686938-1879-Certificates-of-Policemen-on-their-retirement- — Page 2

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THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 17TH SEPTEMBER, 1879.

2. Those resolutions fairly represent the views

of an influential section of the European residents of Hongkong, including two out of the four non- Official Members of Council. They were pro- posed and seconded by highly respectable gen- tlemen. But the larger proportion of the Euro- pean Community, including (with the exception, I am told, of one individual) the whole of the Portuguese, took no part in the meeting, and I understand disapprove of the resolutions. The Chinese inhabitants, who had been invited by the promoters to attend, did so and far outnumbered the others. Owing to the fact that the Chairman did not think proper to have the resolutions translated to them, the Chinese protested against the proceedings and went away quietly, leaving the minority in possession of the meeting. They subsequently applied to me for the

Messrs. Ts'oi Tsán and

Mok Sze-yeung to Act-

10th October,

to Messrs. Ts'oi Tsan

October, 1878.

ing Colonial Secretary, usual authority to hold a public meeting to consider and discuss those resolu- Acting Colonial Secretary tions, but I asked them to recon- and Mok Sze-yeung, 11th sider the idea, on the ground that I deprecated agitation, and that, in a Colony like this I was not at all certain that public meetings were the most prudent and efficient means by which the inhabitants could bring their sentiments to the knowledge of the Government. I believe they will take my advice, and will be satisfied with giving to me in writing whatever they desire the Government to know.

3. As to the specific allegations set forth in the resolutions, they may be fairly summed up as follows: That for the past year and a half (a period during which I am responsible for the Government of the Colony), the criminal classes

have been unusually active, and a feeling of in- ; security as regards life and property created, owing to undue leniency on my part, especially as regards the suspension of public flogging, the substitution of the rattan on the breech in lieu of the Cat-of-nine-tails on the back of Chinese Cri- minals, and a somewhat more cautious use of deportation. Finally, that all this calls for a Commission of Enquiry, which might also inves- tigate the relations between the Governor and the Officials in every department. The speeches in support of the resolutions are not inaccurately summarized in the following words of Mr. A. P. MACEWEN, who moved that the resolutions be forwarded to the Secretary of State for the Colo-

nies::

"Let the Magistrates, instead of inflicting “ paltry fines of 10 cents or short terms “ of imprisonment, have the power to in- "flict summary chastisement on all rogues

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"

白白

“ and vagabonds. Let them be taken

. from the Magistracy and publicly flog-

‘ged at the whipping-post. I see the in-

"crease of crime in the Colony is put

"down to the cheap rate of fares now

existing between Canton and this port.

“ In my opinion the famine in the Kwang-

tung Province has also had a good deal

情齊有酌諸齊絕體 則集騷隨形集 具原動

徬該

章潑情 斯緊事 亦

人

足

矣 方在

本

此

港蕩

酌隨後該華人禀請循例准伊集議各欸本部堂批飭三思蓋不欲 諸形不便爲辭故華人心未甘服安靜而散任由其餘之人若何斟 齊集而赴會者較其餘之人更爲多衆惟主席者以言語不通傳譯 絕無又開陳定各歎與他意見不同倡首之人亦嘗邀請居港華人 體面者惟歐洲人甚多不預其事者而葡萄芽人則除一人外據聞 局四紳士內亦有二位於其間所有倡議贊助各款之人實爲極有 有勢位者之意見而定例

齊集原非活潑緊慎之方本部堂誠願伊等遵行又見果欲上達興

誠地議

達傳

輿衆

賤府案

致斷

然當

見往

廣鞭

港

譯人

貴各-

以

外

聞

為

案此各欸可稱體貼駐港之歐洲人

有例

港 輪船水脚太賤所致然案愚見廣東境内饑荒於此未嘗無涉 蕩匪徒由巡理府訊斷當堂向往鞭笞示衆蓋有謂本港犯罪者之多都因省 一毫之欸毋斷案以暫禁之刑又最妙莫如使伊有權飭令當堂笞責凡有浪 貴大臣者說此未終無由分其美惡彼乃言日最妙莫如使巡理府毋罰人以

各款者所言合而言之則馬嬌雲紳士倡言要將各歎申呈 -

軍之刑致請派員稽察兼查本部堂與各堂官否有和衷共濟倘欲將贊助 以作結九尾之鞭笞華人罪犯之背茲則代鞭以籐笞臀而不鞭背更因慎用 有不穩之虞是由本部堂太恕所致而停止鞭笞示衆之事尤爲居多兼之间 蒞治香港之貴斯時違法之流踰常兇湧致便羣黎心恒震摺且生命產業每 致於詳定各欸可云合而言之槪亦如是卽如所稱一載有半已來本部堂有

涉者

省浪

助用