1921-07-05 — Page 2

Page

THORNYCROFT

JOHN I THORNYOKOFT & CO., LIMITED,

SHIPBUILDING AND ENGINEERS,

London, Southampton and BASINGSTOKX.

+3

Shanghai Ofce: 10, Kiukiang Road.

15 B.H.P. 30 B.H.P. 50 B.H.P. Engines

in Stock

For quotation apply-

ENGLISH WHITE SUN TOPEES AT GREATLY

REDUCED PRICES

SHANGHAI OFFICE.

THE HONGKUNG TAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, JULY 6TH, "-Abal.

TRESS MINTO" Sun Topees, special ens position Buty, covered with fine White Drill White Pugrare, I eather Chinstrap and Undyed Calf Headband and Binding.

TO-DAY'S PRICE $10 cach THE DURBAN Sun Topees, light com Position Poly Covered White Satin Jeen, White Mull Poggare, Leather Chinstrap. Heälland and Binding.

TO-DAY'S' PRICE. $12 each THE FEATHERWEIGHT” Sun Toper, very Ene light Cork-line Bly, cover Superior Quality White Drill. White Mall Puzures, Soft Leather Headband, Chinstrap hul Bimling.

TO-DAY'S PRICE $17 cach Standarl Sun Toper "ELLWOODS." "Elword" city, guranteed Waterproof as wollux Somproc. Specialy prepared Felt-lined Composition Pruly with White Drillette Cover, White Mall Puggare & Leather Headband Chinstrap and Binding

TO-DAY'S PRICE $18 cach HAWKE'S Patent Sun Helmets, the very best San Tuber proensable, fitted with new patent Spring-fitting Hera. Eaxily the coolest smartest, safest, and most comfortable Toper to wear. TO-DAY'S PRICE $19.50 each Men's Wear Specialists,

MACKINTOSH & CO., LTD.,.

1. 16. Des Vœux Rd, Phone 29.

EY

APPOINTMENT

Apollinaris

NATURAL MINERAL WATER. NOW AGAIN OBTAINABLE

[88

Since its foundation in 1872, the Apollinaris business has always been BRITISH-OWNED

THE APOLLINARIS CO., LTD.

Obtainable at:

THE HONGKONG HOTEL THE REPULSE BAY HOTEL and all lerding "Clubs"&" Stores.

Sold by:

LANE, CRAWFORD & CO.

NOTICE.

MESSRS. GILLARD & CO.

HAVE GREAT PLEASURE

an informing the

PUBLIC

that they have just received

THE WARRANT OF APPOINTMENT

AS

SAUCE and PICKLE MAKERS

ΤΟ

HRH. THE PRINCE OF WALES THESE SAUCES and PICKLES May be obtained from

LANE, CRAWFORD & CO.

and

All other Stores

SHOULD THEY BE UNOBTAINABLE FROM YOUR DEALER, PLEASE COMMUNICATE WITH

DONNELLY & WHYTE,

TIL 836

SHANGHAI RICE SHOPS. THREATENED STRIKE AGAINST A LICENSE ORDER.

A GRAVE SITUATION, The gravity of the rice situation, saya the Shanghai, Gazette, of June 27th, is admitted by the Municipal authorities but the weather enrglitions have made it impossible for them to accurately judge the extent of the problem which faces then..

There are many rice laden junks Iring at nughor in Seochow Creek, their dar gos. untouched.

That the rice merchants, protesting against the order of the Municipal Coun- eil that all rice shops must be licensed, hare refused to purchase uw supplies from the countrymen is the logical, ex- planation. But with weather such as has prevailed recently it is probable that very few of the cargoes would have been brought ushore ünder normal conditions

The situation is this- น Municipal Council authorities insist that the rice soups submit to license; at which will hardly dover the cost of printing, the, forms, The velsons; given are that a license system will pre vent profiteering and hoarding, and place the shopkeepers or the usual business

busia.

Hice dealers flatly refuse to subint to the license and declare that they will shut their shops on July 1st, unless the order is rescinded. They give many and various reasons for their attitude. They sty they will luse face if they are placed in the same category as keepers of wine shops and brothels and that they object to the possibility of unauthorized persons inspecting their books if fraudulently "re- presenting themselves as agents, of the icense bureau.

In the meantime, shipments of rice from up country are becoming infrequent because of the fact that eargoes brought here have not been purchased. Rumours are afloat that some rice junks have been stopped up Soochow Creek and turned back to the pint of departures. But these stories are given little cred- puce here as fo report of the kind has been received officially,

There is no shortage of rice at the shipping points and if an agreement can

CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

FOR HONGKONG.

8.Furthermore, the Unofficial Mem. bers of Council are themselves in a hopes | less and pinanent minority on the THE PETITION TO THE HOUSE OF Legistative Council, which consists of 14

COMMONS.

Members, namely, s Official Members (in- eluding the Governor) and is 'Unofficial Alembers.

The petition for a more representative form of Constitution in Hongkong which

now available for siganture by resiIt is necessary to add that the Official Members z nát fire to votencending dents of the Colony is as follows:-

PETITION.

FOR A MORE REPRESENTATIVE FORM Or CONSTITUTION IN HONGKONG

To the members of the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in Parliament assembled.

The bumble stition of the undersigned inhabitants of the Crown Colony of

Hongkong.

Showeth as follows:- 1-The Colony of Hongkong, situated in the China Seas, is one of the most valuable and important of the Crown Colonies.

-It is 80 years, siner the Colony was founded on a barren rock, which was then the abode of a few fisherman and pirates. Today it is a Colony compris

ing not only the Island of Hongkong bat also part of the mainland called Kowloon and the New Territories, the development of which is expanding rapilly."

The population is over 800.000, and the Colony had a trade of 212 million pounds sterling" (axclusive of bullion) for the year 1920. The revenue, which is wholly derived from internal taxation, amounts to about 15 million dollars annually, of which 20 per cent.exclusive of the premin derived from sales of Crown Land, is contributed to the Imperial Government for Military purposes.

Hongkong is a free port and is one of the biggest shipping ports of the world. The total tonnage engaged in Foreign Trade that entered and cleared during] 1920 was 24.394.022 tons, as compared with 13,517,000 tons in Liverpool and 13.080,000 tons in London."

It is the centre of enormous British

be reached between the Council and the i interests and is an extensive distributing shopkeepers there is no danger of an- centre of British trade in South China. other famine, But whether the two with regular and frequent steamship con- opposing forces can be brought together on a common ground is a question of doubt. Both are taking arm stands that promise a crisis on July 1st."

At the present time the shopkeepers are depleting their stocks rapidly" and are aut replenishing them. They refuse to buy further supplies on the theory that in the event of rice riots their places of business would be broached and they would lose their stocks to the hungry mobs.

nections not caly with the port of the East and Far. Eust, but also with the Continents of Europe, America, Australia | and Africa.

Furthermore, when the Railroad is completed from Canton to Hunkow there will be direct communication by rail from Hongkong with all parts of Chios and also with all the principal Capitals of Aud, to add to the gravity of the Europe, thereby increasing the Colony's: situation, it is admitted that at the pre-commercial importance. seat time there is scarcely enough rice!

As a result of the recent Great War, in the Settlement to feed the Chinese po- pulation for a week. Prices are certain in which British subjects throughout the to take a skyward trend if the threats Empire contributed their, quota in men of the dealers are carried out and the authorities confess that they are appre hensive of the consequences.

share of the common burden.

and mones, Mis. Majesty's Government has decided that the component parts of There is plenty of rice to feed the the Empire should have a greater valco people of the Settlement, if the shop in the conduct of their own local affairs. keepers of Frenchtown and the Chinese

Wo, your petitioners, ask that the same districts outlying the International Com munity do not join in in the movement. principle may be extended to us in Hong Many of the Frenchtown dealers, how-kong, inasmuch as we accepted our due ever, have signed an agreement to stand with the settlement" merchants and it is problematical as to whether or not they will do so. It is generally believed that the Frenchtown merchants gave the will not live up to their, promises, in signatures under duress and that they spirit at least. They may put up their shutters but it is expected that they will carry on their business surreptitiously.

Proper police precautions are being taken in the meantime and the author ties are confident that they will be able to handle the situation and prevent any serious. outbreaks, despite the serious neas of the condition.

It is surely a hardship that a man who would have had both the parliamentary and municipal vote if he had remained in Great Britain should be disfranchised on arrival in Hongkong, although by his presence here he is, fürthering British ing What justification can

terests overseas,

be offered for thus penalizing his enter prise!

4. Notwithstanding that all your Petitioners have a direct interest in the Although the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, the Special Diplomatic Mecuring of eficiency in the Administra Envoy, and the Chinese Advisers to the tion of local affairs, all but a small Municipal Council have bees regested minority of your Petitioners have o0| to confer with the Municipality, no voice whatever in the "selection of the satisfactory settlement has yet been Mambers who sit in our sole local Legista reached. Fearing a general. strike of the

rice shops on July 1st, when the Muni- tire body (known as the Legislative Coun. cipal license wil.come into force, acil) which, by its enactraents, controls the greus tuuay Chinese restaurants, shops, liberty and property of the inhabitants Badumites are buying heavily. "The" price if rice has not declined, and is of this Colony; and which, in the absenca: still in the neighbourhood of $11 per of a Municipal Council, discharges nearly picul.

all the functicas usually performed by Yesterday, only about eight junka loaded with rice arrived at Nanto, such a body. Shanghai. As the rice shops in the At present there are four non-Chinesa International Settlement have ceased to Unofficial Members of Council, and two replenish their stocks by fresh supplies, Chinese Unofficial Members of Council many juuks which had been lying in

this port for a couple of days and which OF the non-Chinese Members of Council had not disposed of their stocks, hare two are not elected at all' but Bro turned to Hangchow, Kashing, and nominated by the Governor, whilst the Huchov, Chekiang, to get rid of their other two non-Chinese Unofficial Members stocks, because they fear the present of Council are each elected by a very continuous rainy weather might damige limited constituency, namaly, in one cas their shipments." However, there are by the Unofheia! Justices of the Peace still about ten junks in port.

the

to their convictions, bat are liable to be deprived of their seat on the Council for voting contrary to the President's. instructions. Accordingly, inasmuch as the Governor or other presiding. Official absolutely controls all the Official Votes, the Legislative Council, as at present con- stituted, though consisting numerically of 14 Meinbers, simply carries into effect the individual will and judgment of the Gov- |-* ernor or other presiding Official.

6. The constitution of such a Council'. must seem strange indeed to you who have for so long been accusomed to this directly responsible to their constituents idea of all Members of your House being for their conduce and policy in Philia- mentary affairs

Accordingly your Petitioners are seck- ing your aid in obtaiding the Reform of the Legislative Council-in-Hongkong in the following 3 respects, namely

1-The abolition au far as the now- Chinese Enfieint. Sembers of Council ure concerned, of the principle of 'Gov- erament, nomination, and the substitu tion of patur election therefor.

to

Your Petitiotiers submit that it is clearly contrary to modern principles of representation that the Governor should be allowed

select and nominate, on behalf of the Public, per- sons who are intended to represent, the Public on the Legislative Council, and to criticize, and, if need be, oppošu Government measures.

So far as the Chinese Unofficial Mem- bers of the Council are concerned, it is not proposed to depart from the pre- Bunt system of nomination by the Governor. The Chinese, however, have expressed the desire (in the event of the total number of Unofficial Members on the Council being increased from 8 to 9 so as to create an Unofficial, Majority of one) to have one additional Chinese Member on the Council, so that the same proportion of Chinese to non- Chinese Unofficial Members of Council

exists' at present may be preserved. that one-third of the Loofficial Members of Council mazbo Chinese.

It seems desirable to point out that. in such a reformed Legistative Council! us is proposed of Unofficials to 8 Off- cials, the non-Chinese Unatficial Mem- hess of Council by themselves would be in a minority of the Council, and that the only possibility of the Government suffering defent en a division in such reformed Council would be by the Government's proposals proving so un- acceptable to all classes of the com- munity as to weld the Unofficial Men bors into a solid mass of opposition. This was not the case in the Petitio to the House of Commons of 1591, which asked for a British Unofficial Majority on the Legislative Council.

2.-The adoption, no far as the non. Chinese Members of Council are con cerned, of a larger electoral body than a-eriste "at présent, except in the one case of the Member for the Chamber of Commerce. for the reason that that Chamber represents the trading and shipping "interests. which require and are entitled to direct representation. At a Public Meeting, "which was held at the City Hall on the 8th January, 1919, it was suggested that a far wider and more representative electorate should be constituted, consisting of British Sub jects on the Jurors List and of those eligible for Jury service but exempted

reason of their occupations. The electorate now suggested, which is representative of all classes of the com- munity and involves an adequate know age of the English language, is as

follows:--

1-British subjecta on the Jury List. 2-Certain classes of British subjects who are exempted from serving on the Jury by reason of their occupa tion, namely:- (4)-Government Civil Servants, such as are usually appointed from England. (1)Metabors of the Naval and Mili- tary Services provided that they possess an adequate householder or ledger qualification. (1)Unofficial Meners of Council..

(i)-Barristers and Solicitora.

(e)-Medical practitioners. (e) Dentists in actual practics in the

Colony,

such as Bermuda. (which has a Legislative Council of a Officiala and 6 Unofficifs), British Guiana (which has an Uaoficial. Majority in the Combined Court which deals. with taxation and finance), British 'Honduras (whose former Unofficial 3 minority of 4 to 3 was changed in 1913 to an Unofficial Majority off 7-to 3), Ceylon (which possesses at more heterogeneous population thah Hongkong and was granted an. Un- official Majority of 3 to 15 in 1990). Cyprus (whose Legislative Council consists of the High Commissioner and 6 Official Members and 12 elect- ed Members). Jannien (which from 1888 till 1995 had an equal number Official and Unofficial Members, but in the latter year, received a Constitution under which

tla Legislative Council consists of 3 ex officio Members, 30 nominated mem bers and 14 elected members), and Malta (which, under the Constitn tion of 1920, was granted an elected Legislative Asserably for dealing with purety" local (Affairs): whilst considerable extensions of local self- - government have been recrutly granted to the inhabitants of India. and are contemplated in Egypt anil Southern Rhodesin.

In contrast with "The above it may be pointed out that in Hongkong:-

1-A curly as the year 1845 (sy Dr.

Eitel's book ** Europe in China at page 1) continuous demands were made by the British Com manity for adequate representation oz, the Legislative Council, 'an equat umber of Official and Unofficial Members being then asked for; and The present excess in numbers ot two Ufficial Members over the Un- officin Members on the Legislatives Council has existed as far bäck as the year 1880.-Equally remarkable. is the fact that the outber of uớn- Chinese

of Unofficial Members Council remains the 'sacio as it then the 40 years which have

..

elapsed? nce then the greatest pro- gress in democracy and self-govern ment has been made in Great Bri thin and throughout the Empirë generally." It seems, therefore, wholly unreasonable that the inha bituals of the loyal and important. Colony of Hongkong should be sa conspicuously and repeatedly denial the right to manage their own ¿local affairs. Twice in the past 5 years. they have been refused any inensure of reform either in the number or mode of selection of the Fémbers. of the Legislative Council. No reagon, was given od either occasion fur such refusal beyond the bare states ment that the Secretary of State was not convinced that any changes » was desirable.. 7.-With regard to external äftuirs, pazial position of the Colony, which is your Petitioners fully recognise the Im-

and they are not so unpractical as to at once a Fortress and a Naval Station. Biggest that unrestricted power should be given to any local Legislature or that the Home Government could or should Control over this important Dependency. ever give up the paramount Imperial

.:

All that Your Petitioners claim is the customary right of citizens to manage- their purely local affairs and to control. the raising of taxes and the outlay of expenditure,

At present Your Petitioners are and must continue to be subject to Legislation. of the Imperial, Parliament, to which alt local Legislation is subsidiary. His Majesty the King in Council has · full and complete power and authority to make laws for the Colony and all local Ordinances (corresponding in England to Acts of Parliament) must be approved of and assented to by His Majesty. The King, and are subject to disallowance by His Majesty on the recommendation et the Secretary of State for the Colonies.

Furthermore, in asking for an Unoffi cint majority on the Legislative Council Your Fetitioners are willing that the same should be given subject to safe guards similar to those in the recently

grante Constitution of Ceylon, by which, to put the matter shortly, the Governor- possesses a right of veto in certain cases. (subject to his reporting forthwith to the Secretary of State for the Colonics)..

To sum up, Your Petitioners uro ask- ing for:-

1-The right to elect all the Non-

Chinese Members on the Legislativo- Council.

2-The constitution of a wider eleće.

toral body than exists at present for the purpose of such election 3-An, Unofficial. Majority of ozic, sub- ject to the above very ample safe- guards, on the Legislative Council. Your Petitioners, therefore, humbly pray for the assistance of the Members of your Honourable House in obtaining for them, the above amendments of the Constitution of this Colony, which were again demanded atwa Public Meeting held out the 11th May, 1081, for the pur- pose of securing to the Inhabitants of this Colony, the aforesaid rights and privileges of self-government in purely internal and local affairs.

[ril)—Persons, registered under the

Pharmacy Ordinance," 1909. (i)-Clergymen of various denomina

tions. (1z.)-Schoolmasters and University

professors, lecturers and officers, (Superintendente, senior officers and supervisors of the Cable and Telephone Companie. (i)-Representatives of the Pres (zii.)-Former jurors who are above the

age-limit for serving on a jury. 3-The third amendment in the Con- stitution of the Legislative Council which is being sought for is the extab- lishment of an official Majority on THE OLD STYLE OF CEMENT the Council by increasing the number

BIFOCALS of Unofficials from 6 to (thus placing the combined British and Chinese Unwith their disfiguring and annoying dividing official Members of Council vincu

And Your Petitioners will over pray etc.

majority of one), subject to the intro ins has been supplanted by a new lens with two duction of such checks and safeguards oci called Kryptok invisible bifocal lens. # are hereafter referred to

The arguments in favour of at Unoff. The upper portion of the glass for distance and cial Majority on the Legislative Council

briefly as follows

("body"appointed by the Governor) con As many of the rice shops in French sisting now of some 130 persons, and in Concession have business connection the other case, by the Members of the with those in the International Conces Chaplier of Commerce, consisting now of sion, they will take concerted action with about 200 persons or firms or companies. rice dealers in the International Thew constituencies are, in fact, even Bettlement. They have decided that no more limited than they appear to be, are rice should be sold to residents in the bullies and are thereby privileged to have in many cases, murubers belong to both International Settlement.

two votes. While it is thus admitted A cable to the China Mait dated July by those who framed the present Co. 2nd states: The rice dealers are still stitition that the peculiar conditiona ob- phasively resisting. Practically all pre taining in Hongkong require that the mises have been closed. The Chinese franchise should be restricted, your Peti Chamber of Commerch suggests that rice tioners feel that to restrict it to this shops close three days only and offers to extent is both unnecessary and unjust, mediate. The consensus of opinion is peuing that it has the effect of depriving that the protest will fall fat. There has the great majority of Britons in this been no rioting or disturbance of any Colony of nay vote for the election of a kind."'

representativo on the Legislative Council.

the lower for reading, ground from one single, 1-The Publio ought to have a control-

ling voice, by their representatives, piece of glass. The Hongkang Optical Co. in the Legislative Council, which

disposes by its legislation of the Successors to Clark & Co., Refracting & Manu- liberty and property of the inhafacturing Opticians the most competent bitants of this Colony, me

2. Such an Unofficial control over optical manufacturing establishment in the

local affairs by means of an Unoffi

cial Majority had been conerded in Colony-located in 53, Queen's Road, Central the case of other Crown Colonies manufacture this kind of invisible bifocal lense (some of which are of less impor on all prescriptions in either regular or Torie fance than this commercial and

shipping outpost in the Far East); | Bru-ADIT.