1924-10-22 — Page 5

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THE HONGKONG DAILY PRESS, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22ND, 1924

THE CANTON TRAGEDY.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT.

buildings, particularly the pawnshops [which were especially high and well-cons stracted, to pour a heavy fire on the

HONGKONG SANITARY

BOARD.

troops. To rout them out was: no ensy | GOVERNMENT'S LETTER ON CÔN thak Nevertheless in less than thre hours all the principal entrances, except

We have received the following from MERCHANT VOLUNTEERS NOT ALL one, into Saikwan bad been gained, and the Press Bureau of Canton.

CANTON, October 19th.

MERCHANTS.

55

TERRORISING LAW-ARIDING

MERCHANTS.

17

RESPONSIBILITY

CONSPIRATORS,

STITUTION AND POWERS.

TO BE DISCUSSED LATER.

G. F. M. Ozorio, Mr. S. W. Tao, Mr. Wong Kwong Tin, and the Secretary, Mr. J. A. Fraser.

A letter had been received from the Government relative to the constitution and powers of the Sanitary Board.

Dr. Ozorio asked whether discussion way allowed, on whether a resolution was necessary.

The CHAIRMAN said the matter. was

had something to say be could make it merely laid on the table. If a member)

a motion. That was the usual procedure.

open for discussion at the next meeting Dr. Ozonto moved that this paper be

of te Board.

the letter was laid on the table for dis- Mr. Wosa. KwONG-TIN seconded, and

cussion at the next meeting.

This was all the business before the meeting.

ON

The letter from the Government was as follows:

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong.

organised resistance was over. From a little aftern.m. until noon there was A meeting of the Hongkong Sanitary It is difficult to believe that law-abid only isolated fighting in particular Board was held yesterday afternoon. In view of the campaign of misrepre. Fing shopkeepers or their shop-assistants streets or buildings which were the The meeting was presided over by Mr. sentation and slander which is being could be guilty of such an act of bar-strongholds of the rebels. Fire burst out N. Smith, President, and those pre- conducted in the Press regarding the barisma and cruelty. The Government in seven or eight pinces either as a result scat were: The Director of Public Works altair of the Merchant Volunteers and had information that some of the men of the fighting or of incendiarism by (Hon Mr. H. T. Creasy), Dr. W..W. the fighting which took place in Canton were not members of the Mercantile com- bad characters. According to police re

Pearse (Medical Officer of Health), Dr. on the 15th inst the Government has munity at all," Many of them were disports about 400 houses wore burnt. En deemed it necessary to issue the following banded soldiers, "discharged police-men, fortunately, some looting took place both statement for public information.

city ruffians and bad characters from the by bad characters and by soldiers. Those M.V.C. DEFIANCE, NOT DEFENCE. villages who had been hired" at the rates who were caught with loot were, however, It cannot be over emphasized that the of twelve dollars a month and sixty cents promptly khot on the spot. This drastic conflict which the Volunteers chose to per day. Some of these hirelings were measure had an immediate salutary enter into with the Government was not even bandits and men sent from Chen effect. It was comparatively fortunato one for the possession of the arms ship (Chiung Ming's forces.

that the scene of the fighting took place ped. from Belgium by the stemmer Hue" but for the overthrow of the Government,

in a few streets on the Lastera limits of the suburb containing not residences not one for wif-defence but for aggres Bion. The Government had always view- Not content with the damage already moved their valuables. Very few, if any but shops whose owners long ago had re ed with sympathy and encouragement! done, the Merchant Volunteer Corps pro non-combatants were hurts the casual the formation of the M.V.C, as evidencedceeded to terrorise the general body of ties, among. the troops numbered about by the fact that Dr. Sun himself" present. merchants of the whole city, forcing them 100, those among the rebels owing to their ed Coloura to it last June at an official to close their shops, notwithstanding posts of vantage, wezo probably less. The review. When the steamer. He arrived the fact that the only protext which they single class which suffered the most were at Canton with its shipment of arms. ever had for such a course, that is, the the barbers of Saikwan who, owing to Chan Lim Pak. the theà Commandant of Government's detention of their arms some grudge or other, were maltreated the Corps. in his forts un get the arms shipment, had been removed by the re- and killed by the rebels to the number, passed by the Government, pursued such turn of the arms as stipulated. The it is reported, of 70 or 80. a course of deception and misrepresenta Volunteers paraded through the streets, tion that the suspicions of the Author armed to the teeth, in groups, large and ities were aroused. A widespread can small, and compelled those business paign to advertise Chan Lim Pak and bouses and aliopa which wanted to do The Government deplores the necessity bis pinch-beck Fascisti in the foreign business-and these were in the majority for the measures which had to be taken Press in Hongkong and the Treaty Forts to close their shops literally at the on the 13th inst. The rebel conspirators and even in America, and the fact that point of the bayouet. The result, of and their representatives had been warn- Chan, in disobedience to the orders of course, was most serious for the commer-ed repeatedly that the Government would the Government, sought to become the cial and industrial life of the city and be compelled to use force if they proceed. Commandant not merely of the Mer the surrounding country. It was now ed with their seditious activities and that careful consideration to any detailed The Government, will be glad to give chant Volunteer Corps of Canton city, plainly evident to the citizens of Canton the consequences would involve suffering suggestions put forward by the Board for but also of the Volunteers of the catire (what had been known to the Government not only on the guilty but also on the the enlargement of its scope along the province of Kwangtung, confirmed the

lines indicated by the Public Health and authorities already) that the purpose of innocent. They had, however, presumed Buildings Ordinance No. 1 of 1903 1 opinion that Chan was playing for higher the group of conspirators among the too much on the leniency and tolerance am, however, to make it clear that the Volunteers was nothing less than the which the Government had consistently Sanitary Board is not, in the opinion of Government, responsible for the health overthrow of the Government by bring exhibited throughout the affair. The of the Colony, the officer so responsible At the time of the first General Strike ing about the paralysis of the political responsibility for the suffering and dam-to Government being the Principal Civil towards the end of August, the Govern ment, in spite of the irregularities at-4ad commercial metropolis. Obviously age must fall on those who, regardless Medical Officer. It is true that all the sendant on the shipment of arms which the Government could not sit by and of the warnings of the Government and ated in section 10 of the Ordinance) have existing powers of the Board (as indic- would have justifed its entire confisca watch a gang of armed men instituting reckless of the consequences to the an indirect bearing upon the public tion, agreed to return the retire ship- ment of about 8,000 rifles and small ärpis

given to the Board under sub-section 35 health, but the somewhat wide powers and ammunition (exclusive of 1,000 small

(h) of that section cannot, in the opinion, Gruss ordered and paid for by one of the Yunnanese Generals), while the

of Government be interpreted (having M.V.C. "agreed to contribute a sum of

veeding the powers indicated in the rent regard to their coutext) as greatly ex- $500,000 for the Northern Expedition.

of that sub-section, namely the powers to The discussion of the details for the carrying out of the understanding was

adopt routine measures generally aimed tain kinds of disease. It must be clear at the prevention and mitigation of cer delayed and prolonged by representatives of the Merchant Volunteer Corps until

from the consideration of the Public last week, when a full understanding was reached between other representatives of of the Merchant Volunteer Corps, and Orders have now been issued for the ar. Health and Buildings Ordinance that the the M.V.C. and General Li Fook Lam. the agents of Chen Chiang Ming. Sums rest of these merr, the Chan brothers, and maintain a certain standard of cleanliness main objects of that Ordinance are to It was to the effect that the Government, former to the Intter. Several weeks pre nine other rebel leaders.

of money had been advanced by the

in the Colony to safeguard the purity af the Colony's food supplies and to pre- vent overcrowding, etc., in tenement objects (the connection of which, with houses. To give practical effect, to auch the public health must be apparcat) tha Sanitary Board, as at present constituted, appears to Government to be and to havé always been a most valuable instrument. But the Government cannot consent to

[game.

GOVERNMENT RETURNS ARMS.

a reign of terror among law-abiding citizens, had pursued their political citizens and at the same time encompass-plots in the safe refuge of Hongkong and ing its own downfall.

Shamech. In the latter place particular. ly, owing to the employment of Chan Lim Fak and his brother, Chan Lim Chung, As compradores of the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank, the conspirators had & safe and convenient base for plotting

IN LEAGUE WITH CHEN CHIUNG MING.

Reports had been received for some Chan Lim Pak, the former Commandant time of plots made at Hongkong between

instead of accepting the financial con tribution, should receive rifles from the viously the M.V.C. had already imposed Volunteers, which were badly aceded By levy not only on shops which wexs men. the Northern Expedition, at the rate $100

FUTURE RELATIONS.

October 1st, 192-1 SIR,I am directed to acknowledge 337/1911, of the 11th September, 1921, the receipt of your letter S.RO. No and to reply as follows:-

value seems to Government to lie in ita essentially lay and representative con- stitution) the more technical decisions upon which the Government would natur- ally desire to have the advice of an ex- pert. Such matters, for example, as quarantine, or the steps to be taken in case of a serious epidemic, or the under- taking of any research that may seem necessary, will continue to be submitted to Government by the Principal Civil Medical Officer.

bers of the M.V.C. but on other shops It is the hope and belief of the Gov per rifle a price about 3 times their cost as well the ostensible object being to- "according to the inverse. The Volunteers wards making a contribution to the war erament, now that the rebellious element were to get possession of the 8,000 arms chest of the Government in return for among the Volunteers has been eliminat as soon as a written agreement had been the arms, and these funds were divert but the ammunition for the arms were Government had every ground for be-Government and the law-abiding mer entrust to such`n body" (whose particular signed between them and General Lied also for Chen Chiang Ming's use. Thed, that the future relations between the to be returned a little later, a precaution lieving that it was intended to take ad- chants and citizens shall lead to mutual which the Government felt it necessary stage of the absence of a large number trust and co-operation for the welfare to take owing to the seditious intentions of troops on the Northern Expedition for of the MVIC. In execution of this Chen Chiung Ming to counter-attack on and happiness of the people. agreement, on the evening of the 3th inst, the East River front, in spite of the th: Government handed over to General fact that the Government had ordered Li, who was accompanied by representa the siege of Walchow to be raised and

FALSE" AND UNFOUNDED aves of the .V.C., the specified quantity large portion of the Eastern front to af arms, although at the last moment be evacuated in order to effect a truen

ALLEGATIONS. the representatives of the M.V.C. sag. with Chen Chiung Ming so that he, too.

"EMPHATIC REPUDIATION BY gested, and the Government agreed, that if he had a spark of patriotism left. in a portion of the ammunition should be him, might devote his energies to fight

DR. SUN YAT: SEN. transferred to them at once and that the common cremy of the Republic, Tsao 100 of the arms should be temporarily

We received last night from Mesers beid hack instead. While the Govern ground for believing that with this Johnsou Stokes & Masters, solicitors, ment bad performed its part, the M.V.C., counter-attack by Chen Chung Ming In gross violation of their undertaking, there was to be synchronised in the city acting on behalf of Dr. Sun Yat See, a lid not sign the written agreement with of Canton itself through the mach letter in which they state that they are General Li nor perform the other stipu: nations of Chan Lim Pax and his instructed to point out that an article Jations, but at once took possession of fellow-conspirators, a general strike of the transferred arms and ammunition merchants and an armed uprising of written by our Chinese Correspondent on the evening of the 9th and on the several thousand Volunteers. It was which appeared in the Hongkong Daily 10th. This breach of faith arouse the thus the duty of the Government to act, Press of the 17th inst. headed "The indignation of General Li who in and act promptly. public telegram exposed the perfidy of THE CONFLICT ON THE 16th. the M.V.C.

Kun. The Government had also every

The Government has no desire to re- strict the Board's privilege of seeking for information, as the mouthpiece of the public, on matters which have any bear- ing whatever upon the public health, and erament (or the head of any Government the existing practice whereby the Gov department) may explain to the Board, policy in such matters appears to through the medium of the Fresident, ita valuable. But this privilege should not be interpreted by the Board as implying any authority on its part over watters which are outside the scope of the Public Health and Buildings Ordinance, or over

be

such technical maiters ns, in the opinion

HAS IT STRUCK YOU?

Holocaust at Canton " is a gross "libet on the Government of the Republic of TRAGEDY OF OCTOBER 10th, The Government therefore on the 14th China and on Dr. Sun personally, parti inst. proclaimed the dissolution of the cularly those paragraphs which contained On the 16th October, the Nation 1 Day M.7.0. In anticipation of armed resist.noncombatants of both sexes and all of Government, should not be subject to

allegations, that there was a massacre of of the Republic, while the Volunteers anco, the Government ordered a demon- were leading on the Bund the arms and stration of force. The rebel Volunteers ages, and that Dr. Sun Yat Sen had ad- the control of a Board of laymen such as Ammunition, a popular procession, adwent farther than expected. The courted vised the bayonetting of women and the Sanitary Board, in at present and vertised several days before in celebra and provoked a conflict. On the after children and had instructed that cash should, in the opinion of Government, tion of the National Birthday, was wend noon of the 14th at 6.30 p.m. the building looted should be handed to the Commis continue to be, if it is to performs pro- ing its way through the streets of of the Police Headquarters was fired sary-General,

perly the highly important duties with Canton Numbering a couple of thou upon by snipers from a tea house called are absolutely falso and unfounded and

"We are informed that these statements which it has been entrusted.I am, Sir,

Your Obedient Servant, Band, composed of young students, both Wu Yu Lau and a pawnshop called Yau that there was no attack whatever on

CLAUD :: SEVERN, boys and girls (accompanied by their shan, situated in the vicinity, necessitat teachers), labourers and military cadeta, ing the transfer of the police staff from treatment of any kind was accorded to non-combatants.. Further, that no ill.

Colonial Secretary. carrying flags and banners and, of the upper to the ground floor. The course, unarmed, the procession approach. Western suburb of the city, known women and children and no such advice ed the spot where the Volunteers were Saiwan, through which no modern roads was ever given by Dr. Hun... transporting their arms

Without any had yet been built, had already for our Chinese correspondent, we have, no Without waiting for explanatious from provocation the Volunteers fired into the several days been controlled by the rebels hesitation in accepting Dr. Sun's em unarmed crowd. When the crowd dia who each night caused the closing of all phatic, denial of these allegations" and persed they chased individual labourers barricades on its streets and lanes and giving to it, at the earliest moment, the and students, and even women and girla instituted search of the persons of same publicity that we gave to the allega. Bome of the latter were bound and tied passers-by. On this night they were for some time before they were released massed on the strecis leading out of tions, and at the same time we express The Merchnat Volunteers, supposed to Saikwan. It was now open rebellion. Our sincere regret that we were misled Tell me, my Mus, if ever thou - hnat be organised for self-defence, without any The Government reluctantly instructed unfounded statements referred to. A grief for longings always unfulfilled,

into giving publicity to the false and authority or justification killed eight the gendarmes and troops to proceed t of their fellow-citizens whose only crime daylight on the 15th fast. to Saikwan to viously giving the version of the affair Our Chinese correspondent was -oh- Was that they were patriotically march-break down all barriers and gates that credited in Volunteer circlea. Whatever That Hope arises only to be killed?______

A scuse that ev'ry flower has vainly

blown, ing through the streets to celebrate the impeded free trade in the suburb, and any ho the foundation on which such In this wan band of sorrowers am I, anniversary of the foundation of the Re to take forcible measures if they were reports were based, we are unfeignedly A tragic veil Fate wills that I must don public

One of the killed, & working opposed. The advanca commenced at 4.30 glad to learn that so far as Dr. Sun read their names when ferriet pass, man, was afterwards found disembowel on the morning of the 15th.

he rebels personally and his Government are con me by took advantage of their barricades and corned, they are absolutely falso.

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