1924-08-16 — Page 5

Page

THE SILAMEEN,

GENERAL STRIKE RESUMED.

THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS,SATURDAY, AUGUST

THE FRENCH VERSION. WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.

We have been furnished by a correspón-

ALLEGED FRENCH SHARP PRACTICE;dent who was an eyewitness of the pro-

FRENCH VERSION OF WHAT OCCURRED:

The 'untun Guzelte on Thursday an nounced the resumption of the general. strike against Shameen, "owing to A "astounding picer of sharp practice by the French Municipality.' The statement mablished by our contemporary reads as

follows:

וז

The general strike against Shamece will be resumed to-day,"

As announced yesterday, the general strike ngainst Shameen terminated Tuesday afternoon when the strikers af a "mass meeting decided to accept the terms of settlement finally arranged.

Immediately after the mass inceting of the strikers, a deputy of the Bureau of

ceedings at the French Consulate with the following plain and avarnished account of what took place:-

"The centre of the sture has now come on the French Municipality," he writes, and I set forth the facts as I saw them: At 4 o'clock pan (August 13th) the pro- cession of lukongs and public workers, such as coolies, gardeners, sweepers und servatis on Shameen, canie from the city,

"

headed by a brass band, and two white Rags bearing Chinese characters rending

Returning with large face. The French Concession employees entered by the French gate, and those of the British proveeded in the Shaki and the British bridge. Only the lukongs and public servants eptered, the others keep

16TH, 1924

THE SUMMARÝ COURT.. each a gratuity based on length of ser- vier and that, subject to the re-employ-

HEAVY PRESSURE OF WORK. ment of such of the men as the Chan- eils ning select for police or other ser vice (the number of such men being in During the whole history of the Law the absolate discretion of the Coneils), Courts in Hongkong, there never have the strikers will accept the offer of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, whose good offices have been so many actions listed in Summary been solicited in the matter, te ingor Jurisdiction as this year. In fact, the porate the men not so re-employed into your promises to be a record-breaking one the Chinese Police Force of the City

so far as Summary Jurisdiction is con- of Canton. In enlisting new police, the Councils will bear in mind the adviseerned. The enormous amount of legal ability of employing Kwangtung men work that is being carried through in this *in order to avoid the possibility of mis- direction is ampix horne out by figures.

understanding and friction likely to lar caused by police who do not speak the Up to yesterday, a period of approximate- ..Cantonese dialect,"

ly seven and a half effhs 2,000 actions The arguments employed in the fautor had been fled, a figure which already fizette, and the fact that up to 10 extends the total number of actions filed to-dny the pickets, far from being re-in 1923, when 1913 nctions were regis. inoved, have been doubled, after repeated tered, s references to tho Provincial Foreign one and their verbal assurance that the pickets would be removed as possible, have tendered it essential that the public should be in possession of the

Foreign Affairs was despatebed by Ccm outside. I can give a full account full text and all it means.

missioner, Foo to inform "Mr. Giles, the British Consul-General at Shameen, of the result.

of what happened on the French side. The French Consul (Mons. De la Prade)

being informed of the advent of these

It was the gonery desire of the strikers people, asked the lukongs to present themselves at the Consulate. They all came inunder of their numbers and stood in line, on the French Consulate steps

to return to their work at Shaneen not earlier than after two or three days, so

SUDR as

Yesterday afternoon the police of both Concessions returned unaccompatial by The police any but Municipal workers. were denit with under three pre-arranged alternative assumptions:-(1) That the illegitimate programme published in the Canton Gazette of the day before would

Court Officials are working at high pressure in order to cope with the ear mous increase of work and both in Cham- hers sad in Open Court his Honour the Puisse Judge (Mr. Justice Dyer Bally has had as exceedingly busy Summer.

The amount of work that is being done in Summary Jurisdiction is little realised by the general public. but a visit to the Summary Court any Friday morning will be illuminating,

as to allow time for those who has gone and verandah... The French.Consul asked be carried out, namely, the police would registered and not dealt with some before

No one

come in first, and when the workers saw that they were reinstated they would re- tumn (2) The police would come in separately to tender their resignations. (3) The police would come in with the

workers.

Friday morning is reganded in legal circles as "List Day," when all actions

to 'their home districts to return before

them if they remembered the parting

the Court automatically. On such days. resumption of work in a body. The

solicitors flock into. the Court in large! deputy of the Foreign Bureau, however, words he had addressed them. after seeing the British Consul General, replied. They were asked again and no

numbers. Recently they have been at reported that Municipal employees were one said a word. When this was going

tending in such large numbers that what on there were many. Frenchmen and required to return to work "yesterday.

there has been a scarcity of room even In these circumstances, 1 special effort others witnessing the interview. Mons

with Court bailiffs, interpreters, ete,

was made by the strike leaders to arrange La Prade asked the reason of their com

In the British Concession, Ng Yau was for the Press representatives. A year or this, and yesterday afternoon the Muning, and no one uttered a word. Again interviewed by the Council, and asked so ago the calling of the list was a matter eipal employees returned to Shanieen and inquiring, one of the lukongs came for where the workers were., He said they that generally did not exceed balf an reported for duty at their respective ward, with a salute, to answer in Peking

were outside and would return to work hour; nowadays the calling of the list. dialect, that they came by order of Mr. Municipal posts.

on the next day. He was then asked arranging dates for hearing, etc., occu- The street sweepers and dustmen, gar-CCW, who had given them a lecture whether they had come in to tender their pies a considerable portion of the morn deners and waterworks employees were and asked them to be at the disposal of resignations, to which he replied that ing. Then if the visitor to Court listens readily set to work, but the lukongs were not well received by Crosse. the Chair- the Consul told all others that they per- they had come in to do what the Coun- carefully he will note that his Lordship fulfilling the conditions of Assumption are marked down for hearing many weeks man of the British Municipal Council and fectly knew the nature of the visit, and cis told thems to do. These two replies has a full diary and that many new cases he was glad to hear it, and added: "A. i, the Chairmaa explained to him the ahead-sometimes as far ni six to eight a Mr. Watson, his associate.

agreed by the Chinese otheials and the Gentlemen's, Agreement," and when it weeks ahead,

his honour the French Cuasul, whereupon

The lukongs were kept hanging around

two Consul, you have called to tender the British Municipal headquarters for your resignation and I will ask you to over an hour, and fighly told that there write it down in Chinese."

This con-

was understood asked whether this had already been made clear to him; he re-

On a Saturday morning the Puisne Judge is always exceedingly busy, deal

was to room to put then up, that they versation was going on through the pied that he had been told some of it ing with cases in Chamber.

at the union. The Chairman then ex-

Court bailiffs say they have never ex-

bad better leave and return to Shameemedium of a good interpreter who spoke plained that according to the terms of Perienced such a rush of work and that!

the next day when the general body of

private employees returned to Shameen. The lukongs therefore left Shameen sheepishly and reported themselves at the atrikers' headquarters..

"FRENCHMEN'S SHARP PRACTICE.

Meanwhile another kind of game was being played by the French Municipality

The dozen lukonga cumployed by the French concession when they reported lot duty were asked if they needed any money as they had half a month way due them. The dozen lukengs delighted with the prospect of receiving soule cash right away readily signified their desire

to accept.

The dozen lukongs were then handed a sheet of foolscap afheial paper in dupli- eate on which few lines were type written in French--and the meaning of which they did not know since they could

assented.

The main cause of the increase of Court work is the exceptionally large number of actions that have been filed in con-

action with the Rents Ordinance.

Incidentally with this increase of work the solicitors are having a very prosper- ous time of it.

CHINESE VOLUNTEER IN THE DOCK.

W

REGULATIONS.

Perfect Cantonese, and they one and all the agreement agreed between the Con- at present they are working overtime in

kongs said they did not know how to subsequently sonirmed by the Govern. Colony understood every word of it. The aula-General and the Government, and serving writs, etc., in all parts of the write and asked the Consil to do it for ment as accepted by the strike leaders, them, in his language, whereupon the Consul took a pen and wrote out in the return of the police could not be French a letter asking the Consul's per- accepted as a termination of the strike. mission to resign. This was read to them The Chairman explained that the gratui- in Cantonese by the interpreter and they ties mentioned in the Agreement would Then the Consul, holding the paper in be paid as soon as work was generally hand, samt he had get their resignation resumed (of course, in reasonable time). and as agreed, with the Chinese offi- Ng Yau then asked what the gratuities sals," and as a disciplinary measure, he would amount to, and the Chairman re- plied he could not say the amount until had no other alternative but to accept it. in order, Lowever, to show that he had the return of the police with the workers, no had feeling, and as he knew they de- but the amounts were already axed, t serted by intimation, and in accordance was further explained that the advent of with the agreement reached, he granted the new police had filled the police bar- BIG FINE FOR BREACH OF ARMS them, in proportion to the duration of racks, and therefore the police could not their services in the French Municipality, remain" in Shaneen overnight. Ng Yau plus their half month's pay. Each lukong then asked whether it was clear that they in his turn was asked if the duration of should return to-morrow with the work The dozen lukongs were told to sign the service and the sun of gratuity (87ers, and the reply being given in the afirmative, the police then retired from their names on the sheet of paper im a year of service) against his name was Shameen. mediately below the few lines of type correct and on assenting, then Mr. La

The Municipal workers were then dealt writing and they did so in the belief that Prade" asked them to sign against their they were signing a receipt for money. respective numbers. When this was done with. They were at once reinstated, but After they had signed their names in the French Consul told them that the also told that some of their places had

Det. Sergt. Dorling described how the Chinese on the sheet of paper, additional money would be paid to-morrow or the been temporarily filled, and could not be

defendant was brought to the station, and matter WIN typewritten below their next day, when the other strikers bad vacated till the next day; they asked to returned to work and normal conditions be allowed to remain in Shameen over. Kignatures.

Consul, de la Prade and other Freach-restored. He also added that the paper night, and their numbers being small, how cartridges and magazines were found arrangements were inade to accommodaten bis socks. Five or six minutes later men then signed the paper and one copy would not be valid, if the others took a was given to the lukonge, who were then longer time to return. told to go, as their services were not required. No money was paid to them.

The dozen lakongs therefore had to leave and they returned to the strikers headquarters and reported, what had transpired.

not read French.

The French Consul also assured them

them

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Mr. Leo D'Almada appeared Kowloon Magistracy yesterday to defend Lai Sheung, who was charged on remand with the unlawful possession of Mauser ammunition on the 8.8. President Jeffer-

At the strikers' headquarters the type. written sheet was examined and it was found that the few lines of typewriting beneath which the dozen jukungs were told to attach their cames were wap handed over to one of the Jukongs (No. Municipality to pay the gratuity in the for the use of his volunteers in China,

In the French Concession the police witness examined a bicycle belonging to that they would be at once paid if the were dealt with through the medium the defendant, and on letting out the air other strikers returned, and that what he of a fuent-speaking French-Cantonese from the tyres, discovered that a specially did was not by his arbitrary will, but speaker, and the police signifying that made canvas tube, full of cartridges, had They la answer to Mr. D'Almada, witness according to the conditions agreed on by they wished to reaign, they were dealt heen concealed in each of the inner tubes. the Chinese officials and the two. Con-with under Assumption No. 2.

were given a paper to sign tendering their said that certain documents found in de- suls.

A document embodying these under-resignation, which was accepted, the con- ftudant's possession seemed to shew that Chinese he was the commander of a takings was typer, duly signed by the tents being individually translated to French Consul and signed also by twotherp in Cantonese. A paper was given volunteer unit. Witness agreed that the to the leader binding the French defendant was intending the ammunition Witnesses. One such signed copy was

Gentlemen's Agreement" on the return and not for disposal in Hongkong.

Mr. D'Almada pleaded guilty to the they had been deliberately hoodwinked posse of lukonga and in banding over the of the workers, as early as possible, and into signing their names-not in acknow- typed paper the French Consul expressed they were then instructed to return with ledgment of money as they were led to the wish that they would soon return to the workers. The reason why the docu-technical charge, but asked for leniency believe-hut to a tender of resignation get their money and also, with that paper ment was in French was that none of the by reason of his client having no unlawful which was not explained to them. in their possession, they would casily get police could write Chinese and the Co- When decent people foreigners as well employment in the Chinese Government sulate Chinese staff had not returned

as arranged by the Chinese owing to prevention by the pickets.

plication tendering their resignation!

The dozen lukenge then discovered that 7) and by express wish of the whole

as Chinese learn of this piece of sharp service practice, what will they think of the officials. French Municipality 7

No doubt this precious sheet of loois- cap will be embodied in the next Official Statement that will be issued by Shameen and the outside public will be told that this was a voluntary tender of resigna- tion by the dozen lukongs.

Nevertheless this piece of dishonour- abla chicinery towards the dozen lukongs win staud to the eternal shame of those who contrived it.

TEXT OF "GENTLEMEN'S

AGREEMENT""

The following statement has been issued the British and French Connufs Cienera!:

CANTON, August 14th,"

intent.

The Magistrate (Mr. E. W. Hamilton) months' hard labour in default. The am- imposed a fine of $1,000, with twelve unition would be confiscated, but the bicycle restored to the defendant

AN EXCITING CHASE,

STAR FERRY INCIDENT.

It is not known by whose action the arrangements carefully concluded he. tween the Consuls-General, the Chinese Government and the strike leaders has been temporarily upset, but the policy forced on the two foreign Councils by the effect of such action is a policy strictly in accordance with the whole trend of the recent negotiations and the Agreement.

A Chinese was charged at the Central thereby reached. The fact remains that the strike leaders have agreed to the Magistracy yesterday with unlawfully In the statement issued on the 13th, terms, which include the removal of pre-baving in his possession six rounds of reference was made to the "Gentlemen's

Detective Inspector Pincott said the When the truth, in published to the Agreement," which concerned the precise.ention of the return of workers, and that ammunition.

Those of the Municipal workers who man was stopped and searched outside world, is the Gazette bere and now takes method of dealing with the police. Pub prevention has never been removed. the earliest possible opportunity of doing licity is now given to this Gentlemen's have, heen reinstated will not be prevent the Star Ferry on the previous sight. so and repudiating the document on be Agreement" in view of the accusativa ed from leaving again if the strike leaders He broke away from the Indian constable, half of the dozen lukoogs, all decent self- voiced by the Canton Gazette, that the respecting Frenchmen, all decent self- respecting foreigners resident inside, or police were delibemtely deceived. The wish to call them out, but they will be whereupon another Indian took up the terus of the Gentlemen's Agreement" warned that a second reinstatement is a chase at Blake Pier. A third constable matter quite outside the scope of any chased the man into Des Vaux Road; outside of Shameen, will, we feel-sure,

previous discussion. After 4 p.m. to-mor. but it needed the co-operation of a fourth disassociate themselves from Bo flagrant

"As regards the police, it is recog-row & notice will be posted in Chinese Indian before the man was arrested. The an exhibition of Municipal immorality.

nised that they must be treated on on the gates, and, if permitted, in the six rounds of ammunition were contained THE BTEIXE TO CONTINUE

terms which shall cause no resentmeal Chinese newspapers, warning workers in a cigarette packet which was picked or ill feeling, the desire of both sides that hereafter their places are liable to up near the Star Ferry where the man is being that a permanent settlement shall be filled permanently. It is hoped, how said to have thrown them away, be effected. It is accordingly agreed ever, that what has appeared to be a that the Councils will accept the re-breach of faith has in reality been a mis signation of the police and grant to take which can be satisfactorily rectified.

A meeting of the Strikers Committee was held last night, and orders were im- odiately issued notifying all strikera "that the strike must be resumed. The general strike therefore is still ou

are a follow-

After evidence. had been called the defendant was committed to the Criminal Sessions for trial

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