possible for them to elect none but Anglo-thiness Members. As pro Bent three of the Members of the Legislative Conseil are nominated by the Geremor, one is elected by the Justices of Peace, who are Bris. ish mbjects, and one by the Cham- ber of Commerce. The latter in- stitation is composed of persons, QË all nationalities, so that aliens now have a rote of which they will be de- prived the election of members of Council is to be confired to persons of British nationality.
S
Petitioners state that there "no true freedom of debate in the Legislative Come" and seem to imply that the views of the Tros-"
invariably dis-
Hansard will
Unofficial Members.
もく
who is
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 1916.
the other entrusted with the Legislative Council, the Honourable some difficulty in stating precisely and its substance, has i would par of my official colleagues in the recourse of an appeal to the Secre
tary of State: This han maroly failed administrazion of Chinese Ho Ka These 800 Britishes what the grievances of the peti haps do well, to make a few genera! Legislative Comcil
I am of opinion that a somewhat them in the past, and is not likely Affairs and, who requires are already represented in the tioners are, tribe, has failed to remarks on the whata subject.
A revolutionary change in the Go- larger share in, and control over, the to prova lase effoscions in the fut- special knowledge of local Legislative Council by four Mem- make any suggestion, how the affairs and requirements. The bars, though the amount of the taxedies prayed for are to be applied. Tainment, even of a small Colony, administration of paraly local affairs are. Monsorer, and this is a colisió present holder of the portation contributed by them is very I think I may sum up the prayer requires the most cogent reasons to should be conceded to the British aration so which I think my fellow has been in the Colony fifteen small when compared with that com of the petition in the following rejestily it and the demand for popa taxpayers of this Onomy; but colonists should attach some weight
lar Government ought at least to think the petition goes too far. It the Officials in the Colonial Office: years, and has held his pre-tributed by the Chinese, whose queriz
1. The free election of come spontaneomly from the people contemplates the utter swamping of bave had a vast and razied experi «sent post for seven years. adult male population amonats to
official Members of Council who are aggrieved by the existing the official element in the Legislative once of legislation in (4) The Colonial Treasurer who 137,680, but who are at present un-
•S. A working majority of Ur regime. In this case both these con- Council and the introduction of En-colonies, where all kinds of sendi is extrated with the collec-represented and who, not being
official Meribers of Conte ditions are wanting. The geofficial Members into the Executiva Kons prevail, and they can and do zion of revenue, etc, and who] Britishers, under the new arrange- has been in the Colony 13ments proposed by the Petitioners. will not be qualified for seats on the Puble Legislative Council, which are to ke Works who has been in the reserved exclusively for persons F Colony seven years?
British nationality. If the Unofi-1.
FRANK.
(3) The Director
oficial majority over the penditure of the Colony.
estates
20. 103005.
proposed New Gaol, it has berm
think that in this Colony
Dear Sir. Your rave Beth to the
ER B
To Fix Excelleser
Sir William Robinson. 5.2.26.,
th. te, &c.
3. Complete control by the un-rance is not defined but is hidden Council. I am not prepared to ad afford the Colony great assistance in drafts of ex-laway in hypothetical generalities.vocate such a sweeping change. I
legislation, sending out and there is nothing about the consider that Barish Irepecial in Bils that have worked smoothly local 4. Management of Local Affairs. movements to show that it is the tereste must always be paramomt elsewhere to be adapted to 5. A consultative voice in mat outcome of any gracine public feel here because this island is only a romances. The Colonis! Office is
sers of an Imperial character. fing.
commercial depot and coaling who in some cases a useful restraint (6) The Harbour Master who hascal Members are to be in a
I will take each of these requests The proposal is ende and shape. tion-a mere fortified rock-an which
on local extravagance, and when it been in the Calany ten years. majority, as Petitioners pray, then tar
Test, and has not been thought out there can be no permanent local cocasionally, from want of apprecia dal Members are
A-The free election of Enofficial by the authors. They ask for re- terests of any magnitude. I s 200 son of local conditions, unges a Every
As a matter of fact the Offein Chinese, who are maccustomed to regarded
the history of Members of the Legislative Council the principles of representation, Members of Council.
presentative Government while care-aware of a ringle British subject needless cutive Me that for th zoquainted wi Hongkong knows that the utmost 20 only now are, but during the and who have evinced no desire for There is nothing that I can con folly avoiding any specification of who regards this inland as his home we freedom of debate is allowed on all last twenty years have as a rule is extended applications Hous-cers of that right lead to more the electoral body or the mode of are all birds of passage, siis found possible by prudent Governors mamers brought before Council A been long resident in the Coloay,kong, will have to witness the spect serious consequences to the good election, or the qualifications of the place, every few years, to another reference to the pages of the local their residence being as a rate of asacle of the representatives of the prte and usefulness of the Legisi representatives.
I have no wind to try an experi- They wish to set of, shall I say, commercial awal to postpone and ultimately avoid it. ment which might, in homely langa- show bow every long duration as that of the Unos Imperial Government being over-tire Conseil than this proposal wroduce an entirely new thing, bat lows. There is no planting interest; handed down from measure is thoroughly debated bcial Members, who, as has already ridden and defeated by a majority Should this request be granted the
cannot get begend the terminology | no Legislative Council would certainly appropriate to the existing regime father to son, as is the case in se prove a leap from the frying fore being adopted and what regar been pointed out, do not generally elected from a small number
The petitioners, anspose that the Martina Cyprus Malta, etc. an into the fire. In England the is paid to the views of the sofremain permanently in Hongkong. British residentean object lesson have from time to time most up-
mjoy of the people are 'Dow element ho Troficial Members of Council should where the settlement of the soil pre- cial Members. The
Petitioners quote Malta, Cyprus which would certainly not tend to desirable noficial work bears witness to the ignorance of Mauritus and British Honduras as raise the prestige or strengthen the would not command public confd-be chosen by the people, but they ceded the British Government, not thanking God that they possess. in Chinese matters displayed by some examples of Grown Colonies enjoranthamist of British male in the eyes ence, and the most important interfail to say be sinom, or be what sec. as happened in this Colony, where the House of Lords & check upon
ing more beral forms of Govern of the Chinese.
ests in the Colony would not be re- Ition, or be what process. These are the settlers followed the establisha rash and excited legislation, and L The Petitioners desire to have presented, but on the contrary, posmatrons of detail but the petitioners ment of the administration and then should not be impatient of what are Petitioners seem to regard it as a ment than those enjoyed in Hong-
in none of complete control over local expendibly be signalled out for discriminare not grasped them, and in a consisted of trading bongs. It may pot so much leading string Tievance that Legislative easetong and add that
proposed reconstruction of the Go be abjected that the Officials are ments are drafted by the Attorney those Colonies are the commercial ture, to which they contribute busate treatment.
a small portion and as the same
B-2 working majority of Uzorament to remedy aleged els also only temporary residents, hat safeguards for sound administration General The Attorney General and industrial interests of the same
they were bound to state is what they at any rate carry on a settled a place where the vast bulk of the would, it is almost certain, be only magnitude and importance as those me to exclude from having any cial Members of Cousel
voice in soch control the Chinese.
I do not contemplate for a mo- But Petitioners "allow members of of Hongkong.” too ready to
manner the end was to be accom- policy and are responsible to a higher pomalation consists of nation of the Coated or others ambitious of might at the same time have point from whom most of the revenue of meat the possibility of such a re-plished, and to show that they would anthority, while the successors to adjoining seat semi-civilized and not
1quest being granted, and I base my not open the door to creater evis❘ the Unofficial Members many holn too-friendly Engine -B-Fere Egarine as legal drafismen and who ed out, as the late senior Unofficial the Colony is derived
opinion on the following consider than those they sought to remove widely different views to those an- They wish to have the manage- are able to fall the object of their Member Mr. Ryrie used to say:
ations. Looking to the importance Under a nominally popular Go-imating my colleagues and may re- ment of local affairs, which must subition to share with him his Hongkong is a place sui generis.“
of Hongkong av only from a com-vernment as in that of New York, present a divided British interest Inbours in this respect. But it is In none of the Colonies mentioned necessarily include Chinese afairs,
In the event of a large increase pårt of his duties for which he is are the conditions ether of popila. of which mest of the Petitioners ercial roint of view but also as & for example, (to which I have al paid, to draft Ordinances, it is only tion or situation the same as those are notoriously ignorant and which caval and military station, and to ready referred) the greatest abuses in the number of Unofficial Members satural that he should do this work of this Colony nor is the Imperial the Chinese have shown no desire proximity to China, to its Chimay be perpetrated, and it is al of the Legislative Council being nese inhabitants who look upon most imposable to conceive a repre- cosesded, I am very doubtful whe expecially as volunteer draftsmen potion of them like Hongkong to entrust to the management of
as China, and to the desire of China sentative Government properly so the, even now, suitable man with bare still to be found. Troficial" which " to quote the words of the an elected majority of represent-
to resume it if opportunity afforded,
called put into operation in the needed leisure could be found Members of Connell have never yet petitioner, is at once a frontieratives of British nationality. I cannot imagine any Ministry for peculiar place like Hongkong whose position would admit of their #rested a Legislative measure fortress and a naval depot, the head. The Petitioners, British and alien. House of Commons) parting with the withert the worst abuses creeping acceptance of the duties and respon which has nos received the con-quarters of Her Majestys' Fleet, and ask for a consulative voice in ques- absolute and certain control over it,
I can 320 10000 for and siblities involved. Most of the re- sideration of the Council and within ¦ the. base for navil and
cuilitary
tions of an the last few years more than one operations in these Far Eastern measure has been brought forward waters and of which Petitioners are hard to divine, but it is obvious control can only be effectively main-
a change to show how they mean to they would be compelled to decline sorted to a strong measure for the
their redress of by an Unofficial Member, and passed not
that no alien should have any voine tained by retaining the existing form prevent such abuses, and to de tins the honour. But supposing that unpractical 29 into law. AR an example it is expect that the Queen's Govern-in such matters. sufficent to mention the Share Bment could never give up the subjects in Hongkong, including Le, Gorerament "hrough a Gore, the scheme in full detail. I am by no means satisfied that there mentary agencies, the Governor off Whether British of local Government in the Colony,the petitioners ought to have laid good legislators could now be found rievances. In passing over all inker. the Colour, the Colonial Office, and introduced by the Honourable J. J. paramount control." But not with Anglo Chinese, whose sympathies.or with the command of an oficiai I har: an impression that if the would always be Stting saCCESSOTS
even Her Majesty's Government. the. Keswick and passed into law by the standing this disclaimer, petitioners as already pointed out, are as a majority a the Legislative Council promoter or promoters of this Peti- to them or that the interests we leave petitioners have emphatically ex Legislative Council. On the other who include not only British sub ale Chinese, should be consulted C.-Complete control by the
tion had called the caramenity to behind us here would be safe in their pressed their distrust of the powENT hand the Unoficial Members have ¦jects
also American, on Imperial matters is a question unofficial majority over the gether publicly and explained dis hands, that is, of course, supposing that be, and have intimated that not infrequently strongly opposed Portugese and Chinese pray for a which appertains to the Imperial Expenditure of the Colony.
tinctly what they really wanted, the the unofficial element to be in the case of sneh paramount importance and striven to prevent passing into consulative voice in questions of an Government, and may be safely left This is a proposal that some half good sense of the persons who hur majority. Personally I confess I can only be worthily dealt with by law measures which they have been Imperial character; and claim the to it for an answer....
dozen men representing, say, eightedly signed the Memorial world would prefer to trust in the future the ultimate depository of antbority afterwards compelled to acknow-common right of Englishmer
hundred ratepayers should dispose have prevailed and the petition to officials of whose probity I need in the empire-the British people. ledge by incontrovertible faces as ci The Petitioners also pray for
Acting Colonial Secretary of the revenues derived, fruma over would not have gone farther, or feel no doubt and of whose policy it is undoubtedly a bold move. great benefit to the Colony. When unofficial seats on the Executive 25th May. 1884.
900,000 Chnese ratepayers and de- the community have been thrown no speculation need be entertained, | inamuch as the slight pawed on the the Stamp Ordinance, which still Council. There are obvious objec
rived also from local industries and into ramitous antagonism to the to a body of elected representatives local Oficials will naturally aroUBO introduced by WES
ENCLOSURE 3 Sertions to giving a seat on the Ex-
British capital.
Government,
who might in years to come be re-their oppostition to the scheme, and Richard MacDonnell the Unofficial ecutive Council to private individu (Honorable J. J. Keswick to the
Assaming that the Unofficial Mem- Members raised a Aue and cryals with personal interests in the
Governor.)
bers were all "elected". and that declaring that the Govenor would | Cokay. As the same time such a
Hongkong, 5th June, 1894 they had a working majority, it may Sira compliance with your be conceived what evils would arise in the Colony if the law were car-departure from the usual constitExcellency's request, I have now in the local Legislature if they could ried. The law was carried; the tion of Crown Colonies would have the honour to state my views on the dispose of its revenne as they might Colony prospers; and the revenue its advantages. An Unofficial Mem-subject of the Petition to the House elect receives a valuable addition from ber of Executive Connell woald
of Commons recently signed by a its stamp duties
If this prayer were granted lustrates that to err is as human | Council and the Enofficial Members
exists,
As" us other
bat
to
(ENCLOSURE 3.) Extract from the "North China
Herald" of the 25th May. 1994)
The ratepayer of Haniskeng, or such of them as here signed the peti on to the House of Commons,
Imperial character.always and ready exercisable by danger of the worst abuses! It is maining representative resident/ which was printed in the T. C. Daily What these may be it is somewhat the Imperial Govemment.. Such incumbent on those who agitate for have their time so fully occupied that News of the 10th instant, have re-
J. E. STEWART LOCKHART
constitutional
It may not be out of place if Istumed to office largely by Chi- if the petitioners fail to enlist the now venture to express my personal juese or mixed votes pledged to a House of Commons in their caGNO opinion with regard to the amber policy I could not approve and they fail altogether, as the faculty of Unofficial Members of Comel
which might have disastrous effects of appeal has been" deliberately purposes the present number of five time even when schemers would
1 consider that for all practical for the Colony. There might come dispensed with
Of the severity of the grievason is suficient, but me there is a good find it to their advantage to enter which it is sought by this exced-
to time that those persons of Europrojects for their own personal impertinent for any but an experi pean and American nationalities richment adpandisement enced colonist to express an opinion.
This simply form a link between the Executive i largo, number of persons in this com.rould be necessary in common deal of feeling expressed from time the Council, in order to promote tional effort to redress it would be
Legislative enactments
to Ordinances.
mmunity.
of New York and San Francisco.
of an Imperial character.
Ism
most obedient servant,
JO.
justice to give the Chinese adequate on the part of Unoficial Members of the Legislative Council, which I now proceed to speak in regard representation based either (a) who are neither members of the This has happened in some countries The petition itself gives to due to
might lead to beneficial results into the substance of the Petition, but numbers, or (b) on taxation. The statement in the Petition that the administration of affairs, but I will refrain from criticizing it either case the Chinese must ing. Chamber of Commerce nor Justices and if the power became vested in it for it confirm itself to a priori are such a member would have to be clause by clause as it seems unneces- patably be given their full weight in Comme. I would recommend that might some day happen bere Werk which might be expected to of the Peace have no representative the elected numbers of Counel it interenees, showing by arzument the frequently forwarded before publica resident of experience, wellknown sary. I challenge, however, its in the case of (a) in respect of their tion in the Colony or to the Council for his public spirit and ready to general statements which have been (numbers, or in the mase of (b) in / tey should have one, and, that their cannot claim any monopole of civic arise from the anomalous partialit for the approval of the Secretary of subordinate his oan interests and marshalled in such forms as to nous respect of the taxes paid by them oting privileges should be based on virtue. It is opportunity that often in the distribution of power which State" and then rushed through the personal considerations to the gen-vey the idea that the petitioners and In either case where would Britishe sent they pay.
creates the boodler and the rogue. the actual constitution of the Coloni- I think that it would be of consi- What better illustration of this can al Govemment perpetuates. interesta in Hongkong bet Council without consideration is not eral welfare of the Colony, Such re- the China community by a long pet-D.-Management of Local Affair derable assistance to the Gover be given than the case of Jabez - But the anomálies of the Briti in accordance with facts. No reasonsidents, no doubt, there are in iod of self-sacrifice have made this exists for such action seeing that Hongkong, but it will not be easy Colony what it is, and that its pro- What are locs! zffairs?
ment to have one Unofficial Member Balfour-the company promoter and Constitution extend to all its off to every Ordinance which has pass to induce them to
The drainage, road, wharves, har of Council of English birth in the absender, whose extradition is now shoots, Being the product of expedi ed the Council a suspension clause for, as has already been stated, their unremitting exertions, by the
Come forward, sperity en best be maintained by bour, police, Treasury, Post Office, Executive Council. Many questions being sought from the Argentine ! 1 ency and experience alone there is can be added, suspending the carry British residents in this Colony are self-sacrifice of themselves, and by Education, in fact all departments continually arise in which knowledge am not therefore inclined to vote for scarcely any feature in it which can ing into force of an Ordinance engrossed in their own occupations, the co-operation and support of the of Government which it is proposed and experience outside the circle of not therefore inclined to rote for be correctly dignified with the name until Her Majesty's confirmation which so monopolize their attention Chinese.”
to hand over to an unofficial major Government might be of consider the provision of the opportunity of a principle. It possesses the or disallowance has been received that they are not often able, even
The evil that would able valve, and add to the Executive the petition have not looked quite so exibity of an organic thing, and While admitting the unquestioned of persons Unofficial Members
themselves if they are willing, to give up much importance to the Colony of its pedestroy all confidence in the admini-
spring from such a concession would strength.
the petition have not locked quite so not the rigidity of an iron casting. It have frequently requested the ad- time to the discussion or considera sens citizens, Hongkong does not,
In conclusion, I would strongly far ahead as I have. I have fired in is never therefore successfully at- dition of such suspension clauses tion of matters of public import as a matter of fact, owe its insuration of affairs, and introduce the deprecate the adeation to the Legis this Colony for many years the best tacked on abstract grounds. Even ance, which do not immediately icon-portance to the petitioners in any Colony to the municipal experiences lative Council of a second represen- part of a lifetime--I have seen re- hereditary legislators are safe until Reference has already been made cern themselves or their business.
cative of the Chinese-I have the peate changes in the personnel of some specific wrong-doing is brought sach exclusive manner, but to fifty consultative voice in matters honoar to be, Sir, Tour Excellency's the community, and I have witessed home to them, or at the very least to the knowledge and experience of To sum up, the petition is signed three years of enlightened and pru- Unofficial Members which peti- by certain residents in Hongkong, dent government, to a long line of
several important changes in the formally alleged. So far, however, tioners regard as theirs by namre; including British subjects and aliens, able and esteemed men and firms I do not understand what Hong-
J. J. KESWICK,
local conditions. There will be far as can be gathered from the text of the length and object of their re who desire the free election of of all nationalities, to local induste kong has to do with matters of an To His Excellency
ther changes, and they may not the Hongkong petition the wrongs of Sir William Robinson, K.C.M.G
always make for the better.
the petitioners are hypothetical sidence in the Far East have been majority of Croficial Members, fies, to Banks and Steamboat Com-Imperial character beyond her res
ENCLOSURE 4) ..
Paragraph 2 of the Petition ascribes consequently the necessity of reform touched upon; and allusion has also who are to be British subjects. panies-most of them with British Ponsiblities as a Crown Colony of been made to their want of leisure Petitioners do not state clearly in moved by no sentiment but that offent to me in what way the Unof†(Honourable E. R. Bellios to the
capital--and to Chinese, all of whom Great Britain, and it is not appar-
the prosperity and progress of the may easily lose itself in a baze of to study any problems outside their whom the free election of such gain live here for the purposes of sial Members could exercise the pri
Colony to the enterprise, energy, and theoretical discussion.
Another weak point in the more- own business sphere.
majority of members is to rest, oraines exclusively. Europeans vilege prayed for if granted Petitioner's reference to the Offi- what is to be the basis of repre- and Americans do not come here to
cial comminuity, and undoubtedly ment appears to us to be the some A distinction is made in words. Dear Sir,I am in receipt of your much wil, I trust, being a merchant what, perhaps unavoidably, pointless cial Members whose officers 1 sentation. If representation is to crifice themselves for the Colony, between local affairs and Imperial letter of the 21st instant informing myself be credited to them by the conclusion of the petition. In the only stepping stones in an official be based on taxation and the right bot to make money, and as soon as affairs, but in all cases where theme that a petition to the House of Imperial Government and the House twelfth and last paragraph, whereby career and who may be resident of election is to extend to all na they have enough they retire to their discussion sets
out with general Commons has been forwarded to you of Commons. At the same time I the laws of construction of doen- in the Colony for a longer or shorter tionalities alike, the Chinese, who
phrases the difficulties are found by Mr. Whitehead with the request think ne small share in the growth mente of that kind one would expect period is misleading.
so largely outnumber all other na- The Chinese are tionalities, will be able to carry the changing element in the community,
essentially a when they come to be practically that you will send it to the Secre- of Hongkong trade and importance to find the force of the whole concen-
defined. In this case the petition-tary of State, and asking me, as an is due to its stable government dur-trated like the point of a steel shell election of any number for whom most of them being domiciled bothers agitating for power to manage old resident and a member of the ing the half century of its existance we find the wants of the petitionery they may vote. If the so-called in Hongkong and on the adjoining certain class of affairs ought to Legislative Council, to give my as a British Crown Colony. somewhat spread out
"They might to be allowed the free free election of members be mainland. There could be nothing have specified with the greatest pre-opinion in regard to that petition As I intimated at the outset, I stricted to British subjects, which further from the fact than a con-sition what those affairs are, other As you epine, I am fully aware think that the unofficial element is election of representatives of British regard as one of the best of is believed to be the real object of tention that the Chinese resident in wise how can any effect be given to of the prayer of that petition, and the Legislative Council might be nationality in the Legislative Coun ficer this Colony has ever pos- the Petitioners, the electorate will Hongkong are here as colonists in their demand?
it is no-docht within your knowledge increased, but I do not consider that of the Colony; a majority in the sessed. -
be confined to a handful of Brit-terested in the plain, ita prosperity, There is not much more that I can that I declined to append my signa- it would be well for the Colony to Council of such representatives per The Attorney General whose ishers, numbering about 600 male and with its future, for they have usefully add in the way of criticismi ture to it.
allow it to attain a position where fect freedom of debate for the Of work is of a technical nature adults, exclusive of Anglo Chinese, so sympathy with its Government, of this very short-sighted, and, as ·I avail myself with much pleasure by it would over-ride the Govern- nial Members, with power to vote. and confined entirely to legal who are not a numerous class, whose its laws or its progress, apart from I view it, mischievous. Petition of the opportunity now afforded me ment. I at least do not forget that according to their conscientious matters, which as a rule do sympathies are almost invariably their individual interests.
which I have endeavoured to cons to set forth the reasons that prompt in the event of the Governor of the convictions without being called to not require local knowledge. Chinese, and who have at the pre-A careful study of the Memorial der with an open, unprejudiced minded me to adopt a course in opposi-day proving arbitrary or unreason account or endangered in their posi The Registrar General who is sent time a representative in the will reveal that the framer of it bad as to the motives which underlie ition to that taken by the majority able the Colomsts have always the tions by their votes; complete com
There are present in the Legis
exclusive of the Govemor.
atre Council six Official Members
(1) The Colonial Secretary whom
even the Unofficial Members
own countries.· ́
Governor.) Hongkong, 29th May, 1994
commercial acumen of the commer-
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.