123
burned in December 1856. Trade stopped and the merchants retired to Hongkong.
Two days after the burning of the foreign "factory" area the Hongkong Government issued a notification that Chinese must carry a lantern when out after dark, and from 10 at night till the morning gun was fired they would be “taken up” unless on an errand for their employer, in which case they must have a pass.
Three weeks later an ordinance (No 2 of 1857) was enacted "for the better securing the peace of the Colony.” It incorporated the provisions of the earlier notification. It also laid down the penalties for not having a pass between the hours of eight in the evening and sunrise. The magistrate in giving sentence had a number of alternatives, a fine not exceeding $50, imprisonment with hard labour for not more than 14 days, public whipping of not more than 20 strokes or exposure in the stocks for not more than two hours.
Another article of the ordinance required of all citizens compulsory co-operation with the Fire Brigade. Here the penalties were different for Europeans and Chinese. Both could be fined up to $50, but for the Chinese only there was an alternative of flogging. Behind this discrimination was the conviction that the public whipping of a European would have lowered the dignity of all foreigners in the sight of the Chinese.
The ordinance was immediately followed by three police orders. All persons without employment or who could find no one to guarantee their good conduct were to leave the Colony or suffer deportation. During the approaching Chinese New Year festival there would be no relaxation of the light and pass requirements.
In case of fire, the police were to be notified by the inhabitants of the building, but people in adjoining premises must remain in them until the police arrived at the scene. No crowds would be permitted to gather. The last order was to meet the threat of incendiarism. Rumours were circulating that agents would be sent from Canton to burn Victoria in the same manner as the foreign settlements at Canton and Whampoa had been fired.
123
burned in December 1856. Trade stopped and the merchants re- tired to Hongkong.
Two days after the burning of the foreign "factory" area the Hongkong Government issued a notification that Chinese must carry a lantern when out after dark, and from 10 at night till the morning gun was fired they would be “taken up” unless on an errand for their employer, in which case they must have a pass.
Three weeks later an ordinance (No 2 of 1857) was enacted "for the better securing the peace of the Colony.” It incorporated the provisions of the earlier notification. It also laid down the penal- ties for not having a pass between the hours of eight in the evening and sunrise. The magistrate in giving sentence had a number of alternatives, a fine not exceeding $50, imprisonment with hard labour for not more than 14 days, public whipping of not more than 20 strokes or exposure in the stocks for not more than two hours.
Another article of the ordinance required of all citizens compul- sory co-operation with the Fire Brigade. Here the penalties were different for Europeans and Chinese. Both could be fined up to $50, but for the Chinese only there was an alternative of flogging. Behind this discrimination was the conviction that the public whipping of a European would have lowered the dignity of all foreigners in the sight of the Chinese.
The ordinance was immediately followed by three police or- ders. All persons without employment or who could find no one to guarantee their good conduct were to leave the Colony or suffer deportation. During the approaching Chinese New Year festival there would be no relaxation of the light and pass requirements.
In case of fire, the police were to be notified by the inhabitants of the building, but people in adjoining premises must remain in them until the police arrived at the scene. No crowds would be permitted to gather. The last order was to meet the threat of incen- diarism. Rumours were circulating that agents would be sent from Canton to burn Victoria in the same manner as the foreign settle- ments at Canton and Whampoa had been fired.
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