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Equality would mean the abolition of “class legislation.” According to the papers the rumour of the Governor's intention to repeal such laws was "the topic of conversation at almost every dinner table, and wherever people assemble for business or recreation." The uneasiness among the Europeans as to Governor Hennessy's next move presaged rough times ahead.
A colonial, who titled himself "Diner Out," expressed his opposition to Governor Hennessy's liberal policies. The writer viewed the rumours of the Governor's intention to abolish flogging and the pass system as a sure licence for crime. He predicted that foreigners "enjoying frequently the hospitality of friends, it may even be at Government House, (will) find themselves obliged either to go armed to the teeth, as was the case only a few years back, or else remain unwilling prisoners in their own dwellings from dusk to dark.” Although it would not have served his cause, he could have added as the Chinese must under the present regulations.
A correspondent “Grundy,” adding his bit to the discussion, suggested that if the night pass system was abolished “all invitations to dinner, if sent at all, shall thereafter bear the following P.S. - 'Please bring your boy and your revolver'."
Some feared there were rough times ahead under Governor Hennessy's administration. “Anti-Bumptious" wrote: "I feel the storm clouds are gathering, and although there is very little likelihood of rioting as there was in the Barbados (where Governor Hennessy had formerly been) still the same stormy petrel spirit is at work, and will produce mischief.”
Furthermore, according to a local editor, the Chinese really had nothing to complain of and there was no need to change the Government's relation to them. An editorial in the China Mail expressed this view:
"With Artemus Ward of the negro, we may fairly ask 'Who trod on him?' and the answer will readily be found in the growing wealth and commercial importance of the native community of Hongkong, the amount of weight now attached to their utterances
128
Equality would mean the abolition of “class legislation.” Ac- cording to the papers the rumour of the Governor's intention to repeal such laws was "the topic of conversation at almost every dinner table, and wherever people assemble for business or recreation." The uneasiness among the Europeans as to Governor Hennessy's next move presaged rough times ahead.
A colonial, who titled himself"Diner Out," expressed his oppo- sition to Governor Hennessy's liberal policies. The writer viewed the rumours of the Governor's intention to abolish flogging and the pass system as a sure licence for crime. He predicted that foreigners "enjoying frequently the hospitality of friends, it may even be at Government House, (will) find themselves obliged ei- ther to go armed to the teeth, as was the case only a few years back, or else remain unwilling prisoners in their own dwellings from dusk to dark.” Although it would not have served his cause, he could have added as the Chinese must under the present regula- tions.
A correspondent “Grundy,” adding his bit to the discussion, suggested that if the night pass system was abolished “all invita- tions to dinner, if sent at all, shall thereafter bear the following PS
- 'Please bring your boy and your revolver"."
Some feared there were rough times ahead under Governor Hennessy's administration. “Anti-Bumptious" wrote: "I feel the storm clouds are gathering, and although there is very little likeli- hood of rioting as there was in the Barbados (where Governor Hennessy had formerly been) still the same stormy petrel spirit is at work, and will produce mischief.”
Furthermore, according to a local editor, the Chinese really had nothing to complain of and there was no need to change the Government's relation to them. An editorial in the China Mail expressed this view:
"With Artemus Ward of the negro, we may fairly ask "Who trod on him?' and the answer will readily be found in the growing wealth and commercial importance of the native community of Hongkong, the amount of weight now attached to their utterances
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