RAS-1987 — Page 152

RASHKB Journal 皇家亞洲學會香港分會學刊 All AI Reviewed

127

came Governor in 1877. It was rumoured that the law was to be repealed. This created uneasiness among the foreigners and a discussion concerning the unfairness of class legislation among the Chinese.

By 1877 a new type of Chinese had arisen in Hongkong. There was an ever-increasing group of wealthy merchants, compradores, landowners, and professionals. These men had a financial stake in the welfare of Hongkong. A few had been born and educated in Hongkong and regarded it as their permanent home.

This new class became increasingly aware of the contribution the Chinese were making to the growth and prosperity of Hongkong. They resented being looked down on as inferiors and being victims of discriminatory treatment. Some, such as Ho A-mei, were not afraid to voice their opinion on these matters.

In 1857, this type of Chinese resident could almost have been numbered on a person's two hands. Twenty years later, they were of a quantity and quality that could not be ignored. This contrast between 1857 and 1877 is set forth in a series of rhetorical questions asked by a writer to an English-language newspaper using the pseudonym "1850." He asked: "Where (in 1857) was the rice trade in steamers? Where was trade in steamers to California and Australia, who carried it on in sailing vessels? Where were Chinese directors of insurance and steamboat companies?"

He then answers his questions with another set: "And what changes time has since brought. Are our Chinese fellow citizens of the present day nothing more than shopkeepers? Is it at all compatible with the position of those who are directors and managers of companies, with large interests in real estate, to carry a pass with them after nine o'clock?"

These questions were asked at the time rumours circulated that the light and pass regulations were to be repealed. A discussion about them was carried on in the press. This was soon after John Pope Hennessy became Governor. Even before his arrival in Hongkong, he had a reputation for advocating equal treatment of the local population in British colonies.

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127 came Governor in 1877. It was rumoured that the law was to be repealed. This created uneasiness among the foreigners and a discussion concerning the unfairness of class legislation among the Chinese. By 1877 a new type of Chinese had arisen in Hongkong. There was an ever-increasing group of wealthy merchants, compradores, landowners, and professionals. These men had a financial stake in the welfare of Hongkong. A few had been born and educated in Hongkong and regarded it as their permanent home. This new class became increasingly aware of the contribution the Chinese were making to the growth and prosperity of Hongkong. They resented being looked down on as inferiors and being victims of discriminatory treatment. Some, such as Ho A-mei, were not afraid to voice their opinion on these matters. In 1857, this type of Chinese resident could almost have been numbered on a person's two hands. Twenty years later, they were of a quantity and quality that could not be ignored. This contrast between 1857 and 1877 is set forth in a series of rhetorical questions asked by a writer to an English-language newspaper using the pseudonym "1850." He asked: "Where (in 1857) was the rice trade in steamers? Where was trade in steamers to California and Australia, who carried it on in sailing vessels? Where were Chinese directors of insurance and steamboat companies?" He then answers his questions with another set: "And what changes time has since brought. Are our Chinese fellow citizens of the present day nothing more than shopkeepers? Is it at all compatible with the position of those who are directors and managers of companies, with large interests in real estate, to carry a pass with them after nine o'clock?" These questions were asked at the time rumours circulated that the light and pass regulations were to be repealed. A discussion about them was carried on in the press. This was soon after John Pope Hennessy became Governor. Even before his arrival in Hongkong, he had a reputation for advocating equal treatment of the local population in British colonies.

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127 came Governor in 1877. It was rumoured that the law was to be repeated. This created uneasiness among the foreigners and a dis- cussion concerning the unfairness of class legislation among the Chinese. By 1877 a new type of Chinese had arisen in Hongkong. There was an ever increasing group of wealthy merchants, compradores, land owners and professionals. These men had a financial stake in the welfare of Hongkong. A few had been born and educated in Hongkong and regarded it as their permanent home. This new class became increasingly aware of the contribution the Chinese were making to the growth and prosperity of Hong- kong. They resented being looked down on as inferiors and being victims of discriminatory treatment. Some, such as Ho A-mei, were not afraid to voice their opinion on these matters. In 1857, this type of Chinese resident almost could have been numbered on a person's two hands. Twenty years later they were of a quantity and quality which could not be ignored. This con- trast between 1857 and 1877 is set forth in a series of rhetorical questions asked by a writer to an English language newspaper using the pseudonym of “1850." He asked: "Where (in 1857) was the rice trade in steamers? Where trade in steamers was to Califor- nia and Australia, who carried it on in sailing vessels? Where were Chinese directors of insurance and steamboat companies?" He then answers his questions by another set: “And what changes time has since brought. Are our Chinese fellow citizens of the present day nothing more than shopkeepers? Is it at all com- patible with the position of those who are directors and managers of companies, with large interests in real estate, to carry a pass with them after nine o'clock?” These questions were asked at the time rumours circulated that the light and pass regulations were to be repealed. A discussion about them was carried on in the press. This was soon after John Pope Hennessy became Governor. Even before his arrival in Hongkong, he had a reputation for advocating equal treatment of the local population in British colonies.

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127

came Governor in 1877. It was rumoured that the law was to be repeated. This created uneasiness among the foreigners and a dis- cussion concerning the unfairness of class legislation among the Chinese.

By 1877 a new type of Chinese had arisen in Hongkong. There was an ever increasing group of wealthy merchants, compradores, land owners and professionals. These men had a financial stake in the welfare of Hongkong. A few had been born and educated in Hongkong and regarded it as their permanent home.

This new class became increasingly aware of the contribution the Chinese were making to the growth and prosperity of Hong- kong. They resented being looked down on as inferiors and being victims of discriminatory treatment. Some, such as Ho A-mei, were not afraid to voice their opinion on these matters.

In 1857, this type of Chinese resident almost could have been numbered on a person's two hands. Twenty years later they were of a quantity and quality which could not be ignored. This con- trast between 1857 and 1877 is set forth in a series of rhetorical questions asked by a writer to an English language newspaper using the pseudonym of “1850." He asked: "Where (in 1857) was the rice trade in steamers? Where trade in steamers was to Califor- nia and Australia, who carried it on in sailing vessels? Where were Chinese directors of insurance and steamboat companies?"

He then answers his questions by another set: “And what changes time has since brought. Are our Chinese fellow citizens of the present day nothing more than shopkeepers? Is it at all com- patible with the position of those who are directors and managers of companies, with large interests in real estate, to carry a pass with them after nine o'clock?”

RAS-1987 — Page 152

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