.\n\nThe Chief Justice:- I should say that prima facie Mr. Smith could not be asked questions as to what happened in the Council as to discussion and procedure. But I think he can be asked if a meeting was held.\n\n(Continued on Page 7.)\n\nSome discussion ensued between the Chief Justice and counsel, as to the meaning of Governor-in-Council. The Chief Justice said that Governor-in-Council means the Governor acting with the advice of the members of the Council, but necessarily in such Council assembled. That was the Interpretation Ordinance.\n\nMr. Jenkin concluded his case by referring to the \"improper\" interrogation by the S.C.A. official, which he claimed invalidated the second Order as well as the first.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-535-3 Nguyen ai Quoc- request for extradition to Indo-China by French authorities 29-6-1931 - 26-1-1932.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 531378, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-535-5 N.I. Brewer- transcript of trial and evidence 1-1-1929 - 31-12-1931", "page_number": 218, "title": "CO129-535-5 N.I. Brewer- transcript of trial and evidence 1-1-1929 - 31-12-1931", "content_text": "220\n\n$7000.00 of that was paid in cash, that formed part of the consideration due in respect of agreement A which was being held by Mrs Brewer? That is correct.\n\nAnd that $48,000.00 was used by her to pay the allotment and first call on the 4800 shares held by her? That is correct.\n\nSo Mrs Brewer was a trustee for these shares? She must be regarded as a trustee she has no beneficial interest.\n\nThese arrangements were made in April, 1927? Yes.\n\nThis answer if made (which I doubt) is unsound. See date of letters previously read. Earliest is dated 28th May, 1927 (page 27 para 14).\n\nOn the 12th May, 1927, a directors meeting was held - the following resolution was passed \"That the shares Nos 1 - 4800 remain unallotted at present and held in reserve for Mr Instone Brewer or his nominee and shall be allotted to him if and when he make application for same.\" Why were these shares held in reserve for you or your nominee? That was just when this point was being decided. Because I was going to take them if I got the whole consideration money and if I did not keep the whole consideration money, I was not.\n\nWere these shares allotted to Mrs Brewer? were allotted to Mrs Brewer.\n\nAfterwards they\n\nAnd this reservation of shares was in fact in part payment of the consideration money in Agreement A? Until it was known how much consideration money I was in fact receiving, I was unable to say how many shares I was prepared to purchase - therefore these particular shares were held up in the allotment until the question of a refund of consideration money had been settled one way or the other.\n\nMrs Brewer paid the allotment on first call - $48,000.00 was part of the consideration money in that agreement? Yes.\n\nIt was not paid in cash in my sense of the word? No.\n\nthat\n\nOn June 28th, 1927, according to your Loan Register, a loan of $432,000.00 was made to Mrs Brewer? I know it to be true.\n\nWhy was that loan made? In order to fully pay the shares.\n\nIf you\n\nWhy did you want to fully pay the shares at that time?\n\nread the letter, you will see these shares were to be sold fully paid to the Peking buyers.\n\nBy a book entry of a loan to Mrs Brewer, they became fully paid? The process was identical to what had been done with the other clients. You see it is quite clearly set out in that letter, what is to be done.\n\nThe Peking people never did take up the greater portion of their shares. 4500 out of 4800 shares remained on Mrs Brewer's hands and those 4500 were the shares of the Instone Banking Corporation which she sold to the Instone Trading Co.? Correct.\n\nThe arrangement with the Instone Trading became necessary because the arrangement with the Peking people did not go forward, and you wanted to get rid of these shares somehow, and so you transferred them to the Instone Trading? That is a reasonable statement.\n\n29", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-535-5 N.I. Brewer- transcript of trial and evidence 1-1-1929 - 31-12-1931.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 531643, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-536-1 Estimates- 1932 3-9-1931 - 16-6-1933", "page_number": 135, "title": "CO129-536-1 Estimates- 1932 3-9-1931 - 16-6-1933", "content_text": "SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23, 1931.\n\nCHINA UNITY.\n\nOrders to Wind Up Canton Government?\n\nSOUTH'S OPTIMISM.\n\nAnticipating Nanking negotiations for peace, making preparations for the dissolution of the Canton Government on November 1.\n\nCanton officials are said to be of success the\n\nNanking, Oct. 14.\n\nGovernment organs for the control of narcotic drugs are to be established by the Ministry of Interior, according to a resolution adopted at yesterday's meeting of the Kuo-Wa-Hui-I (State Council) pursuant to a recommendation from the National Opium-Suppression Commission.\n\nThe Wah Kiu Yat Po, which publishes a message to this effect from Shanghai, says that Canton Government departmental heads have been instructed to proceed with the work of winding up their departments within two weeks' time.\n\nThe unfinished work of these departments will be transferred to Nanking, where it is expected that several of the high officials of the Southern Government will be invited to administer departments in the new Government.\n\nSouthern Optimism.\n\nThe establishment of the proposed new organs is expressly provided for by Regulations governing the Control of Narcotic Drugs recently promulgated by the National Government.\n\nThe main function of these new organs will be to see that narcotic drugs are limited to scientific and medical uses and that the sale of narcotic drugs devoted to purposes other than the authorized ones is strictly suppressed.—Kua Min.\n\nTHE DRUG TRAFFIC.\n\nChina Makes New Plans for Suppression.\n\nNanking, Oct. 14.\n\n...\n\nSCIENCE CONGRESS.\n\nScientists to be Invited to China.\n\nTHE TSANG FOO VILLAS MURDER TRIAL.\n\nDISCHARGE OF TWO DEFENDANTS YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.\n\nVICTIM'S TERRIBLE INJURIES.\n\nTwo of the twelve defendants in the Tsang Foo Villas murder trial were discharged in the course of yesterday's proceedings before Mr. Fraser at the Kowloon Magistracy.\n\nThe evidence given against these two men was such, his Worship said, that no jury would convict.\n\nEvidence given of the injuries received by the Japanese showed that the bodies in all cases were mutilated.\n\nThe injuries received by the amah of sixteen were particularly brutal.\n\nFURTHER DECISIONS TO-DAY?\n\nRACIAL VIRILITY.\n\nSir L. Hill on Birth Control.\n\nSURNAMES.\n\nOur Own and Other Peoples.\n\nDOWNFALL OF EMPIRES. CURIOSITIES OF ORIGIN\n\nAt the annual conference of the Sanitary Inspectors' Association at Bridlington, Sir Leonard Hill, in his presidential address, said that the sanitary inspectors' Association at Bridlington, Sir Leonard Hill, in his presidential address, said that the birth rate was now the subject of intensive propaganda among the masses of the people, and the no-child or one-child home was becoming the rule.\n\nAlthough the unskilled continued as yet to breed more than the skilled, birth-control was practised in every class of society.\n\nIn consequence, between 1921-31 the population of Great Britain had increased hardly more than in the 10 years 1911-21, which included the War, when about a million young men were killed and several millions listed and were taken away from family life.\n\nThe infant mortality rate had fallen from 167 per 1,000 births at the end of last century to 60 in 1930, but the saving so effected compensated very little for the enormous drop in the birth rate.\n\nThe annual increase of births over deaths per 1,000 living was 12 at the end of last century, and in 1929 it was under three, so very shortly the population would be stationary; the proportion of older persons increasing as children became scarcer.\n\nThree children per family were required to make good the losses and keep up the population.\n\nOne-child families meant halving the population—\n\n(By Walter G. Bell, in the Daily Telegraph).\n\n\"John ate chyldren.\" So he did, did he? A husbandman was this John; one goes out to the Fen country around Huntingdon for \"Richard ate Forty\"—a ferocious monster when at table.\n\nReading old documents from days when villeinage flourished in England, one experiences shocks like these not infrequently.\n\nThen consciousness comes that all that is meant is \"at\" or \"off,\" and the ogre is really the quite inoffensive John at Chiltern.\n\nThe other is of Ford—to find him you at the ford.\n\nSpelling was apt to vary with each clerk who wrote, and much corruption crept in.\n\nBut can one account by geography alone for \"Thomas atte Hell,\" a Suffolk man? He was the man at the hill.\n\nBARONET WITH A WHIP.\n\nFined for Striking Two \"Noisy\" Young Men.\n\nROADSIDE GATHERING.\n\nSir Christopher Furness, Bart., of Netherbyres, Ayton, Berwickshire, was fined 10s. at Eyemouth on a charge of assaulting two young men by striking them with a whip.\n\nMr. A. Carnegie, prosecuting, said that on August 14, at night, a band of young men were congregated on the road between Eyemouth and Ayton.\n\nOne started to play a mouthorgan and the others started to dance, and no doubt they were a bit hilarious.\n\nSir Christopher approached them and struck George Todd Dougal, of Eyemouth, across the back with a whip.\n\nThe others, with the exception of George Collin, also of Eyemouth, ran away, and Sir Christopher struck Collin across the face with a whip.\n\nFor the defence it was submitted that Sir Christopher was ill and that the noise had so upset him that he had impulsively sought his own remedy.\n\nThe chairman said that this mitigated very much the seriousness of the offence, but there was no excuse for Sir Christopher taking the law into his own hands.\n\nSir Christopher is 31, and the third baronet.\n\nHis father, Sir Stephen Wilson Furness, succeeded Sir Christopher Furness, who was Chairman of Furness, Withy and Co., Ltd., and Liberal M.P. for Hartlepool 1910-14.\n\nAt this juncture, Mr. White-Smith asked for Richard\n\nOur forenames are mostly much older than our surnames.\n\nWhen the Domesday Book accounts for some 283,000 inhabitants in all of England that was surveyed—it sufficed to indicate John by his place of residence, or as John the son of Richard, or very frequently John the servant of his named master; often, too, as John Sessmith, distinguished by his trade.\n\nSince names of persons are of first importance, and their indication is no longer so simple as this, whom he succeeded in 1914, was\n\nLegal Attitude.\n\nOdd that while names are supremely important in the transaction of life, the law has paid little or no head.\n\nIt will offend a man's title to his own name when there has been fraudulent misuse, but in nothing else.\n\nMen and women may call themselves just what they please, change their names as often as they like; the law is not concerned.\n\nCustom ordains that on marriage a woman shall adopt her husband's surname, signing her patronymic at birth and on the marriage register, but there is no legal enforcement of it.\n\nThe first witness called yesterday was Dr. J. Smalley, who testified that certain Japanese were admitted to the Kowloon Hospital on the night of September 26.\n\nThe first to be admitted entered the hospital at about 11 p.m. and the last one at about 12.45 a.m.\n\nIn all cases, the Police brought in the arrested.\n\nThe eighth was arrested in a hut in Po Kong Village at about midnight.\n\nHe had a wound on his head, which he said he had received from the military.\n\nWitness examined Shiro Yamashita, the boy of four, whose skull was fractured.\n\nThere were multiple injuries, and although he was conscious, he was obviously dying.\n\nNothing could be done for him and he never recovered.\n\nHe was about 60 feet from the gate of Tsang Foo Villas.\n\nThis man was arrested about ten minutes after the eighth defendant was arrested.\n\nNiyoji Yamashita, the boy of nine, had multiple injuries, his skull and left thigh bone being fractured.\n\nHis condition was very bad.\n\nHe was given medical treatment, but passed away at 1 a.m.\n\nSumiko Yamaguchi, the Japanese amah of 16, had multiple injuries including a scalp wound, while her skull was fractured.\n\nShe had many bruises all over her body.\n\nDr. Smalley then described her other injuries.\n\nHer wounds were inflicted by blunt weapons such as sticks or poles.\n\nMiyo Yamashita, the old lady, had a fractured skull, while two irregular lacerated wounds were growing up in Africa with education of the native races.\n\nAlleged Street Incident.\n\nA Chinese constable, B632, said he was on duty between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. outside Tsang Foo Villas on September 27.\n\nWhilst he was on duty, he met with three men, of whom defendant was one, talking near the wall of Tsang Foo Villas.\n\nTwo policemen had been posted there.\n\nEn-vene Chen asked why ten\", Tsai Yuan-pei, C. C. Wu (Western Hills clique) conferred to represent China at the Fifth Convention of the Pacific Conference to be held next May in Canada.\n\nSince the institute has been designated to represent China at the fifth convention, a preparatory committee of 11 experts has been appointed to attend to all preliminary matters.\n\nMr. Ewen cites the case, in the year 1857, of a Mr. Bedbug who changed his name to Bowditch.\n\nA Satisfactory Conclave.\n\nShanghai, Oct. 22.\n\nMarshal Chiang Kai-shek and Messrs. Hu Han-min, Wang Ching-wei, Sun Fo, Li Chi-sen, Li Shih-shan, Tsai Yuan-pei, C. C. Wu (Western Hills clique) conferred yesterday morning for two hours.\n\nThe entire peace mission proceeded to the residence of Mr. Hu Han-min immediately upon their arrival and it was while there that Mr. Wang Ching-wei and the peace delegates will leave for Nanking immediately after a meeting with General Chiang Kai-shek.\n\nStatements of Defendants.\n\nThe 12 defendants made various statements to Mr. Whyte-Smith, A.S.P., and Sub-Inspector Murphy.\n\nMr. Whyte-Smith said that was all the evidence against this defendant, your Worship.\n\nHis Worship said that the evidence is such that no jury would convict.\n\nHe accordingly discharged the sixth and twelfth defendants.\n\nThe fourth defendant said he went so near to Tsang Foo Villas because he saw his brother had been injured and he went inside the house to see what was going on.\n\nThe fifth defendant, a boy of 15, said he was there to pick him up.\n\nThe sixth defendant, another boy of 15, said he had nothing to do with the murder.\n\nThe seventh defendant referred to a bandaged arm.\n\nThe eighth defendant, who was arrested in his hut that night, said he had never been out of his hut that evening.\n\nThe ninth defendant, who was represented by Mr. F. X. D'Almada, Sr., said he knew absolutely nothing.\n\nThe tenth, eleventh, and twelfth defendants made the same statement.\n\nTo Leave for Nanking.\n\nNanking, Oct. 22.\n\nMr. Wang Ching-wei and the peace delegates will leave for Nanking immediately after a meeting with General Chiang Kai-shek.\n\nCanton's Reservations.\n\nCanton, Oct. 22.\n\nInterviewed as to the reliability of the report that the Canton Government will be wound up within two weeks' time, a certain member of the Council has remarked that this is premature.\n\nThe Government is still uncertain whether the overthrow of dictatorial government will be effected, and the Canton Government must remain until this end has been attained.\n\nConditional Dissolution.\n\nCanton Army Changes.\n\nGen. Yen Yin-nai, Commander of the 1st New Division has tendered his resignation, and asked for troops to be disbanded.\n\nThe Government has decided to comply.\n\nGen. Ye will be reappointed as a staff officer.\n\nGen. Chan Chatong has decided to enlarge the Peace Preservation Corps into a brigade with Mr. Chan Chang-po as commander.—Rensha.\n\nMr. Eugene Chen.\n\nCanton, Oct. 22.\n\nAn extraordinary session of the Kuomintang C.E.C. to-day formally appointed Mr. Eugene Chen as delegate to the Shanghai peace parley.\n\nMr. Chen will take a leading part in discussing Sino-Foreign relations, particularly Manchurian affairs.—Central Press.\n\nAll the Talents.\n\nShanghai, Oct. 22.\n\nGood progress is being made by the leaders representing the various factions of the Kuomintang for the formation of the new National Government at Nanking representative of \"all the talents.\"\n\nIn this connexion, Mr. Wang Ching-wei, the Kuomintang Leftist leader, who is heading the Canton peace mission of five members, conferred yesterday morning for two hours with Mr. Hu Han-min, the leader of the Nanking Conservatives.\n\nThe entire peace mission proceeded to the residence of Mr. Hu Han-min immediately upon their arrival and it was while there that Mr. Wang Ching-wei and the peace delegates held a lengthy discussion of possible cases, but as a critic has pointed out, the name appears to have had little or nothing to do with either \"shake\" (verb) or \"spear.\"\n\nMASSAGE.\n\nMR. & MRS. Y. MORI,\n\nCertificate.\n\nHolder of Japanese Government Certificate. Sprained Ankle and Wrist opp. \"South China Morning Post.\" 4, Wyndham Street. (1st floor). Telephone 26051.\n\n\"SOUTH CHINA MORNING POST\" is always on sale at SELFRIDGE'S London, W. 1.\n\nPage 15\n\nPage 15\n\nPage 15\n\nPage 16\n\nPage 16\n\nPage 16", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-536-1 Estimates- 1932 3-9-1931 - 16-6-1933.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 534050, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-539-4 Mui Tsai system 28-6-1932 - 28-11-1932", "page_number": 68, "title": "CO129-539-4 Mui Tsai system 28-6-1932 - 28-11-1932", "content_text": "83\n\n- 8.\n\npersons who, except in warfare, capture an individual to make a slave of him. Moreover, the edict of March 31st, 1924, contains a series of provisions which are in the main very judicious. Some are intended to ensure the proper treatment of persons in a state of slavery, whereas the object of others is to free a large number of slaves progressively. This edict also prohibits the transfer of slaves, with or without payment, and grants to any persons so transferred the right to freedom. The road to enfranchisement was still further widened by an edict of July 15th, 1931, which further inflicts the same penalties on any person who hands over a slave, with or without payment—as on slave-raiders.\n\nIf we may judge from the documents supplied by the Abyssinian Government, judicial decisions between 1924 and 1930 have resulted in the liberation of hundreds of slaves by the application of the 1924 Edict. Moreover, a very large number of persons have been sentenced for offences against the law prohibiting the purchase and sale of slaves. These sentences and orders for the liberation of slaves have, however, been mainly pronounced by the Addis Ababa court; the provisions of the edicts are less frequently applied in the rest of the Empire, although the number of slaves liberated and sentences imposed is fairly large.\n\n9. It would be unfair to the Abyssinian Government to take exception to the fact that it has not yet abolished the status of slavery.\n\nIn dealing with Abyssinia, it must never be forgotten that that country was for two centuries cut off from the outside world, that its evolution has been retarded, and that all matters concerning it cannot be judged by the principles governing European nations. Moreover, although Abyssinia signed the 1926 Convention, she has not ratified it. Even if she had done so, she would only have been bound, under the actual terms of the Convention, to abolish slavery gradually. All that the contracting parties can demand of her is to make every effort to abolish slavery as soon as possible.\n\nEvery measure for the liberation of slaves, however, is opposed in Abyssinia by a barrier of ancient traditions. Very many officers of the Empire, including powerful chiefs, are against the abolition of slavery, either simply because they espouse the feelings of the people under their jurisdiction or because they themselves derive benefit from the present situation.\n\nThere is surely no need to point to the dangers to which the maintenance of the Government's authority would be exposed, or at all events the political disturbances with which it might be faced, if, contrary to the general feeling and despite the interests which it might harm, it proceeded to abolish the status of slavery too rapidly.\n\nEven supposing that, after abolishing the status of slavery, the Abyssinian Government were able to counteract these dangers in the political sphere, a measure which suddenly transferred vast numbers of persons from the condition of slavery to one of full freedom (as regards the number of the slaves, the Committee has no accurate information) might produce disastrous results in the social and economic fields. Doubtless this consideration played some part in the decision of the Abyssinian Government to refrain from abolishing slavery by a stroke of the pen. It gave as one of the reasons for its Edict of 1924 that, by adopting such a measure, the number of thieves, bandits and criminals would be greatly increased.\n\nIt must also be admitted that the mass liberation of slaves would have a considerable effect on the finances of Abyssinia, in that the Government might find itself bound to compensate the former owners, or take steps to ensure that freed slaves were in a position to gain a living, or, lastly, to support those who, owing to age or infirmity, were permanently incapable of earning their own livelihood, for which their master had usually provided until their death.\n\nIn short, conditions in Abyssinia make it impossible for the Government, however desirous it may be of abolishing slavery, to do otherwise than advance gradually along this path. If the Government ignored this policy of prudence, it might stir up political, social, economic and financial difficulties which would completely nullify the success already achieved.\n\nTrue, other States, previously referred to, have abolished slavery overnight—in fact as well as in law. But, without in any way underestimating the gravity of the dangers they have incurred and the sacrifices they have made, it is doubtful whether the application of this generous reform was beset with difficulties as great as are encountered in Abyssinia.\n\nIn this connection, the French expert stresses the fact that, in his opinion, it would be neither fair nor in accordance with the actual facts to describe as slaves all persons under servitude reported to exist in Abyssinia. Such servitude constitutes a special social status—serfdom—the characteristics of which, as understood by him, the French expert describes in Chapter VI.\n\nIO. The abolition of the status of slavery in the Moslem States and Sultanates referred to in paragraph 2 of the present report meets with the difficulty that its legality is upheld, not only by long-standing tradition, but also by religion—though these obstacles to abolition are not insurmountable.\n\nThe higher authorities of these countries cannot be said to be really hostile to the campaign against the institution of slavery, but they have in any case to reckon with public opinion, and often their power is not sufficient to allow them to initiate reform. For that reason, the United Kingdom's efforts to obtain from the King of the Hejaz and from the small States of Arabia, through the political agents she has placed there, an undertaking to abolish slavery have not yet brought about the desired results.\n\nII. In the absence of precise information, the Committee cannot express any opinion as to the manner in which slaves are treated in countries in which slavery still exists either in law or in fact. The general impression is that, on the whole, their lot is not an unhappy one from the material point of view. In any case, in the countries administered by Powers with western ideas acts affecting their rights are no longer tolerated; in particular, such abominable practices as human sacrifice, to which one or other class of slaves was sometimes victim in certain of these territories, are now no more than a memory.\n\nIn Abyssinia, according to information obtained by the Committee, slaves are generally well treated.\n\nAs regards the Moslem States, the information furnished to the Committee is divergent.\n\n12. The Committee has received a considerable number of documents regarding the situation of women and children in certain countries, a situation which is described as slavery in these documents. After all due consideration, the Committee arrived at the conclusion that, apart from questions which have a real bearing on slavery in the true sense of the word and which the Committee has taken into account in its report and suggestions, these documents refer to conditions which are not slavery in the technical sense of the term. They relate to abuses in the exercise of authority by husbands, fathers or employers, similar to those which may occur in a civilised state, or, at any rate, in one which has abolished the institution of slavery in fact as well as in law. On the other hand, they contain information on the subject of \"Mui Tsai\", will be dealt with later.\n\nB. Suggestions.\n\n13. Clearly the abolition, not only of the legal status of slavery, but also actual liberation are the essential objects at which Governments should aim in the territories in which slavery still exists. Not only can we not admit that human beings should be regarded as chattels, but, unless the practice of possessing slaves disappears, an end will never be put to the often abominable acts by which slaves are procured—in particular, slave-raids and the slave trade.\n\nWe realise the reasons which may have led certain Governments to decide not to separate the slaves from their so-called owners, but to wait until evolution brings about the liberation of slaves in practice. Nevertheless, this evolution should be hastened as far as possible. It would therefore be advisable to make it an offence for a person who is aware of the abolition of the legal status of slavery to avail himself of the fact that another person is ignorant of such abolition, in order to enforce a right of ownership or any analogous right over the latter person. All Governments should even consider the desirability of taking steps to spread among the populations they govern a knowledge of the fact that their freedom is guaranteed by law.\n\n14. The foregoing statement regarding the special situation in Abyssinia shows that it is at present impossible for the Abyssinian Government to abolish slavery by a stroke of the pen and that it is necessary that the Government should only advance by stages. The Committee's suggestions as regards this country will therefore be restricted to the steps which might be taken to carry out this policy.\n\n(a) The first step which may be suggested would be to aid the Abyssinian Government in combating slavery, should the latter make a definite request to this effect—in particular, in the form of financial assistance which would not interfere in any way with the independence of the country.\n\n(3) The main objective, however, should be to make the Abyssinians themselves realise fully the reprehensible character of slavery and the merit of spontaneous acts of liberation. Though laws may help to transform customs, the laws themselves are only fully applied if, in their conception, they reflect the sentiments of the general mass. It would appear that great progress has been made in this direction.\n\nThe Government will doubtless succeed in creating the necessary atmosphere if it obtains the assistance of the Abyssinian clergy. If it is true that the Abyssinian clergy themselves possess slaves, they should take the lead in applying the first of the suggestions put forward in the 1925 report of the Temporary Commission for the abolition of slavery in Abyssinia—namely, that they should set the example by freeing their own slaves.\n\nOther steps might be taken to stimulate the awakening in Abyssinian public opinion of a spirit favourable to the suppression of slavery. The Government might, for instance, bestow rewards on those who voluntarily free their slaves.\n\nFurthermore, it is certain that, if public opinion in all countries paid constant attention to the slavery question, the Abyssinian people would realise that no country can be regarded as fully civilised while it continues to tolerate slavery. This is the idea which has partly inspired the suggestion, made in paragraph 74 of the present report, for the establishment of a Permanent Commission.\n\n(c) As an interim measure to supplement the provisions of the 1924 Edict, the Temporary Commission recommended that all owners of slaves should be obliged to register their slaves within a given time limit, and that any slaves who on the expiry of the time limit had not been so registered should be freed. The present Committee cannot but endorse this proposal, but would point out that liberation should not be restricted to slaves who have not been registered after a certain time limit. Those slaves whose master when applying for their registration is unable to prove that he acquired them by legally authorised means should also be liberated. Severe penalties should be imposed on persons owning slaves who have not been registered,\n\n(d) The Temporary Commission recommended as another transitory method the abolition of the status of slavery, with the reservation that former slaves thus legally freed would be obliged,\n\n84", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-539-4 Mui Tsai system 28-6-1932 - 28-11-1932.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 535737, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-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": 329, "title": "CO129-541-2 Estimates 1931 14-10-1932 - 19-7-1934", "content_text": "10\n\nSub-head 95.-Refuse Dump at Cheung Sha Wan, $8,500,-To continue facilities for the disposal of refuse collected by the Sanitary Department; a reduced area remains outside that which is alienated for a possible Harbour of Refuge.\n\n96.-Shamshuipo (North West Camp Area) Nullah Improvement, $25,000. ---To complete the nullah North-West of Shamshuipo Camp where one wall and portion of the invert was constructed in connection with Shamshuipo Reclamation. The continuation of reclamation of the adjoining area necessitates the completion of this nullah.\n\n97.-Reconstruction of Kowloon City Wall, $3,000.-To commence a scheme whereby the preservation of the old City Wall is insured.\n\n98.-Kowloon Tong Recreation Ground, $7,000.-To provide for recreation ground at the north end of Kowloon Tong.\n\n99.-Kowloon Tsai Garden City development, 1st Section, $100,000.—A development scheme the site formation of which will be carried out by Government. After the completion of this section the sites will be disposed of by public auction. Except for the initial outlay the scheme will be self-supporting. The work will be proceeded with in such a manner that it could be delayed or abandoned at any time if that was considered necessary.\n\nWATER WORKS.\n\n100.-Back Lane Service Pipes, $15,000.-Provides for the extension of subsidiary service pipes in back lanes in newly developed properties to obviate excessive cutting of roads which would be necessary for direct connection to principal mains. These subsidiary mains are eventually paid for by house owners when connections are applied for.\n\n101.-Distributing Water Mains, $20,000.-To cover extensions to water mains in newly developed areas.\n\nPUBLIC HEALTH & BUILDINGS ORDINANCE,\n\n102.-Compensation & Resumptions, $50,000.---This vote covers expenditure incurred in the acquisition of buildings and land necessitated by Town Planning Improvement.\n\nGENERAL WORKS.\n\nSub-head 106.-Roads, $2,000.-Required in connection with development at Tai Po Market and Un Loong.\n\n107.-Drainage (a) Training Nullahs, $3,000.--To be expended in permanent nullah training.\n\n(b) Miscellaneous Drainage Works, $2,000.-Necessary in connection with development mainly in Tai Po Market and Un Loong Districts.\n\n108.-Miscellaneous, $3,000.—To cover expenditure on minor works which may become necessary during the year.\n\n109.-Water Works, $1,000.-For general extension to Government mains and service supplies required by new development.\n\nCOMMUNICATIONS.\n\n110. Surfacing of Lin Ma Hang-Shataukok Patrol Path, $6,000.--To provide for surfacing in ordinary macadam and tar painting. This completes the work for which $10,000 was voted in 1932.\n\n111 -Road Conditioning at Shataukok, $10,000.-Surfacing roads in newly developed areas. This is to continue the work of resurfacing the road from Fanling to Shataukok. Further funds will be required in 1934.\n\n112.---Improving & Strengthening Main Roads for Motor Traffic, $50,000.- To strengthen and recondition portions of these roads in order that they will be fitted to carry the heavy motor traffic they are now called upon to bear.\n\nNEW TERRITORIES.\n\nBUILDINGS.\n\n103.-Market & Reclamation-Tsun Wan, $6,000. This is in the nature of a revote from 1932 towards the cost of a small reclamation and the construction of a market.\n\n104. Government Bungalow at Fanling, $50,000.-The work consists of the erection of a bungalow at Fanling to serve as a country residence for His Excellency the Governor in the New Territories.\n\n105.-Tai O Police Station-Additions, $4,000.-The additions to this Police Station are necessitated by the fact that Wireless Operators are now to be housed in the building and the existing accommodation is inadequate.\n\nMISCELLANEOUS.\n\n113. Compensation & Resumptions, $3,000.-For minor resumptions which become necessary during the year in connection with road, street or other improvements.\n\n114.-Wiring of Government Buildings, $12,000.-To provide for the introduction of electric lighting, etc. to Land Office and Bailiffs' Quarters, Ping Shan, Police Stations at Ping Shan, Au Tau, Shataukok, etc. This is a continuation of a programme commenced in 1932.\n\n115.-Well at Cheung Chau School, $500.-At present no provision is made for water at this school.\n\n116-Un Loong Nullah & Improvements, $5,000.—A continuation of work commenced in 1931 to train permanently the open ditch running alongside the market.\n\nWATER WORKS.\n\n117.-Water Works at Tsun Wan, $20,000.--To provide an unfiltered supply to the village.\n\n118. Main from Taipo Market to New Reservoir, $3,000.--To fully utilize the resources of the service reservoir and provide fire fighting services for Taipo Market.\n\n396", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-541-2 Estimates 1931 14-10-1932 - 19-7-1934.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 543246, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-545-8 Annual medical report 1932 2-11-1933 - 16-5-1934", "page_number": 18, "title": "CO129-545-8 Annual medical report 1932 2-11-1933 - 16-5-1934", "content_text": "# ANNUAL MEDICAL REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING 31st DECEMBER, 1932\n\n## INTRODUCTION\n\nGeographical Features.\n\nIn order to give a clear impression of the Public Health conditions obtaining in Hong Kong, it is necessary first to describe the situation of the Colony, its geographical features, its climate, the nature of the population, the housing conditions and the bearing old Chinese traditions, beliefs, and customs, have on the question of co-operation with the authorities in the promotion and preservation of the Public Health. It is also desirable to indicate the various organisations which together make up the Public Health machinery.\n\n2. The Territory under British jurisdiction includes the Colony Proper, namely, the Island of Hong Kong with the Peninsula of Kowloon, and the New Territories. In this Report the term Colony means the Colony Proper. The area of the Island is 32 square miles—that of Kowloon is 2 2/3rd square miles while the New Territories have approximately 300 square miles.\n\n3. Situated between 22° 9′ and 22° 37′ North Latitude the area under discussion is just within the northern limits of the tropics. It is in fact practically on the same level as Calcutta. It may be said to form the lower extremity of the left bank of the estuary of the Canton River, at the head of which is the City of Canton and on an island in which stands the Portuguese Colony of Macao.\n\n4. Topographically the Island of Hong Kong and the Peninsula of Kowloon may be described as a series of granite ridges separated by narrow valleys and having here and there flat areas facing the sea. The New Territory is of similar formation with some fairly wide valleys towards the north and west. The features are such that flats suitable for town sites are few in number and limited in extent. In the Island the only level of any size is that on which the City of Victoria stands and this does not cover more than one square mile. With regard to Kowloon, not more than one half is flat and convenient for street formation.\n\n## INDEX\n\n### CONTENTS\n\n| Page | SECTION |\n| --- | --- |\n| 99 | IX. SCIENTIFIC: |\n| 99 | A. Bacteriological Institute |\n| 101 | B. The Public Mortuaries :— |\n| | (a) Public Mortuary, Victoria |\n| | (b) Public Mortuary, Kowloon |\n| 110 | X. THE NEW TERRITORIES-PUBLIC HEALTH & SANITATION |\n| 98 | APPENDIX A.-REPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT BACTERIOLOGIST |\n| 126 | APPENDIX B.-REPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT MALARIOLOGIST |\n| 157 | APPENDIX C.-REPORT OF THE GOVERNMENT ANALYST |\n| 166 | APPENDIX D.-REPORT ON UNIVERSITY CLINICAL UNITS AT THE GOVERNMENT CIVIL HOSPITAL |\n| 175 | APPENDIX E.-GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS-RETURN OF DISEASES AND DEATHS |\n| 175 | APPENDIX F.-CHINESE HOSPITALS-RETURN OF DISEASES AND DEATHS |\n| 189 | APPENDIX G.-MORTUARIES-RETURN OF DISEASES |\n| 196 | APPENDIX H.-REGISTRATION OF BIRTHS & DEATHS |", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-545-8 Annual medical report 1932 2-11-1933 - 16-5-1934.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 543433, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-545-8 Annual medical report 1932 2-11-1933 - 16-5-1934", "page_number": 205, "title": "CO129-545-8 Annual medical report 1932 2-11-1933 - 16-5-1934", "content_text": "# \n## Power of Urban Council to cause slaughter of cases or contacts. Burial or exhumation of carcases prohibited except under supervision.\n\n153. If in the opinion of the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon an animal is suffering from or has been in contact with an animal suffering from infectious or contagious disease, the Urban Council may cause such animal to be slaughtered and the carcase thereof to be disposed of in such manner as the Urban Council may think fit.\n\n154. No carcase of an animal shall be buried, or, after burial, be dug up, except under the supervision of the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon or of a sanitary inspector acting under his instructions.\n\n## Depots for Cattle, Pigs, Sheep and Goats, General.\n\n155. In these by-laws.\n- (a) \"Depot\" and \"Depots\" mean respectively a depot and the depots for cattle, swine, sheep and goats provided by the Government.\n- (b) \"Officer in charge\" means the person appointed by the Urban Council to superintend and have the care of the Depots or any one of them or any part thereof.\n\n156. All cattle, swine, sheep and goats brought to the Colony for the purpose of being slaughtered shall be kept, except when turned out to graze, in a properly constructed Government Depot licensed by the Urban Council.\n\nProvided that no such animal shall be permitted to remain in any Government depot for a longer period than twenty-one days, provided also that any such animal which is condemned by the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon as unfit to be slaughtered for human food shall be removed forthwith by the owner.\n\n157. The fee payable for each head of cattle housed in a Depot shall be fifty cents when cattle so housed are removed to any place other than the slaughter-house adjoining such Depot or another Depot, and the fee payable for each pig, sheep and goat similarly housed and removed shall be ten cents. No fee is payable on admission.\n\n158. No cattle, pigs, sheep or goats shall be removed from a Depot for any purpose except on a removal order signed by the officer in charge. Such order shall be granted on the production and deposit of the receipt given on the admission of the animals and in favour of the person therein named or of any other person on his order.\n\n159. The Urban Council shall provide water only for the use of the cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats, housed in the Depots. The owners of such animals shall provide proper and sufficient food and shall send men in sufficient numbers to look after, feed and water such animals, but no other unauthorised person may be or remain on the premises during such hours as the Depots are closed to the public.\n\n160. Neither the Government nor the Urban Council will be responsible for the safe custody of any cattle, pigs, sheep or goats housed in a Depot.\n\n## \n### Drenching of animals prohibited.\n\n161. The drenching of any animal with any substance whatever, or the administration of salt in any form, in a Depot, except with the permission of the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon or of the Inspector on duty, is prohibited.\n\n## Maintenance of Order in Depots\n\n162. No person, not being an officer or servant of the Council, shall enter or remain in the Depots except for the purpose of securing or of supplying food or water to any animal therein.\n\n163. No person shall use in the Depots any indecent or obscene language, or enter or remain therein in a state of intoxication.\n\n164. No person shall bring into the Depots any malt or spirituous liquor or any drug of any nature whatsoever.\n\n165. Every person who may desire to use the Depots for the purpose of accommodating any animal shall make application, in writing, to the officer in charge, and permission to use the Depots shall be given to the several persons so applying in the order in which such applications are received.\n\n166. Every person using the Depots shall obey all reasonable orders given to him by the officer in charge, and shall conduct himself in a quiet and orderly manner therein.\n\n167. No person shall obstruct or hinder any other person in the proper use of the Depots.\n\n168. No person shall by any disorderly or improper conduct disturb or interrupt any other person in the proper use of the Depots.\n\n169. The Depots shall for the purpose of the admission of animals be open at such hours as may be fixed by the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon with the approval of the Urban Council, and no person shall attempt to gain access to or shall remain in the Depots at any other hour.\n\n170. Whenever in the opinion of the Chairman of the Urban Council it is expedient for its maintenance or preservation to close any part of any Depots, he shall cause a notice in that behalf to be posted in some conspicuous part of such Depots specifying the part that is closed, and no person shall thereafter use or enter such part until a further notice has been published and posted as aforesaid notifying the re-opening of such part.\n\n171. Every person desiring to bring an animal into the Depots shall apply to the officer in charge to inspect and pass such animal, and no person shall bring or cause to be brought or attempt to bring into the Depots any animal which has not been duly inspected and passed by the officer in charge.\n\n172. Every person who shall bring or cause to be brought into the Depots any beast shall cause such beast to be securely tied to the tying irons in a lair assigned for the purpose; and every person who shall bring or cause to be brought into the Depots any sheep, lamb or goat shall cause such sheep, lamb or goat to be properly penned in a lair. \n\nPage 329", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-545-8 Annual medical report 1932 2-11-1933 - 16-5-1934.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 543453, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-545-8 Annual medical report 1932 2-11-1933 - 16-5-1934", "page_number": 225, "title": "CO129-545-8 Annual medical report 1932 2-11-1933 - 16-5-1934", "content_text": "## Admission of Animals to Slaughter Houses\n\n10. No person affected with leprosy, sores or any contagious or infectious disease shall enter any slaughter house premises or shall take part in the slaughtering of any animal for human food or in the handling of the flesh of such animal.\n\n11. The Director of Medical and Sanitary Services, the Director of Public Works, the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, and the Inspector General of Police, and their respective officers, as well as any Food Officer shall at all times have free access to every part of every slaughter house.\n\n## Depots for Animals before admission to slaughter houses\n\n12. All cattle, swine, and goats brought to the Colony for the purpose of being slaughtered shall be kept, except when turned out to graze, in a properly constructed Government depot licensed by the Board.\n\n13. No such animal shall be permitted to remain in any Government depot for a longer period than twenty-one days: Provided that any such animal which is condemned by the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon as unfit to be slaughtered for human food shall be removed forthwith by the owner.\n\n14. No cattle, sheep or goats, shall be turned out to graze when the Council shall, for sanitary reasons, forbid such grazing by an order in writing.\n\n## Admission of Animals to Slaughter Houses\n\n15. The slaughter houses shall for the purpose of the admissions of animals be open at such hours as may be fixed by the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon with the approval of the Urban Council.\n\n16. Whenever in the opinion of the Council it is expedient for its maintenance or preservation to close any part of any slaughter house, a notice to that effect shall be posted in some conspicuous part of such slaughter house specifying the part that is to close, and no person shall thereafter use or enter such part until a further notice has been published and posted as aforesaid notifying the reopening of such part.\n\n17. No person shall bring into any slaughter house any animal which is not intended for slaughter and particularly shall not bring any dog into a slaughter house.\n\n18. No person shall convey or cause to be conveyed or attempt to convey any dead animal into any slaughter house for any purpose whatever.\n\n19. Every person desiring to bring an animal into a slaughter house shall apply to the officer in charge to inspect and pass such animal, and no person shall bring or cause to be brought or attempt to bring into a slaughter house any animal which has not been duly inspected and passed by the officer in charge.\n\n20. The mark known as the Broad Arrow shall be used for the purpose of denoting the fitness of cattle to be slaughtered for human food. No cattle shall be slaughtered for human food in any slaughter house unless marked with the broad arrow. Every person who, without lawful authority stamps, uses, applies or impresses the broad arrow, or any mark apparently intended to resemble the broad arrow, on any cattle, shall be deemed to have contravened the provisions of these by-laws.\n\n354", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-545-8 Annual medical report 1932 2-11-1933 - 16-5-1934.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 543637, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-545-9 Proposed reorganisation of medical and sanitary services 2-11-1933 - 10-1-1934", "page_number": 96, "title": "CO129-545-9 Proposed reorganisation of medical and sanitary services 2-11-1933 - 10-1-1934", "content_text": "# \n36 \n― \n37 \n\n## Power of Urban Council to cause slaughter of cases or contacts.\n\n## Burial or exhumation of carcases prohibited except under supervision.\n\n## Interpreta.tion.\n\n153. If in the opinion of the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon an animal is suffering from or has been in contact with an animal suffering from infectious or contagious disease, the Urban Council may cause such animal to be slaughtered and the carcase thereof to be disposed of in such manner as the Urban Council may think fit.\n\n154. No carcase of an animal shall be buried, or, after burial, be dug up, except under the supervision of the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon or of a sanitary inspector acting under his instructions.\n\n## Depots for Cattle, Pigs, Sheep and Goats.\n\n## General.\n\n155. In these by-laws.\n(a) \"Depot\" and \"Depots\" mean respectively a depot and the depots for cattle, swine, sheep and goats provided by the Government.\n(b) \"Officer in charge\" means the person appointed by the Urban Council to superintend and have the care of the Depots or any one of them or any part thereof.\n\n156. All cattle, swine, sheep and goats brought to the Colony for the purpose of being slaughtered shall be kept, except when turned out to graze, in a properly constructed Government Depot licensed by the Urban Council.\n\n## Fees for use of depôt.\n\n## Removal of animals without permit prohibited.\n\n## Owners of animals to provide food.\n\n## Government and Board do not accept responsibility.\n\n157. The fee payable for each head of cattle housed in a Depot shall be fifty cents when cattle are removed to any place other than the slaughter-house adjoining such Depot or another Depot, and the fee payable for each pig, sheep and goat similarly housed and removed shall be ten cents. No fee is payable on admission.\n\n158. No cattle, pigs, sheep or goats shall be removed from a Depot for any purpose except on a removal order signed by the officer in charge. Such order shall be granted on the production and deposit of the receipt given on the admission of the animals and in favour of the person therein named or of any other person on his order.\n\n159. The Urban Council shall provide water only for the use of the cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats, housed in the Depots. The owners of such animals shall provide proper and sufficient food and shall send men in sufficient numbers to look after, feed and water such animals, but no other unauthorised person may be or remain on the premises during such hours as the Depots are closed to the public.\n\n160. Neither the Government nor the Urban Council will be responsible for the safe custody of any cattle, pigs, sheep or goats housed in a Depot.\n\n161. The drenching of any animal with any substance whatever, or the administration of salt in any form, in a Depot, except with the permission of the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon or of the Inspector on duty, is prohibited.\n\n## Maintenance of Order in Depots\n\n## Admission to depot prohibited to unauthorized persons.\n\n162. No person, not being an officer or servant of the Council, shall enter or remain in the Depots except for the purpose of securing or of supplying food or water to any animal therein.\n\n163. No person shall use in the Depots any indecent or obscene language, or enter or remain therein in a state of intoxication.\n\n## Liquor prohibited.\n\n164. No person shall bring into the Depots any malt or spirituous liquor or any drug of any nature whatsoever.\n\n## Application to be in writing.\n\n165. Every person who may desire to use the Depots for the purpose of accommodating any animal shall make application, in writing, to the officer in charge, and permission to use the Depots shall be given to the several persons so applying in the order in which such applications are received.\n\n166. Every person using the Depots shall obey all reasonable orders given to him by the officer in charge, and shall conduct himself in a quiet and orderly manner therein.\n\n## Obstruction prohibited.\n\n167. No person shall obstruct or hinder any other person in the proper use of the Depots.\n\n## Disorderly conduct forbidden.\n\n168. No person shall by any disorderly or improper conduct disturb or interrupt any other person in the proper use of the Depots.\n\n## Hours of occupation to be fixed by Veterinary Surgeon.\n\n169. The Depots shall for the purpose of the admission of animals be open at such hours as may be fixed by the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon with the approval of the Urban Council, and no person shall attempt to gain access to or shall remain in the Depots at any other hour.\n\n## Notice of closing to be given.\n\n170. Whenever in the opinion of the Chairman of the Urban Council it is expedient for its maintenance or preservation to close any part of any Depots, he shall cause a notice in that behalf to be posted in some conspicuous part of such Depots specifying the part that is closed, and no person shall thereafter use or enter such part until a further notice has been published and posted as aforesaid notifying the re-opening of such part.\n\n## Animals to be inspected prior to admission.\n\n171. Every person desiring to bring an animal into the Depots shall apply to the officer in charge to inspect and pass such animal, and no person shall bring or cause to be brought into the Depots any animal which has not been duly inspected and passed by the officer in charge.\n\n## Beasts to be properly secured.\n\n172. Every person who shall bring or cause to be brought into the Depots any beast shall cause such beast to be securely tied to the tying irons in a byre assigned for the purpose: and every person who shall bring or cause to be brought into the Depots any sheep, lamb or goat shall cause such sheep, lamb or goat to be properly penned in a lair.\n\n80 \n― \n124", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-545-9 Proposed reorganisation of medical and sanitary services 2-11-1933 - 10-1-1934.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 543657, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-545-9 Proposed reorganisation of medical and sanitary services 2-11-1933 - 10-1-1934", "page_number": 116, "title": "CO129-545-9 Proposed reorganisation of medical and sanitary services 2-11-1933 - 10-1-1934", "content_text": "## Admission of Animals to Slaughter Houses\n\n10. No person affected with leprosy, sores or any contagious or infectious disease shall enter any slaughter house premises or shall take part in the slaughtering of any animal for human food or in the handling of the flesh of such animal.\n\n11. The Director of Medical and Sanitary Services, the Director of Public Works, the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, and the Inspector General of Police, and their respective officers, as well as any Food Officer shall at all times have free access to every part of every slaughter house.\n\n## Depots for Animals before admission to slaughter houses\n\n12. All cattle, swine, and goats brought to the Colony for the purpose of being slaughtered shall be kept, except when turned out to graze, in a properly constructed Government depot licensed by the Board.\n\n13. No such animal shall be permitted to remain in any Government depot for a longer period than twenty-one days: Provided that any such animal which is condemned by the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon as unfit to be slaughtered for human food shall be removed forthwith by the owner.\n\n14. No cattle, sheep or goats, shall be turned out to graze when the Council shall, for sanitary reasons, forbid such grazing by an order in writing.\n\n## Admission of Animals to Slaughter Houses\n\n15. The slaughter houses shall, for the purpose of the admissions of animals, be open at such hours as may be fixed by the Colonial Veterinary Surgeon with the approval of the Urban Council.\n\n16. Whenever in the opinion of the Council it is expedient for its maintenance or preservation to close any part of any slaughter house, a notice to that effect shall be posted in some conspicuous part of such slaughter house specifying the part that is to close, and no person shall thereafter use or enter such part until a further notice has been published and posted as aforesaid notifying the reopening of such part.\n\n17. No person shall bring into any slaughter house any animal which is not intended for slaughter and particularly shall not bring any dog into a slaughter house.\n\n18. No person shall convey or cause to be conveyed or attempt to convey any dead animal into any slaughter house for any purpose whatever.\n\n19. Every person desiring to bring an animal into a slaughter house shall apply to the officer in charge to inspect and pass such animal, and no person shall bring or cause to be brought or attempt to bring into a slaughter house any animal which has not been duly inspected and passed by the officer in charge.\n\n20. The mark known as the **Broad Arrow** shall be used for the purpose of denoting the fitness of cattle to be slaughtered for human food. No cattle shall be slaughtered for human food in any slaughter house unless marked with the broad arrow. Every person who, without lawful authority, stamps, uses, applies or impresses the broad arrow, or any mark apparently intended to resemble the broad arrow, on any cattle, shall be deemed to have contravened the provisions of these by-laws.\n\n149", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-545-9 Proposed reorganisation of medical and sanitary services 2-11-1933 - 10-1-1934.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 562585, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-572-5 King George V Memorial- progress report on fund 15-10-1937 - 17-2-1938", "page_number": 22, "title": "CO129-572-5 King George V Memorial- progress report on fund 15-10-1937 - 17-2-1938", "content_text": "# Committee incorporated.\n\n## Power to make rules and regulations.\n\nIt shall be lawful for the survivor or survivors of any of the above persons to appoint some other person in the place and stead of such person or persons so dying, resigning, becoming incapable to act or absent from this Island for more than twelve months.\n\n3. The above Committee shall be styled the **King George V Play Field Memorial Park Committee** and shall be a corporate body and shall have perpetual succession and a Common Seal which the said Committee may change and vary at its pleasure and by that name shall sue and be sued; And in the said Committee shall be vested all the estate property and effects now belonging to or held by the said Committee upon the terms and conditions and subject to the same stipulations, provisions and agreements as the same have been and are now held; and by the name aforesaid shall be capable of holding any estate real and personal or any interest therein.\n\n4. The **King George V Play Field Memorial Park Committee** shall have full power and authority to make, ordain and from time to time to change or repeal or vary as may seem proper rules and regulations for the carrying on of the said Play Field and Park; for and concerning the appointment, nomination, election, suspension, removal and expulsion of officers and servants or members of the said Committee of Management; for the management, collection and disposal of the funds, money or estate belonging to the said King George V Play Field Memorial Park and conducting and regulating the business affairs and concerns of the said Play Field and Park and relative to any other matter or thing whatsoever which may in anywise concern the conducting of the same and the hours and days of opening and closing same and the good and efficient government and management of the said Play Field and Park; and for the preservation of order and the prevention of nuisances therein and the removal of any person infringing any of such Rules; and for regulating the times, places, manner and order of meetings of the Committee and the quorum for the transaction of business; Provided Always that such rules and regulations be not in any way repugnant or contrary to His Majesty's Prerogative Royal or to the laws of Great Britain or this Island and that the same shall not in any manner affect any other person or persons than those who are or may become members of the said Committee or any officer or servant of the said Committee and any such rules when approved by the **Governor-in-Executive Committee** and published in the **Official Gazette** shall have the force and effect of law and any person infringing any of such rules shall be liable on summary conviction to a penalty not exceeding Five pounds.\n\n5. The funds as well as the real and personal estate Property of the said corporation shall be alone subject and liable to any charge and demand against the said corporation and no member of the Committee or any subscriber to the funds shall be liable or charged with the payment of any debt or demand due from the corporation beyond the extent of the aforesaid funds, property and effects of the said corporation.\n\n6. Nothing in this Act declared or expressed shall affect the rights of His Majesty the King his heirs and successors or any person, except such as are mentioned in this Act and those claiming by from or under them.\n\nRead three times and passed the General Assembly the tenth day of November, one thousand nine hundred and thirty six.\n\n**HAROLD AUSTIN**, \nSpeaker,\n\nRead three times and passed the Legislative Council the seventeenth day of November one thousand nine hundred and thirty six.\n\nI assent, \n**MARK YOUNG**, \nGovernor. \n21st November, 1936.\n\n**J. R. PHILLIPS**, \nPresident.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-572-5 King George V Memorial- progress report on fund 15-10-1937 - 17-2-1938.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 563295, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-574-13 British capital for China- Prime Minister's statement 5-11-1938 - 5-11-1938", "page_number": 55, "title": "CO129-574-13 British capital for China- Prime Minister's statement 5-11-1938 - 5-11-1938", "content_text": "# International Situation\n## HOUSE OF COMMONS\n\n[Mr. Stanley.] ...purchase and do purchase many of these commodities at above the world price, a thing which we cannot, with our free currency, attempt to do, but we have, even in the last few months, given in one or two ways considerable assistance to trading in those areas. There is the credit to Turkey, there has been a recent opportunity, which we had in turning over wheat under the Food Defence Plans Department, to buy a considerable block of Rumanian wheat; and I can assure traders that while we certainly will not attempt an economic war to drive Germany out of markets which are for her a natural outlet, we shall be prepared to give industries of this country every possible assistance in maintaining a normal and proper trade with those countries.\n\nBut the third point to which the hon. Gentleman referred was much the most important. It has nothing to do with merely South-eastern countries.\n\nIt being Eleven of the Clock, the Motion for the Adjournment of the House lapsed, without Question put.\n\nThe Orders were read, and postponed.\n\n## Question again proposed, That this House do now adjourn.\"[Captain Margesson.]\n\nMr. Stanley: I apologise for detaining the House, but the point which the hon. Gentleman raised is an important one for the future of our trade, and one to which, I think, everybody in industry must have been giving a considerable amount of thought in the past few years. It has really nothing to do with the peg on which the hon. Gentleman hung his argument. It is a problem of the old open economy practised by such countries as ourselves and America, who have to live now in the world with the closed economy of the totalitarian States. The problem is not confined only to living with Germany. The Russian economy presents, too, many difficulties to the old system. Somehow or other we have to find a way. Just as we have to find a way in the political sphere for democracies and dictatorships to live together, so in the economic sphere we have to find a way for the old-fashioned economy such as ours to live with the totalitarian economy of the dictator States. I agree with the hon. Gentleman that we are not going to find that modus vivendi by simply sitting down and allowing ourselves to be put out of market after market in the world. On the other hand, we are not out to try and turn other countries out of their markets. I do not agree with what the hon. Gentleman considers the ideal solution, but he said many things with which I do agree.\n\nI think it is possible to meet this competition only by doing what I believe we ought to do, and that is to come to a sensible arrangement with these countries for the allocation of the markets on the basis of the markets which we can each serve best. I do not believe we can compete with these countries unless to some extent we learn a new technique. We have prospered for many generations on a system of free competition in the markets of the world. When the individual firm in this country had to compete with a single firm, whether in Germany or America, or wherever it might be, it was competition which they were not afraid to face, and which they faced successfully. It is a very different thing when the single firm in this country has to face, first of all, the competition of a whole industry abroad, and when behind the competition of that industry is the power also of the whole State. That ceases to be competition, because the basis of it is so unfair. I do not believe that you can meet competition of that kind without to some extent adapting your methods in this country. To meet a challenge of that kind the first thing necessary is a greater degree of organisation on the export side in particular industries, so that an industry may speak as one and be enabled to devote its full strength to it if it comes to fighting for its existence and fighting for its fair share in a proper market.\n\nThe hon. Gentleman referred to two commodities, coal and textiles. I should say that coal was one of the industries in which that new technique was already being evolved and that some parts of the Bill which was passed last year were forced on the industry by the consideration to which the hon. Member has drawn attention and were directed to meet exactly those difficulties. With regard to textiles, what does the hon. Gentleman think is really the basis for the campaign in Lancashire in favour of the Bill which is now being prepared? It is the same view, that if we are to maintain our exports in face of the new form of competition there must be some form of unity in the industry which will enable it to direct its exporting power at its strongest wherever we wish it to direct it. There is a great deal we have to learn in dealing with this competition, and I can assure the House that the Government are fully alive to the dangers of an hindered development of a reckless competition of this kind. We believe the ideal solution is an arrangement between industries in the various countries which will fairly allocate the markets and enable competing countries to do the maximum of trade on the soundest basis possible, but we realise that we are never going to get an agreement of that kind unless, if it should come to a fight, we are in a position to fight. Therefore, we are prepared, in order to try to get an arrangement of that kind, to give whatever assistance we can to the industries of this country to put themselves in a position to fight, if fight they must.\n\nI have dealt as well as I could with the economic effects of the Munich Agreement and the broader questions arising from the new system in Europe, because I take no part in a Foreign Affairs Debate as an expert. I have only one other thing to say. The hon. Gentleman said that the Prime Minister was the only person in the world who did not regard Munich as a defeat. As I say, I am not the expert on foreign policy that the hon. Gentleman is, but I have heard something of the feelings of ordinary people in this country and in other countries in the world, and I believe that there are millions of people all over the world who do not regard the preservation of peace as a defeat.\n\nMr. Ede: Is not the right hon. Gentleman going to say anything about the Question, put to him by the Leader of the Opposition, by the hon. Member for Seaham (Mr. Shinwell) and by myself regarding the extraordinary statements made at Shoreham and Horsham by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster?\n\nMr. Stanley: I have not read them.\n\nQuestion, \"That this House do now adjourn,\" put, and agreed to.\n\nAdjourned accordingly at Ten Minutes after Eleven o'clock.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-574-13 British capital for China- Prime Minister's statement 5-11-1938 - 5-11-1938.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 571101, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-585-9 Sino-Japanese conflict- Chinese custom stations 14-7-1940 - 17-12-1940", "page_number": 26, "title": "CO129-585-9 Sino-Japanese conflict- Chinese custom stations 14-7-1940 - 17-12-1940", "content_text": "## 4.\n\nIt is confidentially and authoritatively disclosed that the Kowloon Customs issue is essentially political, that the importance the Japanese place on gaining immediate recognition of their \"control\" over the Head Office in Hongkong of the Kowloon Customs is in some extraordinary and unexplained manner connected with a desire that such an event should play a part in a general scheme to demonstrate effectively to Great Britain at an opportune moment that Japan has completed her conquest of China and is determined to brook no interference with her plan for the New Order in Asia\"; and that delay cannot be tolerated, lest by the autumn Great Britain should be in a position to assume a stronger attitude in the East.\n\nHow far the Japanese arguments and threat are merely bluff intended to induce the Inspector General to submit to their demands, and how far they are prepared to go at the moment in the actual execution of their threat, it is not possible to gauge. In the manner of presentation of their demands there is a ring of greater force and determination than was the case last autumn, and the Inspector General (who is generally regarded as a sort of international trustee for certain foreign trade, shipping, and financial interests in China or what is left of them) cannot afford to disregard these demands in their entirety. Since the commencement of the \"China incident\" the preservation of the Customs Service and the so-called Inspectorate system has been maintained more or less by argument and persuasion, and temporising and bending somewhat where non-essentials are concerned and where it has been within the competence of the Japanese to meet actual refusal with force. In the present case of the Kowloon Head Office refusal cannot be met by force, it is true, but disruption of the Customs Service as a whole in occupied areas is threatened instead. Obviously, therefore, if the integrity of the Service is to be maintained it is essential that some sort of formula be devised calculated to satisfy to some extent the Japanese exorbitant demands as outlined above, without unduly upsetting Chungking. Possibly a solution may be found in the appointment to the Kowloon Customs Head Office in Hongkong of a Deputy Commissioner (or Officer of lesser rank) of Japanese nationality to act as a liaison-officer and interpreter in connection with the Frontier Stations situated in the \"occupied area\". But even if this solution is accepted as a compromise by the Japanese Authorities (and provided, of course, that the Hongkong Government offer no objection) it is likely to incur criticism from the Chungking Government; and there also remains the possibility of a withdrawal of the Japanese occupying forces from the whole Frontier after such an appointment has been made, thus giving rise to an awkward situation.\n\nThe Customs position generally has become more serious and complicated of late, and while it is realised that existing world conditions may render...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-585-9 Sino-Japanese conflict- Chinese custom stations 14-7-1940 - 17-12-1940.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 571366, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-586-5 Centenary of the occupation of Hong Kong 8-7-1940 - 26-1-1941", "page_number": 9, "title": "CO129-586-5 Centenary of the occupation of Hong Kong 8-7-1940 - 26-1-1941", "content_text": "# CENTENARY \n## HONGKONG \n### South China Morning Post - Hongkong Telegraph. \n#### SUPPLEMENT \nJanuary 25, 1941.\n\n## HOW HONGKONG BECAME A CROWN COLONY\n\nThe old records set January 26 as the date on which Britain's representative, Captain Charles Elliot, R.N., took formal possession of the island in 1841. This is therefore the actual Centenary day; but a landing on the island by a British naval force, and a preliminary declaration of Queen Victoria's suzerainty, is reported to have taken place on January 25.\n\nThere can be little doubt that voyagers from the West have must sighted Hongkong island, and put in to one or other of its bays, many years before the British occupation we have years ago.\n\nNear Shekpaiwan, well established at least 200 years ago, was the village we know to-day as Little Hongkong. It was then named Heungkong, apparently a translation of \"Fragrant Streams,\" to give the most poetical version of the name. On most old charts, this village must have been marked as the principal town of the island; and no doubt, in time, the whole island came to be so named, thus giving us the present name of the Colony itself. The village of Little Hongkong, decimated by malaria, has within the past quarter century fallen partly into ruins, and its existence will in time probably be no more than a matter of local history - a striking commentary on the march of time.\n\nHONGKONG attains its hundredth year under British suzerainty in difficult times: conditions in a war-torn world prevent fitting celebration of a great historic event in the Colony's history. Nevertheless, Hongkong stands to-day a monument of British foresight, enterprise, and stamina; it is still a haven of refuge, a symbol of democratic freedom, and a beacon for many who falter in these troubled and uncertain times. Its history may well be unique, and its heritage one to cherish.\n\nIN these pages, of necessity in brief form, is given the main factual history of this Empire outpost against a background of grit and the true pioneering spirit; is told the plain story of how a barren, fever-stricken rock became the Hongkong of to-day - one of the largest seaports in the world, with a huge entrepot trade, important industries, and a population of near two millions when the whole territory of the Colony is included. It stands a bastion of civilisation, as democratic peoples translate that term; perhaps, also a challenge. Whatever the next hundred years may hold for Hongkong, its first century is a glorious one, and the tale of its development, however briefly told, should form an inspiration to any who come after us.\n\nThe reasons for the acquisition of the Colony make a rather long story, but may be summarised briefly. The first settlement at nearby Macao, and the arrival of the Dutch navigators and early missionaries, who went as far as Formosa and to Japan, had broken out between Britain and China, mainly owing to friction where foreign merchants had established themselves in the trading centres known as factories. Hostilities ceased at the beginning of 1841, and the decision to take over Hongkong in place of what is now Boundary Street, was to remain intact. The revolt, in which the city was involved, caused the British authorities to take all Chinese residing on the island under their control, and thus the de facto administration of Hongkong under British rule commenced.\n\nWhen Sir Henry Pottinger became Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony by Royal Warrant in 1843, the Colonial Government was organised, with a Lieutenant Governor, Major-General George C. D'Aguilar, C.B., who was the General Officer Commanding the British land forces in China. The title of Lieutenant Governor was abolished after his tenure; but he also administered the Government on several occasions up to 1847. The first Colonial Secretary was Lieut.-Col. George Alexander Malcolm (1843), who was succeeded by Mr F. W. A. Bruce in 1844, and by Major William Caine (who also was Chief Magistrate in those early years) in 1848. Lieut William Pedder, R.N., was the first Harbour Master (1843); the Colonial Surgeon being Dr Alexander (1843), succeeded by Dr F. Dill in 1844; and the first head of the Police Department was Mr Charles May, who took up his duties in 1844. The Post Office goes back as a department to 1842, when a Mr FitzGibbon was in charge, succeeded in a few months by a Mr Mullahy, who in turn gave place to Mr R. Edwards; Mr F. Spring followed in 1843; and in 1846, Mr Thomas Hyland was appointed, being the most energetic of the early Postmasters, and serving for some years.\n\n## THE BRITISH ADVENT\n\nKowloon Old City, now largely disappearing under development of the area, was until about fifteen years ago surrounded by an ancient wall in perfect state of preservation. Here for a considerable period, the centre of Chinese government of the adjacent area was the yamen. The city was founded seven or eight hundred years ago, and the Chinese attached so much sentimental value to the place that under the convention handing over the New Territories, jurisdiction of the Kowloon City yamen was to remain intact.\n\nThe Mandarin of Kowloon City still retained his yamen at that old town. On January 20, 1841, a Circular was issued from Macao by Captain Elliot, Chief Superintendent of Trade and Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary in China, announcing the cession of the island and harbour of Hongkong to the British Crown (as part of the terms of the peace with the Chinese). Captain Elliot arrived a few days later, on January 26, and had formal possession of the Colony concluded in 1858, but broke out again, and it was not until 1860 that hostilities ceased. The cession of Kowloon peninsula was taken over in 1861.\n\n## INCLUSION OF KOWLOON\n\nThe Colony of Hongkong continued to comprise merely the island area until 1861, when the small ceded territory of Kowloon peninsula was taken over. After the second war with China - known as the \"Arrow\" War owing to its being the result of an attack at Canton on a lorcha of that name, flying the British flag and owned by Hongkong Chinese - it was felt that for the proper defence of the island, the section of the mainland should also be in British possession.\n\nThe development of Kowloon proceeded apace, and Portuguese residents were prominent in this pioneering work. The New Territories were taken over on lease for 99 years, under a convention signed in Peking, the lease commencing on July 1, 1898. However, owing to trouble caused by Chinese agitators, the area had to be pacified, and it was not until April 1899 that full occupation was effected. Much of the trouble was centred in Taipo, and a detachment of troops, and some naval units, were sent to aid the Police. After some skirmishing, the British flag was hoisted at Taipo on April 16, and the trouble subsided. The greatest opposition was met at Kam Tin village, and the iron gates of that place were removed, but were returned (after being taken to England in the meantime) in 1925.\n\n## EARLY ADMINISTRATION\n\nThough Captain Elliot was the first administrator, the first officer to bear the title of Governor of Hongkong was Sir Henry Pottinger, G.C.B. This was owing to the technical formalities of taking over Hongkong as a British Crown Colony; so Sir Henry commenced as Administrator and concluded his term of office as Governor. Mr A. R. Johnston succeeded Captain Elliot on June 22, 1841, as Administrator, Sir Henry Pottinger assuming office on August 12 the same year, and being appointed Governor on June 26, 1843, when the island was officially designated \"the Colony of Hongkong.\" \n\nThese early administrators, in fact, were Superintendents of Trade. Mr A. T. Gordon was the first Surveyor General (a title changed in 1891 to Director of Public Works), and took up his post in 1843, being succeeded by Mr C. St George Cleverly in 1845. That saw the beginnings of the Public Works Department.\n\nThe first Registrar General (an office changed to that of Secretary for Chinese Affairs in 1913) was Mr S. T. Fearon, in 1845, who was succeeded in 1846 by Mr A. L. Inglis.\n\nThe Supreme Court was founded in 1844, the first Chief Justice, appointed that year, being Mr John Walter Hulme. The first Registrar of the Supreme Court (1844) was Mr R. D. Cay.\n\nThe earliest of the Colonial Treasurers (a title recently changed to Accountant General) was Mr E. Elmslie.\n\nOne of the most interesting narratives of the landing on the island has been preserved in a narrative of the voyage of H.M.S. Sulphur in 1836-1842: by Dr Clarke Abel, K.C.B.\n\nNear Kowloon City is the Sung Wong terrace, where a large rock reputed to have formed a shelter for Emperor Dai Ping, who when he was in flight from the Mongolian invaders, rested for a brief period at Kowloon. \n\nThe following interesting account is given: \"On the return of the Commodore (to Macao) on the 24th of January, 1841, we were directed to proceed to Hongkong, and commence its survey. We landed on Monday, the 25th, 1841, at fifteen minutes past eight a.m., and being the bona fide first possessors, Her Majesty's health was drunk with three cheers on Possession Mount. On the 26th, the squadron arrived; the marines were landed, the union flag hoisted on our post, and formal possession taken of the island, by Commodore Sir J. J. G. Bremer, accompanied by the other officers of the squadron, under a feu-de-joie from the other marines, and a royal salute from the ships of war.\"\n\nIt is interesting to note that Possession Point (now Chinese recreation ground) appears on older plans of the city, situated not far from the waterfront, near Queen Street, in a space enclosed by Queen's Road on the north and Gap Street on the south. Possession Street exists to-day, immediately alongside, connecting Queen's Road and Hollywood Road.\n\nThe reference to Macao is explained by the fact that, when the war with China broke out, British and other foreign residents evacuated Canton and took refuge in the friendly Portuguese colony until hostilities were over, and for a time, British interests in China had been directed from Macao.\n\nPage 9", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-586-5 Centenary of the occupation of Hong Kong 8-7-1940 - 26-1-1941.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 578570, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-592-1 Reports on current situation- medical work 3-11-1945 - 7-3-1946", "page_number": 26, "title": "CO129-592-1 Reports on current situation- medical work 3-11-1945 - 7-3-1946", "content_text": "24\n\n-5-\n\nat Stanley to the Sikh Temple in Morrison Hill Road, Hong Kong, and internees evacuated later from the Peak Reservation to the above mentioned Indian Quarters.\n\nThe trucks were also used to carry a considerable quantity of stores to Stanley Camp, e.g., about 2,000 camp beds, hundreds of blankets, large quantities of milk, bread, beans, peanuts, tinned meat or fish, oil, seeds, eating and cooking utensils, tools, clothes, shoes, drugs, dressings, instruments, school benches and appliances, etc.\n\nJ. International Welfare Committee.\n\nIn order that the Informal Welfare Committee operating in Hong Kong might learn what was most urgently required in the Camp, an International Welfare Committee was brought into being in the Camp.\n\nThe original members were: Mr. Rankin (U.S.A.), Mr. Hartog (Dutch), Miss Elliott (British), with Miss M.S. Watson (British) as the first Chairman. In July, 1942, the Hon. Mr. F.C. Gimson took over the chairmanship of this Committee, which rendered most valuable service to the Stanley Camp community.\n\nK. Difficulty in raising funds.\n\nThe banks remained closed in the earlier part of 1942, and anyone assisting the British with funds was liable to lose life and liberty. With a combined guarantee for repayment, if required, which the Hon. Mr. F.C. Gimson, supported by British bankers, was prepared to give, I was able to induce Messrs. Gale and Fifer (U.S.A. Red Cross) to approve advances up to $250,000 for the purpose of purchasing foodstuffs, etc., required by Stanley Camp and other groups in Hong Kong. In the second half of 1942, the late Sir Vandeleur Grayburn and the late Mr. D.C. Edmonston were able to arrange for very considerable sums through Indian merchants to meet, as far as possible, the needs of the civilian and military internment camps.\n\n(2) This courageous action was followed by the arrest in March, 1943, of Sir Vandeleur Grayburn, who died in prison in the following August, and of Mr. D.C. Edmonston, who was arrested in May, 1943, and died in prison in August, 1944.\n\nL. Groups to carry supplies to Military Hospital, etc.\n\nIn order to get supplies into Bowen Road Military Hospital, Shamshuipo Camp, and, to a lesser extent, into North Point, Argyle, and Ma Tau Chung Camps - especially after I was forbidden by the Japanese to visit them myself - it was necessary to organise groups of volunteers to pack and carry gunny bags from the Welfare Committee's store at St. Paul's Hospital.\n\nMy wife took charge of the Military Hospital contingent and succeeded in getting in large quantities of foodstuffs and medicines. For example, on one weekly delivery, her party carried 2,000 fresh eggs, apart from such things as milk, barley, peanuts, soya bean flour, bran, concentrated shark's liver oil, tinned meat, vitamin tablets, injections, etc. Miss Helen Ho, a Chinese Eurasian girl of remarkable courage and resourcefulness, had charge of the group responsible for taking foodstuffs, vitamins, clothes, shoes, medicines, games materials, etc., to the prisoner of war camps.\n\nShe", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-592-1 Reports on current situation- medical work 3-11-1945 - 7-3-1946.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 583821, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-597-3 Estimates 1950 22-2-1949 - 3-11-1950", "page_number": 244, "title": "CO129-597-3 Estimates 1950 22-2-1949 - 3-11-1950", "content_text": "# Huge Budget Asked For HK Security\n## Higher Local Postage, Revenue Stamp Rates Urged To Meet Record Outlay Of $179,586,970\n\nThe Hongkong government announced yesterday that its record-breaking $179,586,970 budget was for \"security\" against \"the deteriorating situation in Southeast Asia.\"\n\nFinancial Secretary the Hon. Charles G. S. Follows warned the Legislative Council that Hongkong's \"chief concern\" for the coming year must be the \"preservation of law and order within our borders.\" He added that Hongkong would \"have to guard against developments which may or may not occur.\"\n\nExpenditures having \"a direct or indirect bearing on security\" alone reached \"the formidable figure of $26,000,000.\" \n\n### Internal Order\n\nThe manufacture of finished products from raw materials or in the re-834 are estimated to cost $1,117, while expenditure on the upkeep of vehicles is expected to amount to $2,155,660. It is normally more economical for government servants to use their own cars on official journeys and draw mileage allowance, and now that most officers have cars of their own, it may be possible to effect reductions in government vehicles and in the number of drivers, he said.\n\n### High Budget\n\nWith the arrival of new animal husbandry experts in the Colony, additional work is being carried out in the New Territories against rinderpest and on experimentation in fertilizers and in rice and vegetable production, Mr. Follows said.\n\nThe proposed 1949-1950 budget total was still between one or two million dollars below the figure required to finance expenditure, even after the latter had been reduced to the lowest possible level consistent with commitments. Mr. Follows explained that normal revenue totals only just over $164,000,000. In budgeting for an expenditure of nearly $180,000,000, the Financial Secretary said the government was quite justified in the increase.\n\nTo bridge the gap between revenue and expenditure, the Estimates Committee advised against taxation of such a manner that trade would be driven away from the Colony. Mr. Follows said that the services provided by Hongkong are already relatively expensive, but fortunately, this has so far been offset by the fact that it can provide better facilities and greater security than its competitors.\n\n### Departmental Estimates\n\nDepartmental estimates have accordingly been very carefully scrutinized, both by himself and his assistants and the Estimates Committee, the Financial Secretary added, and reductions have been effected wherever possible.\n\nIn the field of education, considerable increases in staff are provided for, involving an increase in personal emoluments of $500,000.\n\nThe Financial Secretary also disclosed that under subhead 4 of the Public Works Extraordinary Head, a total of $700,000 for the construction of \"Workers' Schools\" has been included.\n\n\"It is also hoped that reconstruction of Kings College, the Kowloon Junior School, and the Vernacular Primary School will soon be put in hand. These works have been provided for under the Public Works Extraordinary Head, a $73,826,874 in respect of the personal emoluments of the government staff has been set aside, and these include $45,126,874 in basic salaries; $28,000,000 provided under cost of living allowances; and $700,000 for railway living allowance,\" Mr. Follows said.\n\nAnother item on the budget comprises a large proportion of the estimates is Public Works Extraordinary, for which $19,618,000 has been earmarked.\n\nExplaining the reason for this large appropriation, Mr. Follows said that the number of new schemes submitted for consideration is large, and it was finally decided, on the unanimous advice of the unofficial members, that the increase should be limited to the minimum required to produce a balanced budget.\n\n### Increased Taxes\n\nThe proposed additional measures are:\n1. To double the present duty proof 24 cents a gallon on table waters, which is equivalent to a tax of four cents a bottle compared with the present rate of two cents.\n2. To increase the basic local postage rate for letters from five cents to 10 cents, and for postcards from two cents to five cents.\n3. To raise the stamp duty on cheques and receipts from 10 to 15 cents, and to recover some portion of the administrative cost by requiring all applications for import and export licences in future to bear a $1 stamp.\n\nThese measures are expected to yield $500,000, $350,000, and $650,000 respectively.\n\n\"The government will have to provide the necessary funds for the training and equipment of the Defence Force, which is now being recruited and whose primary role is to assist in the maintenance of internal order,\" Mr. Follows said.\n\n### Transfer Of Funds\n\nThe Financial Secretary pointed out that the apparent reduction in expenditure under the Education Head from $12,000,000 to $5,000,000 merited a word of explanation. In fact, there has been no reduction, as all expenditure connected with grant-aided schools has been transferred to the Subventions Head. And on the whole, the total appropriation to education runs to $13,065,100, which represents an increase of $940,962.\n\nSpecial Expenditures, excluding Public Works Extraordinary, total $11,468,520 as compared with $6,714,060 in 1948-49.\n\n### Government Grant\n\nThe estimated revenue intake to meet the government's expenditure, according to Mr. Follows, is $180,019,370, which includes a sum of $16,000,000 representing the grant made by His Majesty's government as part of the war expenditure settlement to assist the Colony in solving problems arising out of expenditure connected with the war.\n\n\"Too Much\"\n\n\"We are undoubtedly spending too much on personal emoluments,\" Mr. Follows said, \"but there has been no opportunity to reduce staff. Altogether, there have so far been staff cuts amounting to approximately 380 employees.\"", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-597-3 Estimates 1950 22-2-1949 - 3-11-1950.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 } ]