1928-10-30 — Page 5

Page

DISASTROUS FIRE "AT LIUCHOW.

LOSSES ESTIMATED AT

$30,000,000...

(FROM OUR "CHINESE CORRESPONDENT. ]

CANTON, October 29th. Reports from official sources state that a very serious fire broke out

last Wednesday in Liuchow, a large and prosperous city in the province of Kwangsi. The conflagration | destroyed more than two-thirds of the city.

Over 1,000 stores and houses comprising the most pras- perous business and residential sections of the city have been re- duced to naher. This is the worst Gre that has ever occurred in Liu. chow and hundreds of thousands of people are homeless and penniless.

#1

The

The fire started from barning embers carelessly dropped on wooden Hour by the cook o! certain store after breakfast. outbreak was so suilder that more than half of the store was on fire before the fact was discovered by the fukis, The proprietor of the estab lishment and his employees pluckily "tries to quench the rapidly spread ing dates, but without success. A strong north wind helped to spread the flames in all direction, and the dry season and lack of water also widened the affected

The well, and the river in front of the city are practically dried up, and furthermore there, was no modern fire-fighting apparatus. All these

area.

factors account for the disastrous destruction that occurred...

い

The whole of the business district

was quickly swept away. Large and fourishing stores like the Kit Cheung, Ys Tai. Luen On, Shing On, and the Hing Fat Lung were all reduced to ashes.

RICE-SHOPS DESTROYED. Practically all the rice-shops, most of which were owned by Cantonese, were also razed to the ground This is a most serious matter, as the entire population is now des titute of rice, and on the verge of starvation paless immediate aid can be rushed to the scene. The con Bagration was a Gerce that it raged for more than 24 hours before it could be checked Practically the whole population of Liuchow is now encamped in the outskirts of the city,

THE FUTURE OF

MARSHAL LI.

IMPORTANT REFORMS *** AWAITING ATTEN:

TION...

[FROM A CHINESE CORRESPONDENTI)

CANTON, Oct. 29th

of

In spite of persistent rumours about the imminent return Marshal Li Tani Hain, the fact is that the Marshal has not yet return- ed to Canton. He was supposed to have returned to the city last Thurs day, but so far has not appeared Our correspondent went this morn ing to Headquarters and inquired about these contradictory reports. He was told that Marshal Li really had planned to leave Shanghai on the 23rd instant, expecting to reach Cantor by the 27th at latest. When the Marshal got të Shanghai, how- ever, he received a telegram from General Chen Ming Shu, in Per ping, stating that the latter had started for Tieftain' to confer with General Pe Chung Hsi on "mat- ters of vital importance." Marshal therefore decided to wait for the General, but the trip to Tieatain will take, General Chen rather more than a week to complete, which means that the Canton Marshal and his party cannot start for the South within the next ten days.

Latest reports to hand state that Marshal Li has decided to resign his three posts in Canton. He has been, and still is chairman of the Kwangsung Provincial Council, Chairman of the Canton Political Council and Directorin-Chief of the Headquarters of the 5th Mili- Lary Route: He says that his new post at Nanking as Chief of Staff of the Nationalist Armies requires his presence in the capital. The Dujeet of his return to Canton, thertore, will be to wind up his work here and turn his duties over to his successors whoever they may Be. After settling these affairs the Marshal will, it is reported, go back to the capital to carry on his work

there.

The great majority of the local authorities here, however, are most anxious to have him say in Can ton, where he is the recognized leader in military as well as civil affairs. The concensus of opinion among these Canton officials is that the Marshal can do far better work for China by remaining in Canton where he is supreme, than to stay

in Nanking, where his authority is disputed and his voice will not be listened to in the disputatious at mosphere of contending political factions. His colleagues and sub- ordinates bere have mapped out an elaborate programme of reform and reconstruction, and are waiting for the consideration, advice, and ap proval of the Marshal. Briefly, the Programme is as follows:-

THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 30th, 1928.

H

DISTINGUISHED VISI THE SANENESS OF ROUND THE COURTS.

TOR TO HONG KONG.

PORTUGUESE MINISTER TO CHINA AT GOVERN- MENT HOUSE.

RECEPTION AT CLUB

LUSITANO.

Dr. Jolo A de Bianchi, Portu-

HONG KONG.”

FAVOURABLE COMPARISON WITH SHANGHAI.

AN AMERICAN VIEW,

TRIBUTE TO SIR CECIL CLEMENTI.

Writing in the "China Weekly gal's Envoy Extraordinary and Berie, an American publication Minister Plenipotenitary to China, pablished in Shanghai, and former arrived in the Colony yesterdayiy known as Millard's Review, J.A.J." Baya of the "Snaeness of morning from Shanghai on the Empress of Asia. His Excellency Hong Kong" that those who are accustomed to the whims and fancies is on a private visit, and during of the die-hards at Shanghai and his stay in the Colony-preparate the autocracy of the Municipal tory to bis trip to Macao-will stay at Government House as the guest of H. E. the Governor Administer ing the Government (the Hon. Mr. W T. Southorn, C.M.G.), and. Mrs. Southern.

On his arrival, His Excellency was met by Senhor L. Cerveira d'Albuquerque e Castro (Portu- Kong) and the office-holders of the guese Conant-General in Hong Club Lusitano and Club de Recreio.

The Minister was also met by Mr. W. R. Scott (Aida de Camp to H.E. the Officer Administering the Government) who accompanied him to Queen's Pier and thence, to Government House" Lieut. Mario Zanatti (Aide-de-Camp to H.E. the Governor of Macao) also accom panied the party, to Government

House.

Travelling with the Minister are Mr. J F. Chagas (Secretary Inter- preter of the Portuguese Legation in Peking), and Mrs. Chagas.

Tin At Government House, The Portuguese Minister was a guest at an informal lunch at Government House yesterday. Those present included H. E. the Officer Administering the Covern ment (the Hon. M. W. T. Southorn, C.M.G.), Mrs. Sonthorn, Chief Justice Sir Henry Gollan, the Portuguese Consul-General, Dr. Ting (Mayor of Greater Shanghai), Sir Robert Ho Tung, and Mr. W. R. Scott (Aide-de- Camp to H.E. the Officer Adminis- tering the Government), After lunch the Portuguese Minister took a motor-car ride around the island. The Reception.

an

·RICKSHA COOLIE'S THEFT..

A ricksha soolie was 'charged be fare Mr. W. Schofield at the Kow- loon Magistracy with unlawful posacssion of an umbrella, a fan, and a gold brooch. Accused was arrested following a police raid on a ricksha coolie's boarding-houes, when the articles were found in his

box.

stole the articles, but said the um- The defendant denied that he brella was left in his ricksha, while the brooch was picked up in the street. A fine of 820, with the a ment, was imposed. ternative of one month's imprison

CONTRACTORS" COOLIES

FINED

Two coolies employed by 3 Chinese contractor were prosecuted by Mr. C. Barford for removing sand from the bed of a stream at the end of Po Kong and Sai Kong Roads

The defendants pleaded guilty, but said they were acting under instructions from their em ployers. The contractors appear- ed in Court, and denied that such instructions were given.

were also Aned 84 each.

KIDNAPPING!

Council and its British police officials in mattere pertaining to Chinese residents in the Inter national Settlement will be aur- prised to discover, upon a few days' stay at Hong Kong, that there is entirely different atmosphere prevailing between the British and the Chinese in the Crown Colony." In Hong Kong, the writer declares. there is no studied effort to put the Chinese in their proper place, as they are wont to say in Shang The Magistrate imposed a fine of hai but, on the contrary, the general 98 on the contractors, and intimat- attitude from the Governor downed that they "should per sand was to the minor civil servant; from not taken from Government Land the Chief Justice down to the last without permission. The coolies police officer, is one of fairness to ward all, irrespective of colour or creed, and any one in Government service committing a lapse, inten tionally or otherwise, by pudeavour ing to assume an air of superiority or by being unjust, if discovered or complained against, is promptly hauled over the coals. Thus it is that the police have just been censured by one of the magistrates for outrageous conduct towards certain Chinese witnesses in police court case. This consisting merely in the "police sending for and interrogating three witnesses just prior to the continuation of the case before the magistrate in question. In other words," the writer says, there is not that kind of attituds in Hong Kong as there is in Shanghai-that the police are never in the wrong, nor is there any such interpretation in regard to the Government as there is in Shanghai that the authorities can

never err.

n

There are certain misguided individuals in the foreign com A reception was held at the Clubmanity, it is true, who consider the Lusitano yesterday evening in Bonour of H.E the Minister, at Portuguese community were pre- which a very large number of "the

panied by the Portuguese Consul General, Mr. J. F. Chagas, and Lieut. Rebello.

sent. The Minister arrived accom-

hall, the orchestra played the On entering the

lowing which the Minister was in Portuguese National Anthem, fol- troduced to the members of the local community.

As Honorary Presidens of the Lusitano Club, the Consul-General presented His Excellency" with. handsome gold cigarette-cuse, ac- companied by a suitable" address.

Wils

10

before Mr. W. Schofield with kid- A Chinese woman was charged

Inspector Fallon, who napping

seven-year-old boy. charge of the ense, told. his Worship that the mother (and complainant) lived at No. 54, Canton Road On October 25th her two sons, aged eleven and seven, went to visit their grandmother on board a sampàn at the Yaumati Typhoon Shelter. It appeared that the defendant knew the complainant, and took the younger of the two boys away with her. He was not heard of again by his mother until some days later.

The police were informed, and after enquiries they discovered that the boy had been taken to the des fendant's house and later went with her to Tuipo. The defendant had been seen to alight from the train at Taipo with the boy. The boy was subsequently taken into Chinese ter ritory, and was still missing.

The case was adjourned until Friday.

OF OPIUM.

+M-

here wearing of the mess-jacket and the questionable privilege of signing their superior standing, but they chits as A suficient indication of

their prototypes in the so-called do not go such a long way as do | DONKEYMAN IN POSSESSION

Model Settlement. One has never hai Municipal Council admit, as beard the Chairman of the Shang-

Governor of Hong Kong has door, Sir Cecil Clementi, the illustrious that most of the misunderstandings which have arisen in recent years between the Europeans and Chinese in this country have been due to the inability of the former to go half way toward meeting the latter. The Governor, just prior to his departure from the Colony

FLOURISHING CITY DEVASTED.

The Consul-General said that as Honorary President of the Lusi- The total loss has been estimated

tana Club, which was the oldest leave, found two occasions to Portuguese

give expression to this sentiment at over $30,000,000. Much of the The Canton Government wants Colony, and probably the oldest and His Excellency's injunction:

does not appear to have fallen upon

cash in the banks and stores of Liuchow has been destroyed, which has materially increased the losses sustained.

1. The problem of army reduction. to distand all superfluous troops in the Leung Kwang Provinces. At present there are three armies stationed in Kwangtung and one in Kwangsi. The upkeep of these four

Institution in the

Club of its kind, it was his plea sure to pay homage to His Excel Jency in the name of the Club and the Portuguese community. His Excellaney would be received in

Armies amounts to several million this institution as he would his dollars a month. What the promin- ent leaders are contemplating is to

own hour. On behalf of the Portuguese Community, of which reduce these four armies to mini-ho had the honour to be the Con mum consistent with the mainten sul-General, he asked His Excel plans have been already drawn up ance of public order. Elaborate Jency to accept the gift as

memento of. His Excellency's visit for the purpose, and will be ear- to Hong Kong The Consul

General read the inscription on the proves of them.

deaf ears.

Greyhound Racing, Reference is then made to the fairness of the Hong Kong press and to the absence of Greyhound Racing in the Colony. Of the latter,

the writer. says:-

ployed on board the Changte was

A Chinese donkeyman now

having in his possession, when on charged before Mr. W. Schofield for board the Anhui, 24 taels of pre- pared opium. Mr. H. S. Leseby appeared for the defendant, and entered a plea of not guilty."

detective who said he saw the de- Evidence was given by a Chinese fendant go on board the Anhui with a parcel. He was stopped, and on opening the parcel the opium was found.

that the defendant had been quite Mr. Loseby commented on the fact

frank about the contents of the parcel. It had been given to him by.

friend who had failed him. He carried the parcel quite openly and made no attempt to conceal it, nor did he attempt to hide himself among the crowd of passengers.

His Worship: Even on the merits, I think the man can be dia- charged, quite apart from the want of evidence about the opium.

The defendant was accordingly

Any other city in Kwangsi. With ried out as soon as the Marshal afgift as follows:-" To His Excel rities here is not that if the Chi-discharged.

Because of its flourishing indus. tries, commerce, and the projected Exhibition to be held in the city under the auspices of the Kwangsi Government, Liughe has recently been in public notice more than

General Wong Shiu Hong at the head of the regime, the Kwangs Government has spent millions of dollars to modernize the city and prepare for the coming Exhibition, to which so much publicity has been given in foreign circles through the Information Bureau in Hong Kong' managed by Mr. Hin Wong. The Kwangai Government long ago de. cided to move its capital from Nanning to Liuchow just a BOON as the Governinent buildings under construction are completed. removal of the provincial capital is now more distant than ever before on" account of the unparalleled calamity of last week: "Building materials have been destroyed, and all construction works is suspend-

The

2. The problem of the abolition of the Canton Political Council. It will be remembered that the 5th Executive Committee of the Kuo- Plenary Session of the Central mintang, held some months ago at Nanking, devided to abolish all China within this year... Political Council's throughout

in

"An excellent illustration of the Bancness which exists in Hong Kong is, the refusal of the authorities to permit greyhound racing in the Colony. The attitude of the autho nese do not want greyhound racing, let them keep away from the courses. The objection to grey. hound racing is that it appeals to the gambling instinct of the Chi- The opinion of Hong Bese.

lency the Minister for Portugal in Peking. Dr. Joño de Bianchi, Presented by the Portuguese Coin- of His Excellency's first visit to manity of Hong Kong in memory the Colony on October 28th, 1999"

In accepting the gift, the Minis-Kong is that the culture of a new and insidious form of gambling is ter said he was deeply grateful for being permitted to see such an tion; nor does it avail for anyone

not a fit object for British protec

3. The problem of unification of

institution in Hong Kong as the the monetary system of the Leung

Club Lusitano. He would cherish

to argue that the Chinese are the gift as a souvenir of the already addicted to gambling. They Kwang Provinces.--Kwangsi money

Portuguese community the are not not already addicted to dog. is now worth about 75 per cent, of

Colony.

racing. It is because they are prone the Kwangtung money. This causes "Because you are Portuguese,"to fall under the temptation of a lot of trouble to merchants, and

said His Excellency, no matter gambling that the introduction of travellers who have to change from

If one monetary system to another how distant you may be, it will be dog-racing is a peril to them.

Iny extreme pleasure as a servant of they were not given at all to whereby merchants and travellers will not have so much trouble and

our Government to help you in any gambling, the introduction of dog- sustain so much lose in exchange.

way I can." His. Excellency also racing would not greatly matter." commented on the fact that the attention of Marshal Li as soon as This matter will be brought to the

Fortuguese community in Hong he gets back to Canton.

Kong was as patriotic as any he Consul-General), Miss d'Albuquer; had had the privilege of knowing. 4. The problem of communica- You belong

que, Mr. J. P. Braga, Mr. and anation of great Mrs. F. L. Silva, Miss C. Alves, tions. The railroad projects con- necting the Levang Kwang Pro-

traditions," said His Excellency, Mr. and Mr. S. A. Lopes, Miss vinces from Yam Chow in Kwang- tradition, as it is extremely valu

you should cherish

C. Botelho, Mr. P. M. N. Silva, Upon receipt of the nows of the tung to Nanning in Kwangsi, the able. Macao is a brilliant gem

Mr. and Mr. B. A. Marcal, Mr disaster General Wong Shin Hung, completion of the Canton-Hankow

A, H. Basto, Miss Monteiro,, Mr, who is now, in Canton conferring Railway, and other similar schemes; our national family, and you must Soares, Mr. J. M. Castro-Basto,

among the collection of jewels of

D. P. J. Lopes, Mr. F. P. de V. with the local authorities on men- will be also discussed with Marshal

guarantee its continuity as such, Dr. A. Basto, Mr. D. A. Barretto, aures of reform, at once appealed Li with a view to carrying them and its attachment to the Portu- Mr. J. A. d'Almeida, Mr. N. to the Canton Political Council for out at an early date.

guess Motherland, I thank you" a loan of $150,000 to meet the im- mediate needs of the hundreds of to be put before the Marshal when which I will always cherish in Figueiredo, Mr. J. E. Figueiredo, This, in short, is the programme once more for the beautiful gift, Botelho, Mr. S. Pinas, Mr. M. thousands of sufferers now cncamp- be gets to Canton next week. memory of the Portuguese com

and Mr. J. Soares, ed in the outskirts of Liuchow. General Wong Shiu Hung's mission unity in Hong Kong."

To-day's Reception At Glub de Although the Council has not na yet to Canton is to participate, in the Among the many members of the

Recreio. responded to the General's appeal, deliberation of these questions. It

Portuguese community who it intimated in official circles would be a great pity, therefore, present at the reception given at that the lonn will be immediately it Marshal Li should be persuaded the Club Lusitano were Mr. J. M. granted. The General is also con- to stay permanently in the capital, de Rocha (representing the Club de templating sending a representa contending with politicians there to Recreio) and Mr. F. Barnes (on tive to Hong Kong to purchase no good end, innicad of seeing that behalf of the Portuguese Society large quantities of rice to be ship these useful public works are "Mutual Aid), Mre d'Albuquerque ped to Liuchow for relief of the promptly put in band and efficient- e Castro (wife of the Portuguese destitute.

ly carried out.

(Continued on next Column).

ed.

*and

this

were

|

- WASTING WATER.

Sergeant Hendersen is to be congratulated upon hringinga thoughtless coolie before the Central Magistracy yesterday on a charge of wasting water. In these days of taught to ceonemise, and not to water shortage everyone should be

allow. drinking water to run to waste.

It appeared that the coolie, who was filling up his tins at the street fountain at Mallory Street, allow- ed the water to run at full pressure while he went away to fetch another receptacle from the other side of the street. This journey took him about one minute, and during this. time the water was running to waste. He was told he should have had the sense to turn the tap before crossing the road. to get another receptacle. It was sheer laziness that he did not do so, and the fine of 83, which Mr. R." E. Lindsell imposed upon the offender, should hes lesson to others.

A FOOLISH "JOKE"

The Chinese youth who played n burning the latter's leg with a piece foolish prank on his companion by

of rag saturated with herosene, was discharged by Mr. R. E. Lindsell at the Central Magistracy yester- His Excellency will visit the day. He was, however, ordered to Club de Recreio, King's Park, this sign a bond of"830 to be of good afternoon at 6.30 p.m. where an in- | behaviour for 12 months, and his

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