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rioters was identified as a triad member. Many of the stone throwers were mere boys, a fact which further supports the theory that the riot initially broke out spontaneously amid excitement and confusion, (even a desire for some naughty fun) and was finally accelerated by the provocation of the police.
Could we not further suggest that Marsh had blamed "bad elements" for starting the riot in order to divert attention from the unjust imposition of fines which had triggered off the strike and subsequently the riot and from his own mishandling of the affair? This could be his motive for exaggerating the threat of the triads out of all proportion.
Work was resumed on the 5th. What ended the strike? The English newspapers offered no explanation. The Acting Governor himself expressed uncertainty, writing, "It seems to me very doubtful whether work has been resumed in consequence of order having been restored by the authorities or whether it has not been rather in consequence of secret instructions conveyed by those who had been the instigators of the disturbance."71 went no further.
He
Ironically enough, it was Chang Chih-tung who seemed sure about what had brought the strike to an end. He claimed that work in Hong Kong was resumed because the Hong Kong Government had remitted the fines through the mediation of the Tung Wah Hospital. But, in fact, Chang was wrong. The Hong Kong Government had not remitted the fines.
72
We may recall that the fines had been a major bone of contention, and possibly the primary cause for the strike becoming general. The boatmen and coolies had made representations to the Chinese leaders that the remittance of the fines must be a prerequisite for the resumption of work. We
We may also speculate that in their minds, if the fines could be remitted on the basis that they had been wrongly fined, workers would in future be free to refuse to work for the French.
Yet, strangely enough, when the Chinese leaders did meet with Hong Kong officials, no demand for a remission was made. We can only surmise that the tough stand of Frederick Stewart
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rioters was identified as a triad member. Many of the stone throwers were mere boys, a fact which further supports the theory that the riot initially broke out spontaneously amid excitement and confusion, (even a desire for some naughty fun) and was finally accelerated by the provocation of the police.
Could we not further suggest that Marsh had blamed "bad elements" for starting the riot in order to divert attention from the unjust imposition of fines which had triggered off the strike and subsequently the riot and from his own mishandling of the affair? This could be his motive for exaggerating the threat of the triads out of all proportion.
Work was resumed on the 5th. What ended the strike? The English newspapers offered no explanation. The Acting Governor himself expressed uncertainty, writing, "It seems to me very doubtful whether work has been resumed in consequence of order having been restored by the authorities or whether it has not been rather in consequence of secret instructions conveyed by those who had been the instigators of the disturbance."71 went no further.
He
Ironically enough, it was Chang Chih-tung who seemed sure about what had brought the strike to an end. He claimed that work in Hong Kong was resumed because the Hong Kong Government had remitted the fines through the mediation of the Tung Wah Hospital. But, in fact, Chang was wrong. The Hong Kong Government had not remitted the fines.
72
We may recall that the fines had been a major bone of contention, and possibly the primary cause for the strike becoming general. The boatmen and coolies had made representations to the Chinese leaders that the remittance of the fines must be a prerequisite for the resumption of work. We
We may also speculate that in their minds, if the fines could be remitted on the basis that they had been wrongly fined, workers would in future be free to refuse to work for the French.
Yet, strangely enough, when the Chinese leaders did meet with Hong Kong officials, no demand for a remission was made. We can only surmise that the tough stand of Frederick Stewart
Page 105Page 106
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