681595-1881-Legislative-Council — Page 12

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 11TH JUNE, 1881.

They came. CHUN AYIN was the spokesman; Mr. WAI AKWONG was present, and some leading Chinese gentlemen now in the Colony. When the document was translated to them, they began by saying that the rules had been framed without any consultation

consider these particular rules.

with them and without their knowledge. They pointed out that the rules so framed were incon-

sistent with their religion and their usages as regards graves and services for the dead. One

of the rules to which Mr. CHUN AYIN especially

objected was this, "Single graves shall not be more than 6 feet long by 2 ft. wide, nor less than

5 feet deep." Now, he and others pointed out

as regards the depth, that they thought it a very

good thing, and that a law to that effect already

existed in the Colony, but with respect to the

provision“not more than 6 feet long by 2 feet

wide," they said that their graves were always

more than 6 feet long and 2 feet wide. An ordi- nary

Chinese coffin measures 6 feet 6 inches in length, and it is 2 feet 7 inches wide at the head. The coffin of a Chinese gentleman who has received of our mer- a button or decoration-and many

chants who have subscribed to various benevolent objects in China possess decorations-is 7 feet 9 inches long, and even the coffin of a Chinese

pauper is over 6 feet in length. Therefore, these "There is no Chinese gentlemen said to me,-

'necessity for exercise of force. The effect

any

"will be that we will go away if such rules are “ promulgated about our graves." They reminded me of what occurred at Macao, and said it would drive people out of the Colony. I need hardly tell

you that I put my veto on those rules and regulations, and that I have not allowed any system to be enforced that would offend the

prejudices of the Chinese on the subject of their

graves.

There also came before me a proposal which showed that a special restriction had been laid upon them, and which very much concerns what I said in the opening part of my remarks about the transactions in landed property. There came before me certain reports of the Surveyor-General referring to the restrictions imposed by order of the Governor in Council on the extension of Chi- nese premises in Hongkong. The Executive Council met to consider the reports. There was an application before me for converting certain European buildings in Queen's-road Central into Chinese structures, for building Chinese houses. in Duddel-street, and there was also a proposal made by Messrs. DOUGLAS LAPRAIK & Co. to dispose of certain land for Chinese commercial purposes in another part of the Colony. The upshot of the discussion in Council was, that I was able to relax somewhat the rule that appeared to have been made by Sir RICHARD MACDONNELL, I think it was--to restrict the building of Chinese houses, and I was able to allow Mr. CHATER to sell the property and to allow the Chinese to build their shops and stores, but, although enter- taining some doubts as to the policy of not allow- ing Messrs. DOUGLAS LAPRAIk & Co. to sell their land to Chinese, I declined, on the advice of the

Mr.

P

而且倘

此此

條澳

而修華人窒穸之法

同酌該事若輩應命而來代衆申說者則有陳賢而韋光亦與其 且謂如此規條必定毆人離港如叢之美淵之獭也本部堂安將此規條廢止不准頒行 倘將如此規條申諸禁令民等寕整歸鞭束裝就道矣從中亦有論及澳門規制若何者 有長至七尺九寸者即貧家所用亦過六尺以長故華人紳商俱云此事國家無庸勉强.人所定禁止建造華人屋宇規條從輕畧減发准渣打先生賣 寸而頭處闊則二尺七寸本港華商納粟而有官職者頂帶者不乏其人若輩所用之棺 與華人貿易故議政局集議後本部堂决意將前任總督麥大 二尺二語他云華人窒穸長必過六尺闊必過二尺蓋平等華人所用之棺長則六尺六 街建造華人屋宇又有德岛利士行禀請准將香港地一段售 尺陳賢及各紳士云不得淺過五尺一言甚善港例前已頒行但論長不過六尺闊不過 后大道歐洲人屋宇改作華人屋宇又有人禀請准在都爹利 賢所最不悅之一欸有如此云凡一柩之宅穸一穴斷不得長過六尺闊過二尺淺過五 政局酌議工務司所申陳者因有人禀請本部堂准將中環皇 未之前聞又謂此規條與華人三教之意未合又與華人喪祭之制不符規條中谏 同議政局嘗立阻止華人買受香港屋宇之規條於是邀集議. 華人如今仍在港內者當將該規條譯誦之聞之若輩云立此規條未嘗有與商者故 本部堂買受地段之事有關涉者工務司申陳稱有總督督 豫故從議政局所請不准將該地售與華人

中又有有體面之 又有以他人提舉者呈本部堂顯有分別禁制華人之意卽與 該地段與華人及准華人建造舖宇惟德恳利士所求向屬猶

督與

政華

過五

建大

道酌