8
from being obedient subjects into "righteous people". It was possible, as Stuart Schramm has so aptly said, "to be a rebel within the framework of tradition". It was this tradition that accounted for the people's readiness to identify unjust actions as "unrighteous" and to combine in opposition to the local authorities.
Many examples of indignant or infuriated action by the populace can be cited from the Ch'ing period alone. It is hardly surprising that among them we should find a few local instances. A case in point from Tsuen Wan itself comes from Ma Wan.
When the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs took over the duties of the Canton Customs post on Ma Wan in 1897, there were soon serious differences with the local villagers. A large stone inscription in the village, bearing the enigmatic words "Seven English Feet of Leased Land to the Kowloon Customs" is a memorial of the dispute. Fortunately, because the tale that emerges has epic qualities, its enigmatic wording can be supplemented by another old text which explains what happened on that occasion:
An access road was needed from the Kowloon Customs Station to the hills behind it and the sea beyond, and [the authorities] began excavation work without any announcement. Private land was utilized at will, and the objections of the villagers were not heeded. It was intended to build a [new] customs station also. At this time the people's tolerance had been strained to the maximum and furious anger was sparked off. Neighbouring villagers willingly joined in this righteous cause.
The head Customs Office heard of this incident and feared that the incident would develop into an uncontrollable one. A special mediator was sent to the Heung [Ma Wan] to settle the dispute on the following terms:
1. Land could be leased for constructing the road, provided it was not more than seven feet wide and that its route was not circuitous.
2. The site of the [new] station should be kept close to the hillside and [boundary] stones should be erected to mark the four corners.
8
from being obedient subjects into "righteous people". It was possible, as Stuart Schramm has so aptly said, "to be a rebel within the framework of tradition". It was this tradition that accounted for the people's readiness to identify unjust actions as "unrighteous" and to combine in opposition to the local authorities.
Many examples of indignant or infuriated action by the populace can be cited from the Ch'ing period alone." It is hardly surprising that among them we should find a few local instances. A case in point from Tsuen Wan itself comes from Ma Wan.
When the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs took over the duties of the Canton Customs post on Ma Wan in 1897, there were soon serious differences with the local villagers. A large stone inscription in the village, bearing the enigmatic words "Seven English Feet of Leased Land to the Kowloon Customs" is a memorial of the dispute, Fortunately because the tale that emerges has epic qualities its enigmatic wording can be supplemented by another old text which explains what happened on that occasion:
**An access road was needed from the Kowloon Customs Station to the hills behind it and the sea beyond, and [the authorities] began excavation work without any announcement. Private land was utilized at will, and the objections of the villagers were not heeded. It was intended to build a [new] customs station also. At this time the people's tolerance had been strained to the maximum and furious anger was sparked off. Neighbouring villagers willingly joined in this righteous cause.
The head Customs Office heard of this incident and feared that the incident would develop into an uncontrollable one. A special mediator was sent to the Heung [Ma Wan] to settle the dispute on the following terms:
1. Land could be leased for constructing the road, provided it was not more than seven feet wide and that its route was not circuitous.
2. The site of the [new] station should be kept close to the billside and [boundary] stones should be erected to mark the four corners.
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