1916-10-06 — Page 6

THE GOVERNANCE OF HONGKONG.

(Continued from paye 2)

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 6rv. 1916.

d. Talso enclose for your perusal Sin, I have to acknowledge cogipt of articles by the four Local British news your letter of the 14th instant. papers on the Petition when it was first | The Hon. Mr. H. E. Pollock, without published in the Press, and the comments any application for any sanction, has l of the leading British newspaper in made use of my name in a manner which Shanghai, the North China Daily Tres was not warranted by any conversation a cupied into our local Press) and also I had with him and has represented lending article of the Hongkong Daily views which I do not remember giving Press upon the documents connected with expression to in a light favourable to his the Petition of 1864 which documents petition with a view of explaining the were sent by the Hongkong Government absence of my signature therefrom, to the Press for publication, on the 25th My personal views on the subject, denlt January, 1916, apparently in the hope that they would adversely affect the with in the petition, are not fully cry- stlized, and I thought 1 made it cleaT. signing of the Petition.

9. It is probably superfluous to point to Mr. Pellock that I could not support out that the solid Official Vote has con- any changes in the Government Lero stantly been employed for the purposes without first being given time to submit of voting down the Un-official Members, them to those I represent at home. I am, and their wishes, and it will content my self, therefore, with citing two instances from the Hongkong Hansard for 1014:

(i) On the 23rd April 1014 (500 p 39

& In the second place I would be leave to mention that the first 28 signan tares are those of representatives important shipping, commercial, and financial institutions doing business in this Colony, as the following particulars will showHere follow particblare. 1

4-Mc Landale, the Hongkong lead of Messrs, Jardine, Matheson & Co., Ltd. and Mr, Shellum, the Hongkong head of Messrs. David Bassoon & Co., Ltd. us nominated members upon the Legislative Council, might not unnaturally have been Expected to have sonte bias against the petition, but Mr. Laadale informed me quite frankly that he was in favour of Bn unofficial jority on the Tegislative Council and wis generally in favour of the other chipets of the petition, but that he thought that it would be an ungracious act for him to sign because the Hongkong head of Jardine, Matheson & Co. had always been nominated by the Govern ment to a sest on the Legislative Council, without the necessity of any election, and that, by signing himmelf, he might be effecting in the above respect the position: of future heads of Jardine, Matheson Co, Mr, Shellin wrote to me that he was sorry that be could not see his way to signing the petition, as he did not en sider the time opportune, but that gener ally he agreed with it and thought thas it would have a better chance if brought forward at a more biting opportunity..

..Bir Pani Chater, who, as Mr. Chater, signed, in 1691, the petition to the House of Commons which asked (inter alia) not only for a British unofficial majority on the Legislative Council but also for freedom of debate and voting for the official members, expressed his unwilling ness to sign any such petition now, on the ground that the time was inopportune. heenuse of the war.

Mr. Edkins, who is in charge of Messra Butterfield, & Swire here, without con mitting himself to my definite view either for or against the objects of the petition, stated that it would, in muy event, be impossible for him, as paid Manager of

· Messrs. Butterfeld & Swire, to sign any such petition without first referring the matter home to the partners in that arm for their decision.

Mr. Stabl, Chir Manager of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank stated his view that no change of any sort in the constitution was required.).

With all due deforence to Mr. Stabb's view I would point out

(1.) That a former Chief Manager of tha Bank, Sir Thomas Jackson K.C.M.G. (then Mr. Jackson), signed the above-mentioned petition to the House of Commons in 1894, at a time when he had not only been Chief Manager of the Bank for 15 years, but had also had some per sonal experience himself as an un official member of the Legislative Council (ii) That all the Directors of the Hong "kong and Shanghai Bank (excep; Mr. Edkins, who adopted a new committal attitude na above stated) are in general. agreement with the petition,

of lansard), the Motion of the late Mr. Hewett, in Finance Committee, in which he was supported by all the other Un officials then present, for the adjonrument of the Law

el

DAYAD LARDALE

The Hon. Mr. Claud Sorern,

Colonial Secretary, Hongkong.

Hongkong, 18th March, 1916. B-In reply to your letter of the 14th March, No. 2003/1915, I have the honour to inform you that I am correctly report ed in the passage quoted by you,

Courts vote for one fortnight only, I beg to point out, however, that my was defeated by the Official Voto letter was supplementary to conversa (ii) At the very next Meeting of the tion I had with Me. Pollock in which I Council, on the 7th May, 1914 (800 expressed the view that come well con p. 47 of Hansard) the Motion sidered concessions might well be made minde by ine for a Commission of 5 Un-official Justices to be appointed by the Government, but I did not com to inquire into the sufficiency insider the present an opportune time to number, efficiency and organisation raise the question. My letter should be of the Nursing Braff at the Govern- read entirely with reference to such con- mont Hospitals was defeated by the veraation, which did not refer in any way Official Vote, with I may add, to the details of the petition or pro very unfortunate results at the posals which I had not considered and present time, for

which it was impossible for me to slady in the time then at my disposal.

1. The Government Civil Hospital is yet more understaffed than it was then for the carrying on of the ordinary work; and is in fact seriously, understaffed in view of the annual recurrence of plague combined with cases of typhoid and other serious diseases; and Bisters, who are due for leave and urgently require it after 4 years! work, are now unable to obtain

I am emphatically of opinion that, at this stage of the Great War in which the Nation is engaged, it is out of place to bring forward a question of the nature of the petition. I am, etc.,

E. SHELLIN. The Honomable Thu Colonial Secretary, Present

Hongkong, 15th March, 1910.

Si-We have the honour to acknow-i

it, and I may add that the ledge the receipt of your letter No. difficulty of getting Nurses to 2003/1015 dated the 14th instant enclos come out to serve in the Govern

ment Hospitals in Hongkong isg a copy of an extract from Mr. H. E. not in any way due to the War, Pollock's letter, etc.

for there is no similar difficulty Pollock hud twice spaken to is on the

In reply, we beg to state that Mr experienced in getting Nurses to serve in Singapore and the subject of the petition to the Secretary Federated Malay States,

of State for the Colonies and we suggeste

In making my Motion, on the above ed that we had better be left alone, as we ocension, I said (see p. 44 of Hankard);—had heard no mention of the matter by I think it is very much to be regretted the Chinese public nor had they up- that in this as in many other casca the proached us on the question.We have, Government of this Colony has treated etc., the official Members in an adversa and hostile spirit instead of taking the| Unofficial Mombers into their counsel The Honourable The Colonial Secretary: and co-operation."

Prince's "Bu Idings, Hongkong,

22nd March, 1910.

WEL YUK. LAU CHU-PAK

One is, in fact, forced to believe that such almost automatic and decidedly arbitrary employments of the Official Sin,Your letter to me at the 18th

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Vote as are referred to above, most de instant did not beach my other till the CUTLER PALMER & CO'S. cidedly would not take place if the Un- 20th on which day I was absent from the officials were not in a permanent and vitice) and i now beg leave to reply to it hopeless minority, being unable by any and to its inclosures, and 1 beg to re- possible powera of persuasion or argu-quest you to kindly transmit this letter ment to obtain a majority, of votes. In of mine to tão Right Honourable The short the Officials can defeat the Un-Secretary of State for the Colonies, at officials with catress nul despatch every the same time us you forward to him single time, no matter how strong the your letter to me of the 18th instant, and weight of public opinion is behind the its inclosures,

5. With regard to the suggestion that the present the is inopportune for for warding any such petition (which sugges tion seems rather like an echo of the utterance of His Excellency the Governor, 10. I am forwarding the Petition with not a request that all despatches from the in the Legislative Council, on the 23rd the original signatures thereto and Governor to the Secretary of State on December Inst when I first raised the copy of this covering letter to the Colo the subject of the Petition should be pub question) I would beg leave to state that nial Secretary here for transmission to lished, though I should, if I may be per it is fully and clearly recognised that His Excellency the Governor, and am under the war conditions at present pre at the same time asking, and I submit mitted to say so welcome such publica vailing, no definite answer can be expected that my request is a perfectly reasonable tion, but my request was, in fact, for to this petition until after the lapse of one, that I should be furnished with ngomething different, namely, that in Home months, but is nevertheless copy of every Despatch of His Excellency justice and fairness to the Petitioners earnestly and respectfully hoped that the the Governor and of the Hongkong Gov and their canse 1 may be furnished with consideration of this petition will not beernment to you, uɲón or in any way cupie", of all despatches and of all in- shelved until the end of the present war, connected with the Petition, and of any closures theretu which are sent by His because it is felt that increased official enclosures therein, in order that I may Excellency, the Governor or the Hong- representation on the Councils is desirable have, in consultation with others, an kong Government to the Right Honour befote that time arrives, in order that a opportunity of replying to auch Despatchable the Secretary of State for the Government, more representative of the or Despatches and enclosures (if any). Colonies with reference to or in any way wishes of the business men of this Colony, With many apologies for the length of connected with the Petition." may be established for the purpose of this letter. I am, Sir, Your most I am much obliged to you for for dealing with any trade and shipping prob: obedient servant, lems which may arise in anticipation of the close of the wars

latter, nid the so-called representatives: 2-8 th regard to the third paragraph. of the public on the Council have no real of your said letter I beg leave respectful power whatever to give effect to the ly to point out that the request contained wishes of the public,

in my letter to you of the 9th instant was

H. E. POLLOCK. I would also beg leave to draw your

[ENCLOSURE 4 (*)], attention to the enclosed letter whieli I

Hongkong, 18th March, 1916. addressed to the four local British news- SIR-I am directed to acknowledge papers, enclosing a copy of the petition, the receipt of your letter of the 9th inst.. in which, in consequence of suggestions stating that you have seat to the Secre made to me, I promised that I would tary of State for the Colonies a Petition, bring to your notice, in the covering letter with copy of the signatures, thereto tu forwarding the petition, the desire x-gether with a covering letter and enclo pressed für a more comprehensive electoral sures, praying for greater un-oficial re- body than the Chamber of Commerce dr presentation on the Councils of the the Non-official Justices of the Peace

I may add that it was deemed advis Colony, and enclosing copies of the docu ments with signatures to the Petition in

able to limit the signatories to those of original for the information of the British Race, and that no members of Governor.

the Indian, Portuguese or Chinese com In reply I am to transmit to you a munities have been asked to sign, though copy of Colonial Regulation No. 213 and (as above stated) a few Indians and to point out that your action in forward- Portuguese bave signed the Petition presumably because they considered that ing the Petition to the Secretary of State they were interested as possible pro- for the Colonies direct is irregular and

of does not serve any useful object,

Jurors voters at their capacity With regard to your request that all The Chinese Un-official Members of despatches from the Governor to the Council have not signed the Fetition, Secretary of State on this subject should (no Chinese being invited to sign, as be published, I am to point out that His above stated). In connection with this Excellency, hus, no objection whatever to fatter point, it may be observed that, if that course, but since the correspondence two additional Chinese Members were to will be addressed to the Secretary of be added to the Legislative Council, in State its publication is a matter for the addition to the 10 Un-official Members Secretary of State to decide

suggested in the Petition, the present As a lawyer you will appreciate the im proportion of Chinese Members to the portance in a matter of this kind of re rest of the Un-official Menbers would be ferring your quotations of opinions of preserved It should also be noted that Meaars, Landale and Shellim to the prin the present Petition does not ask, as did cipals. I attach for your information the 1894 Petition, for a British Un-official the enclosed correspondence on the sub- Majority, and consequently whether the. number of Un-officials be 10 or be in-

warding to me copies of correspondence which has passed between Mr. Landalas and Mr. Shellim and the Chinese mom- |bers o. Council and yourself and bag to

say as follows:

(1)--With regard to Mr. Landale's let-

ter to you of the 16th instant, I adhere to and repeat the statements which 1 made in paragraph. 4 of my covering letter, of the 8th inst., to the Secretary of State, because those statements are absolutely. true. I may add that Mr. Landale never gave me to understand that he could not sign the Petition (of. which I left a copy with him for perusal) without first referring the matter home, and that the only rea son which ho gave me for not sign- ing the Petition is the reason which I have quoted in paragraph d of ray said covering letter.

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As Mr. Landalo did not ask me, to treat what he said to me as con- fidontial; I cannot admit that there was any impropriety on my part All imported gramophone records are in quoting him, or that there was hereafter to be censored (says The Times any necessity for first obtaining bis Petrograd correspondent) owing to the sanction. Sh

accidental dicovery of large numbers of (2)With reference to Mr. Shellim's German origin, whose actual contents, in- letter to you of the 16th instant, instead of being the harmless musical pro- which he seeks to qualify what hedactions indicated on the labels, were wrote to me by a previous verbal cund to consist of scurrilous anti-Bus- conversation, I beg leave to stato sian lampoons, preposterou reports in that, at the only verbal converat Russian describing the military situation tion which I had with him on the sad the internal state of Russia subject, he asked me to leave n copy of the Petition with him (which I did) and told me that he would put his views into writing, and send them to me, which bo did on the following day, and he nd- mits that I have correctly quoted to the Secretary of State what he (Mr. Sheilim) wrote to me.

ereased to 12 by the addition of two I am also to forward for your informa Chinese Members, would be impossible ton correspondence with the Chines un to get an Unofficial Majority otherwise oficial members of Council on the sub- than by the combined European and ject of your statement that no members Chinese Un-offein Vote. There would of the Chinese community were asked to therefore, bo no risk whatever (as there sign the Petition, which I may here ob might have been if the prayer of the serve was deposited in various public 1844 Petition had been granted) of the places for anyone to sign who might (3) With regard to the Chinese meme wishes of the important Chinese com- wish to do so.-I am, etc munity in this Colony being overruled

by the vote of the British Unofficial

Members outweighing the combined votes The Honourable

both of the Official and the Chinese Mom-

bors. The power of the Governor to anspend legislation and of the Secretary

CLAUD SEVERN,

Colonial Secretary.

Mr. H. E. Pollock, KC,

In reply to letters of inquiry from the

of State to vote it are additional sute Colonial Secretary, the following were

guards to the rights of the native populareceived

tion;

Hongkong, 16th March, 1916.

bers of Council, the question arose, while I was discussing a draft of the Petition with them, as to whether the Chinese should be included in the Petition, and the Chinese mem- bers said they had better be omitted. Accordingly, when the Petition was printed in its final shape and ready (Continued at foot of next Golume.)

for-signature, I did not invite them or any of the Chinese to sign the Petition which was not sent to any Chinese Club, Institution or Store Moreover, the Folution ex- pressly states, in its terms, that it is a Petition by Brith Besid ents ** and it was, therefore, not open (28 you suggest in your for letter under acknowledgment) any one to sign who might wish to do so,”* The Petition of 1894, the other hand, was, by its terms, open to signatories of every

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