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THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 1993.

CORRESPONDENCE,

HEALTH DEPARTMENT

INACTIVITIES.

[TO THE EDITOR OF THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS."}

SIR, The very pertinent remarks con- tained in your to-day's leader regarding the absence of a atisfactory explana tion in the Medien) Report for 1092 as

THE OLD BRITISH · POSTAL

AGENCIES.

„NOTES BY MR. S. B. C. ROSS,

To his Report on the working of the Post Office last year, the Postmaster- General (Mr. S. B. .C. Ross) has attach- ed the following notes on the British Postal Agencies in China, which were closed lust year in accordance with a

Those two officials drow up a report, which inter alia, contained the following recommendations;—

ARMS SMUGGLING.

SEQUEL TO THE SHOOTING INCIDENT IN KOWLOON.

AMERICAN SENT TO PRISON.

The startling shooting incident which occurred in Kowloon on Tuesday night, when an American was arrested after six shots had been fired at him by a Chiness detective, had its sequet at the Magis tracy, yesterday, when the arrested, man, Erwin Nelson, & quartermaster of the ** President McKinley was brought be fore Mr. J. R. Wood and sentenced to six months' imprisonment for unlawfully having in his possession two revolvers and 47 rounds of ammunition.

When the case was first mentioned in Court, on the previous day, it was stated the Colony from sea going vessels, and The Colonial Government had no interest tra! of the agencies passed to Police had made application for the de bative measures is certainly not worthy. either in the management or finance of Colonial Government on the 1st January.

that the Captain Superintendent of

fendant to be committed to the Criminal Sessions for trial. Yesterday, when the case was opened, Mr. Wood anid that be had decided to deal with the case himself and that defendant would not be com mitted for trial.

to the increase in the number of plagan

cuses should be taken to heart not only by the Health Department but by the general public. The report referred to. seems rather an effort to hide certain sins of omission than a genuine endea- vour to educate the populace as to ways and means of prevention. As you have indicated, the Report is particularly weak where mention is made of rats entering the excuse tendered for the lack of com- of serious consideration. The wonder is that the Authorities had the auda- city to tender an admission of neglect as 40 explanation for such a serious state vi anairs, but I fear even that frank admission of neglect by no means covers the whole of the Department's short- The Chinese detective Chan. Pud, Yau,

Hongkong bears comings.

very bad No. 22, said that at about 9.15 pm. he reputation among the ports of the world was in Austin Road on duty, in plain as a distributing centre for plague. It clothes, and that he was acting on infor therefore behoves us to look to the beam mation received. He saw two rickshas in our own eye rather than attempt to approaching him, coming from the direc extract the mote from the other fellow's, tion of Nathan Road. He stopped the and to devote attention to the systematic

It was occupied by a extermination of the disease-carrier. Chinese. He was not in Court. The Consideration for your valuable space second one was occupied by the defend- forbids a dissertation regarding the best ant. When the defendant's ricksha was methods for ridding the community of within four or five feet of the first one the rat pest; suffice it to say that it has the defendant jumped out and ras along heen established that the only satisfac

Witness chased him. tory method of dealing with the plague During the chase the defendant shouted rat is by starvation. A casual survey of **What gule matter?·

the food supplies available to the rat ini The Magistrale: He stopped, did het Hongkong convinces ode that the rodent -No, bo continued to run.

does not avail himself to the full of the opportunities offering, for, apart from the refuse accessible, there is also the matter of our disgraceful sanitary (c) system. It is a well-known fact that the plague rat particularly favours human oxcreta as a diet, and with the state of affairs prevailing in Hongkong those rats coming from other and less favoured " parts-which, the Medical report, so naively informs us, have such free necess must surely imagine they have found the rats" "Promised land,”

ricksha in front.

Austin Avenue.

Did you overtake him -Yes, after a long pursuit

Continuing, witness said he overtook him in Kimberley Road. As he ran he throw something away on to the hillside (Austin Avenue), When I saw him throw the things away I drew my revolver, and fired it into the air. I then blew my police whistle. I fred six shots in all. The last three shots I fired at his feat, but I did not hit him. In Kimber ley Rond a European joined in the chase and the defendant was arrested. Witness Later handed the defendant over to two Indian constables. The European asked if it was a pase of armed robbery and witness explained to him that the defend ant was carrying arms and that he had dropped them. Witness then went to search for the arms and found the first revolver outside No. 6, Austin Avenue, and the second revolver he found in the side channel outside "No 8, Austin Avenue. The European found the carte ridges.

In reply to questions put through the Magistrate by sub-Inspector Spear, the witness added that he called on defendant i to stop. He could not say in which direction the other ricksha went as he had to chase the defendant,

That

resolution passed at the Washington

Conference

In 1912 Hongkong was ceded to Great Britain by the Treaty of Nanking and at the same time Canton, Amoy, Foochow, Shanghai and Ningpo were declared open

to trade.

Soon after, the cession, a Post Office was established at Hongkong under the jurisdiction of the London Post Office,

the Hongkong Posta

"

During the first year of the Colony's existence there were no less than three Postmasters. In 1843 Mr. F. Spring, our 4th Postmaster, was appointed and held

the office for 17 years.

There were at this time ne postal facili- ties of any description for-foreigners in Ching. When the five ports mentioned above were opened to trade and Consular Officers had been appointed Postal Agen cica grew up in the Consulates.

The records are very imperfect during this early period and it is difficult to find out exactly how the Consular Agencies were established. I imagine that like "growed," the Con- Topsy they simply sular Assistant when he had nothing bet ter to do, consented to send off certain letters for friends. The postal business during this period was in any event very

amall.

At any rate, however the Postal Agen, cies may have come into being, before 1860 the following places were recognised 13 Agencies of the Hongkong Posts, which were then under London control. This is-Canton, Amoy. Fonchow, Yokohama. and Shanghai. Ningpo,

Nagasaki.

There were also unrecognised Agencies that is Agencies to which no payments were made-at Hyogo (better known to us as Kobe), at Bangkok, and at Macao.

WAH

"That no other agencies should be

opened in China or Japan, because the only advantage afforded to wie British Community would be th small one of being able to buy post- age stamps. Whilst on the other haad the expenses of the Agency would doubtless exceed the re ceipts, as, no compulsion to send letters, by mail being possible, the bulk of letters would be sent by preference, for“ various through the steamer, offices. That, as the receipts from the ageu- cies showed a constant diminution a fixed annual sum of £1,370 should. he paid by the General Post Offer to the Hongkong Office, and not a share of the postage."

reasons,

The roport was approved and the con

1888.

the

The total annual contribution matle by' the Imperial Government was £1,370 which was allocated as follows:-

Salary of Agent at Canton Swatow Amoy

£ 60

-10

100

Foochow

100

Ningpo

50

Nagasaki

GO

Yokohama

300

Shanghai 250

100

Postinaster-General, Hongkong,"

for supervision. Postmaster General, Hongkong, for travelling. cxpenses for in- spection.

100

£1,370

It would therefore seem from this re- port which was approved by both the Colonial Government and the Imperial Posts that the question of the Postal Agencies in China had been settled for all time,

But this was far from being the case. fa 1972 Hankow which had been opened to trade in 1858 by the Trenty of Tientsin was created a postal agency. «No one in The year 1860 is an important date. | particular appears to have been consult- In this year the Hongkong Post Office

handed over by the Imperialed when this took place though it was it obvious variance with the Rac-Mitchell Authorities to the Colonial Government.

report. On the 1st January, 1880, the

were withdrawn owing to the fact that Agencies at Nagasaki and Yokohama

Union in 1877. The Imperial grant to Japan had joined the Universal Postal

the agencies was thereupon reduced by the sum of £560 and after 1880 the In- perial Posts paid the sum of £510 a year in support of the Agencies in China, this amount was never varied until London took back full control in 1911.

la conclusion, sir, I may point out that is a curious fast that this change was the problem has heen effectively tackled in other places, Io, some of these it is in opposition to the wishes of the local an offence to have an uncovered rubbish Government, It is difficult to imagine bin-ia the case of hardoned offenders that to-day the local Government would wish "any of its utility branches to be controlled by persons in London.. punishable with imprisonment. which has been accomplished in other cities is surely not too big & proposition continue to offer lodgings to the rats of for Hongkong to tackle: but while we the world with the very best of rat food Faxan inducement to prolong their stay, we must expect to pick up our newspaper and to see the familiar notice "Such and such a place has declared quarantine against Hongkong."Yours, etc...

HEALTH."

He continued to make a search in the The defendant I would like to ask vicinity and eventually be picked up from Tim if he saw me throw away the arms. the pathway a packet of ammunition The defendant did not which he took along to the Police Station. The witness: throw the two revolvers away. They The ricksha coolie next gave evidenco dropped out of his person; apparently as to being engaged by the defendant from his clothes.

outside the godown gutes near the Star The Magistrate: How do you know Ferry whart about 9.15 p.n. He said they dropped out of bis clothes --I heard that a Chinese was with him. He was the noise of something falling on to the told to drive, along Canton Roud. He got as far as the football ground when The defendant I would ask him if they were stopped by the policeman. he saw me throw the ammunition away?"The defendant did not par me.

He Witucion: It was moon-light and simply jumped out and ran away.” could also sto by the lamp-light...

ground,

The defendants. He could not have seen them.

The Magistrate (to Sub-Inspector Spear): I hope this man knows that ho had no right to fire at the defendant?

Sub-Inspector Spear: Yes, your War

ship.

Sub-Inspector Spear said he proposed to call Sergt. Dawling to prove that at 1.30 am on the previous morning he visited the defendant's cabin on the President McKinlay,

The Magistrate asked if the defendant was there at the time and he replied he

Was NOL.

The Magistrate (to the detective); You As there was no evidence before the understand that. You are liable to be Court to prove that it was the defendant's charged.

cabin that Sergt. Dawling had visited his Worship disallowed the evidence.

The defendant then volunteered to give evidence. He admitted that he ran along Kimberley Rog 4 on the night in ques

The detective: "I fired at kim just to frighten him. I did not aim to hit him.

The Magistralo. You had no right to do so.

Mr. Edgar Charles Bell, an engineer, |tion, living at No Da Armed Buildings. Asked why he should run, he said: I Kimberley Road, said the incident did not know who the Chinaman was who happened at approximately 9.30 am. He was chasing me. was in his home when, he heard revolver He also admitted that he had been shots, followed by the blasts of a police riding in a ricksha but denied that there whistle. The police: whistle continued to was anybody with him. The other hlow and he went out to see what the man he said, "had nothing to do with trouble was. He went a few yards down me, the road towards Austin Avenue, There The Magistrate: Were these are in he law në person ruuning round the your possession or not?-No sir. corner from Austin Avenue into Kimber- Any of them-neither of the revolvers ley Road. Witness, crossed over this road or the ammunition ?—No. And not the defendant. He intercepted him and asked what was the matter.

The Magistrate: Did he stop willing I had to pull him up; I barred fur ther progress.

After you were stopped did you see these things picked up 1--I only saw nue revolver.

When the Post Office was handled over to the Colonial Authorities no one seems making provision for the Agencies. to have considered the question of In 1801 the Colonial Secretary writing hai says: "Upon the transfer of the to Mr. Meadows, the Consul at Shang-

opposition to the wishes of the local Hongkong Post Office to the Colony in Government the question as to the Agen- cies at the Ports was referred to the Home Government with an intimation that at all events the management and expense of these could not be forced upon the Colony (Letter of ist. October, 1861).

In 1882 again it would appear contrary to the Rac-Mitchell report, an Agency was opened at Tientsia. This port had been opened to trade in 1880 and owing to representations made by the Consul a Postal Agency was opened in his Con- sulate. A subsidy of "$12 a month was granted by the Colonial Government towards the upkeep and expenses of this Agency. It would be interesting to know how this peculiar sum, granted by a A curious sort of conflict took place in British Colony to a British Consul as

subvention for a Colonial Postal Agency, 1961 Agencies bad so far been housed

was actually allocated. Today, it would in Consulates and managed by Consular

of course hardly pay the wages of onn Officials. Of all these Agencies there can be little doubt that Shanghai had the

coolie but in the spacious days of 1882 important, In July 1961, the Consul at whole postal staff. The records however must businces and was by far the moat

it may have been sufficient to pay. the Shanghai, Mr. Meadows, ordered his aro dumb and 1 have been unable to Assistant to desist from all postal discover who actually received this sum inhours.

This decision was not comof money. Representations were made municated to Hongkong in time for any to the London Post Office for a contribu- one to make arrangements for the recep tion towards the cost of the Agenes. tion of mail at Shanghai. Malts were A reply was received, and it appears to sent up in the usual way and no one in me that no other reply was possible, that Shanghai would open the "boxes" in the reasons against opening more agen- which they were contained. After a

cios laid down in the Rag Mitchell report haggle of two days the senior British seemed to be just na valid if not more so Naval Officer and the Consul met to, in 1882 than they had been when the gether and authorised the Peninsular and

roport was written, Oriental Agent to open the hox. A pro- test was sent to Hongkong by the Shang- | hai Chaunber of Commerce and the an- swer was that Hongkong did not wish to have anything to do with these matters and that the Gaverner was of opiniog that Shanghai people did not really wind The Tientsin Agency was closed in 1890 if they had a post officer or not

and the Colonial Government was re After a considerable amount of correlieved of paying its subvention of $12.00) spondance in which it was pointed out

a month. that Shanghai people did want a post office, for if they had none, those who had no Agents in Hongkong could neither receive nor send any letters, the Hong; kong Government appointed. & Corporal in the 44th Regiment to go to Shanghai Postal Agent. In this way the Shang haj Agency was severed from the Con- Bulate. In all other of the old Agencies Consular Officer has always remained

18

in charge.

In 1869 postage aljúps were introduced into Hongkong and these stamps were. used at the Agencies.

The Tientsin Agoney however did not work well. The port was closed during the winter owing to ice and the courier route from Chinkiang to Tientsin was unsatisfactory.

On the 1st March, 1884; the Post Ofice at Macao assumed its proper position sa Portuguese Post Office under the Pustal Union, and the previous irregular or rangement by which it was worked as a kind of honorary agency of the Hong- kong Post Office (but an agency under Do-control) was discontinued.

In 1885 Siam entered the Postal Union

and a properly organised Post Office WLS opened at Bangkok under the direction of ILR.H, Somdet Phra Chow Nong Ya Tho Chow Fa Bhanjirangse Swangwongse Krom Huang Bhanuphanduwongue Wara- In 1858 Chefso, lankow, Hoihow and Swatow were opened to trade and Tiendo Minister of Posts and Telegraphs. A kind of unrecognised Agency of the sin was declared open to tende in inh

A Postal Agency was established at Hongkong Post Offee bad been maintain- Swatow. I have been unable to discovered in the Cursulate General at Bangkok where Hongkong stanips were sold and the exact date but it was recognised as

where a letter could be registered. This net at once established in the other parts Agency ceased to exist. al Agency before 1900.- Agencies were mentioned above which had been opened to trade.

Mr. A. Lister was Postmaster-General- from 1878 until his death in 1890. Ho bail very great knowledge of the working of the Fonts at the Agencies and was strongly in favour of handing then back to China to be administered by the Cus toms Posts:

Was it found in the line that you had bren ranning -~No Continuing, witness Raid? I naked bin

What were you doing there! Why did what was the matter and he said that you go there at all-Witness: replied sheone was chasing him. He said he that he was going to visit a house of ill- did not know anything. I thought it fame. was rather peculiar for a European to This was all the evidence.". Asked if be running, away from the direction of had any witnesses to, call, the defendant revolver alts so I proceeded to search said that all his witnesses had gone away him. He asked me why I was searching Mr. Wood: Well, Mr. Nelson, I don't him and just at that moment, the Chinese believe you when you tell me that these defective, came along. Previous to this arms were not in your possession. I two European gentlenen joined me, one think it is clearly proved that you were from the Blue Funnel Club and another snuggling arms into the Colony, and that cafile from I don't know where, I asked you were stopped, surprised, and in thent to give me a hand. The defendant away and got rid of the aring as you ran

In his annual report on that working naked it no one was going to help him The matter is a very serious one is Hang-

of the Post Office for the year 1886, Mr. and I said You will get a quar deal kong and I have to deal severely with

Lister says "The state of several of our Can you speak Chine, asked the people, especially people connected with

Postal Agencies, specially those of Amoy Magistrate, and the witness replied that ships. They have special opportunities

and Foochow was taken into serious can he understood more Chinese than he for smuggling arms. Yours is not the

sideration. It was felt that the existing could speak

firat caso of its kind. I have had some

condition of affairs could not be allowed Harlow, in the anal and about plowed in, whips of the same line and A sort of interregnum took place and to go on, and that unsatisfactory as it cewed down the road and shout of other ships, as well and in each ear in 1860 the London Post Office proposed might be for Hongkong to be saddled 50 yards further along they wars Joined proved 1 have sontoneed them to im to hand over complete control of the by two Indian constables and the defend prisonniente must send you there as Agencies to Hongkong. In the same these Agencies improved they mass be with the whole expenses of improving and was handed over to them.

You are sentenged to six month year Mr. E. P. Ras was sent out by the of abolished. These remarks must not be Describing the search for the arms and imprisonment with hard labour.

London Post Office as a special surveyor the ammunition withers said: he saw the

and a joint inspection of all recognised taken as implying any refretion on the detective stoop down and pick something

Agencies was made by Mr. Rao and hyers in charge of the agencies in ques up which turned out to be a revolver,

Mr. Mitchell the Colonial Postmaster tion, whose only fault is their inability General (Continued at feet of met Oolumn.).

"(Continued on page (7.)

The Magistrate (to Mr Bell): I think the thanks of the public are due to you; Mr. Boll.

Mr. Boll Thank you.'

After 1860 the conditions at the Agen- eies must have been youy unsatisfactory It was decided that the London Post Office would pay all salaries and the Hongkong Post Office all incidental and other exponses and that the Hongkong Postmaster would be in charge. It is always difficult for a mas to be in charge if he does not pay the men who are under his charge and if it is doubtful to what extent he may reward, reprimand or punish.

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