36
J. H. HAAN
The assertion of selfgovernment
In some Western countries, especially Great Britain, the 19th century was the heyday of progress in parliamentary government. In Britain the 1832 Reform Act had substantially increased the number of voters, as well as redistributed them in favour of commerce and industry; the 1835 Municipal Corporations Act provided for the first time a uniform basis upon which local government was to be run, that is, through councils elected by ratepayers. By later acts (1865, 1884, 1918 and 1928) the parliamentary franchise was gradually widened, till the principle of taxation as a basis for voting rights disappeared.
The foreigners mainly British and Americans
+
+
44
+
·
- who came
to Shanghai in the very early years were self-conscious of the fact that they ought to govern themselves, without in any way being subjected to a higher authority like their compatriots in Hong Kong. Although the 1845 Land Regulations provided for this self-government through article XII (about the building of roads and other public works: "The Consul (i.e. the British consul — JH) will be requested by the various renters to urge the propriety of assembling together and publicly consulting about and contributing towards the necessary expenses incurred therein, .") and through article XX (about taxation: "the several contributors will request the Consul to appoint three upright merchants to deliberate upon and determine the amounts to be subscribed by them ."), it was nevertheless thought advisable by some residents to express very clearly that local government rested upon a consensus of the foreign merchants themselves. The motive for these strong words was the fear of interference from Hong Kong with regard to the right to vote. At a Public Meeting of May 29, 1852, a resolution was moved which in its original form read: "That this meeting consider the legal opinion of the Attorney General of Hong Kong respecting the qualifications of voters at this Meeting unnecessary, as the action of the body of landrenters is not governed by Law but by mutual agreement", but after some discussion it was passed in the following form: "That this meeting consider the action of the body of Landrenters with reference to Roads and Jetties is only governed by mutual agreement",13
36
J. H. HAAN
The assertion of selfgovernment
In some Western countries, especially Great Britain, the 19th century was the heyday of progress in parliamentary government. In Britain the 1832 Reform Act had substantially increased the number of voters, as well as redistributed them in favour of commerce and industry; the 1835 Municipal Corporations Act provided for the first time a uniform basis upon which local government was to be run, that is, through councils elected by ratepayers. By later acts (1865, 1884, 1918 and 1928) the parliamentary franchise was gradually widened, till the principle of taxation as a basis for voting rights disappeared.
The foreigners mainly British and Americans
+
+
44
+
·
- who came
to Shanghai in the very early years were self conscious of the fact that they ought to govern themselves, without in any way being subjected to a higher authority like their compatriots in Hong Kong. Although the 1845 Land Regulations provided for this selfgovernment through article XII (about the building of roads and other public works: "The Consul (i.e. the British consul — JH) will be requested by the various renters to urge the propriety of assembling together and publicly consulting about and contributing towards the necessary expenses incurred therein, .") and through article XX (about taxation: .. the several contributors will request the Consul to appoint three upright merchants to deliberate upon and determine the amounts to be subscribed by them ."), it was nevertheless thought advisable by some residents to express very clearly that local government rested upon a consensus of the foreign merchants themselves. The motive for these strong words was the fear of interference from Hong Kong with regard to the right to vote. At a Public Meeting of May 29 1852 a resolution was moved which in its original form read: "That this meeting consider the legal opinion of the Attomey General of Hong Kong respecting the qualifications of voters at this Meet- ing unnecessary, as the action of the body of landrenters is not governed by Law but by mutual agreement", but after some discussion it was passed in the following form: "That this meeting consider the action of the body of Landrenters with reference to Roads and Jetties is only governed by mutual agree- ment", 13
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