1916-01-29 — Page 9

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH – SATURDAY, JANUARY 29; * 1918,

and

whether or not an official slo- As regards the second point,

that, whilst most ment should be introduced into the..... Executive Commel, I would obsarre of the larger Municipal Councils, subordinate to Crown Colonies possess one or more the Colonial Government in Hoog kong there is no such institution. Moreover, its impracticable to alter this state of things for this

trol in the Council over local expen- be reckoned on. The factating eae, 1,900. The census farther an ambiguous. They may mean tast under the existing system when possibility of the appointment being I leave to the Gorers mare; the management of local vigour of the Chambors of Comaly, as follows, the European, and the voters should be of any nation questions arise which concert the beraber filed by a Chinese gentis mine. I may abusers, alling; and a consulative valus în | mecce,” which ally depend American population.. S

alty European, “American, Asistio | varions colonies, it has been the en-man mist be reckoned with. questions of an Imperial character" on the personality of one man, Out of the total of 8,500, the re- or Chinese, provided that the re-dervuar of my predecessors in office,

that the ChineTS, CHEESES This somewhat extensive order not of good sugary for an honorary font civil population mounted presentatives for whom they vote and it is my own east endeavour, penetically modicial ausistance while it to the th

In the third place, you state that element which is Istat. will be spt to appel the House of and yet haient pabor represents only to 4,300, the British military are of British nationality. The that the claims the interests, and the Firentine Connel could almorous, and that I should regard Dommons, to which these innocent tion. Ever the example of director and naval forces membered 2,500, term British nationality spain may even the prefactions of each colony ways be obtamed, if the status que as valuable any step which beaded looking propositions may open out ates of local companies, which do and the remaining 1,400 represented be taken to mean either British sub be adequately set forth, and ware maintained and you add that to attach them more closely to the the vista of another Home File B pay, searvely affords - a certain merchant scamion, police, falen in detail everyone of them guarantee of a perfectly effective others.

jects of all nationalities or simply fully and fairly considered.

you invariably consult the Unoli-British connection, and to increase bristles with dificulties which the representative.

15. To sum up the petitioners cial Members before bringing their practical interest in peke persons who have been bom or are Of the 4,300 individuals, who con- the children of those who have been ask nominally that Hongkong should Council mestres of parsly local in- House of Commons can solve, and There is one principle of more mated the European and Ame bom in the United Kingdom. Ibe given self-government, and at terest. There is therefore not Italy which must eventually be referred miversal application than that of zican civil population, 1,450 only assume, however, that what the elective system. In my opinion the to be much practical gain from the back for local solution. For instance taxation and representation: it were retained as British. Of this words are intended to cover is place and its circumstances are whol. formal appointment of an Unofficial

be first, "the free election of repre. self-interest. The one active man sentatives of British nationality." chosen out of a small constituenty inlt males, and therefore pessum in Hongkong should sees repre- Imperial interests, on the borders of is, instead of making any such sp.

number not more than 500 were that the English, Scotch and Iriah united for what is proposed. Member to the Executive Council. What, it will naturally be asked, is may be found in the long run to re-,

An Imperial Station with great It has occurred to me that possib. free election and by whom? and present himself, his family, his firmably 20 more than 800 of them sentatives of themselves to the what exactly is British nationality: or his clique rather than the general would be entitled to vote.

's foreign land, the nucleus of wide pointment, Legislative Council If this is the aching British interests in the Far might be come to that in the case of understanding Is it wronmons with the British public: and that is a dancer 14 6. I shall revert to these figures meaning then it is obvious from the East, must, it appears to me, be kept discussion of specified local subjects, The only allusion to any eleo which small democracies are peculi shartly in connexion with the ques figures which have been given above under Imperial protection and under at any rate so long as there is no toral constituency is in the caption ark Habla Even as regards Honation

of popular representation, that considerably more than nine Imperial control of the petition itself, where the peti kone itself it has been said that the Meanwhile it may be deduced from tenths of the population will be

municipality in existence at Hots tioners describe themselves generally only things in the job line ever per: them that under the existing form entirely excluded from the franchise, that the self-government would be bors should be summoned to take In saying this monah I am assuming kong one or more Unofficial Mem "ratepayers, * The ratepayers. | Petrated ham been done, not by of government the population of that Europezas who are not of the worthy of the name, and that the part in the proceedings of the Ex Colony and the Municipality would However, in Hengkong, as in Shang. the Official but by the Unofficial Hongkong has in half a century in extegory described, and Americans elective system would include all sentive Council, without giving them

is of all nationalities and racer members of Council, whom it is decreased (xy) twenty fold which is will be excluded as well as Chinese, } ranks of the community, but this in seats on the Connell for all purposes and it would be almost impossible.

and that among these British re-not what the Petition demands. This is a point on which I shall be sidents who alone will be, it is are. Those who framed it and signed it sumed, entitled to rate, the civil would, I gather, desire to place the element, some proportion of which power in the hands of a select few, moreover consists·

and to constitute a small oligarchy. of Government officials will be swamped by the stricted by the lines of race. To military and naval element,

any sech change I am opposed. I

military forces should be debated more Ekely to be safeguarded by the It may be said that the naval and large majority of the inhabitants is consider that the well-being of the

from voting on the ground that they Crown Colony system, under which are not resident in the Colony, but as far as possible no distinction is the same objection would apply made of rank or race, than by repes also, though possibly in a lesser sentation which would leave the bulk

And if they are all to unite in elect fired to place in a permanent prima facie" evidence, as you sag- Ing representatives who must be of majority.

--

(Deepatch from the Secretary of

State to the Governor-)

Downing Street, 23rd Aug, 1894

"Sir, I have the honour

get in your despatch, that the Colony has been well governed. But a further deduction has also to be made, and that is that under the protection of the British Gur tomme: Hongkong has become rather a Chinese than in European community; and the fact that the Chinese have settled in the island in such large numbers has not only been one main element in its pro- perity, but also the most practical government under which a poktic and irrefutable evidence that the ally timid race such as the Chinese

British nationality, a new anomaly | may be introduced as little moda- cive to the weilark of the Colony as aw that am to be ant rid of Obviously there is a difficulty here which the Face of Commons is to acknowledge the receipt of your be felt to find out for itself and despatch No. 133 of the 5th June last then to overcore in the best way it enclosing 2 petition addressed 20 the House of Commons by various As to the freedom of conscience on residents at Hongkong praying for the part of the Official Members of an amendment of the constitution of Consell by what power or machinery the Colony. 3 the House of Commons to secure

2 This petition was forwarded to this! An Omainly voting againer the you by Mr. Whitehead. Member of

glad to have your opinion

18. With regard to the institution of a municipal connet, I frankly say that I should like to see one extab- shed at Hongkong. But there appear to be two practical difficulties

important change of administra crisis. I am not prepared to section the way. The first is the present

tien, unt? the future is tolerably dear and at the necessary meas are for protecting the health of the Colony have been finally decided Then, in a clear feld it may be pos

deed, ores and abore zay other seated degree, to the civil population in of the population wholly userespon and brough fate operation

obstacle

Colony

(s) Increasing the mmber of the unofficial Members in the Legislative Council. (b) Introducing an

Trofficial element into the Executive

Council

(c) Creating Municipal Conn.ros see occasion to do so, to give

cit.

publicity to this despatch.-I have the bonour to be, Sir, Your most obedient humble servant

Governor

BZPOX,

reason among others: that the

be in great measure-co-extensive,

to draw the line between Colonial, and Municipal matter.

This being so, in my opinion the most practical course is to recognise that the Colocial Govemment discharging Municipal duties, and

a place on the Executive. of the citizens may fairly be given that on that account representatives

Executive Comell shall in fatare intinde two unofficial members to be 7, I therefore propose that the

welected as the direcken of the Gorerane. It is obviously desirable that they should, as a rule, b chosen from among the mascial members of the Legislative Council, and the choice should, and ze doubt personal merit, and have no refer to which the persons chosen belong. ence to the particular class OF FACU

8. You will receive in due course amended Royal Instructions and in

the meantime this despatch may be made public with an intimation that

Governor

Sir W. Bobinson, EC.MG

Etc...

Ete

Goreror would. probably not con- the Legislative Court, and though, have shown every desire to Eve. against representative government that Hongkong will cease to be s/ Jome prospect of success.

arguments which can be med I can therefore hold out no hope sible to create a municipal body with sider himself any more secure for a among his colleagues in the Council have at least possessed some Hongkong, it appears to me that governmental declaration that be Mr. Keswick and Mr. Bellios have

Crown Colony.

The second difficulty, to which measure of strength and of justice | the transient character of the ther any step can be taken which that of separating municipal from will be, inspired by consideration af we alowed foredom of speech His | refused to sign it, it

18. It remains to consider whe- xllusion has already been made, is promoties or his leave might be signatures of Mr. Chater and Dr. settlement, how far the Chinese

bears the How far Hongkong is a Chinese population is by itself a serious while not interfering with the Crown Colonial matters. I am not confident stopped, or his ancial relations Ho Kai, both Members of the bare paid the taxes and contributed Bittered without anyone being me. Courel of Mr. Jackson, Manager to the trade, is touched upon plement or rather the extension of the direction in which the petition would be welcome to and work

system, would

that that difficulty can be overcame, 11. The second claim is the commodify the existing constitution in or am I confident that a municipal

slightly qind to re the reason. "The of the Hongkong and Shangiai M Lockhart's management of local affairs." would | Bank, and of other leading rememorandum

exceller: the fest. The petitioners ask not points. necessitate a definition of local sidents. I am therefore bound to your despatch

which accompanies only that there shall be elected re There appear to be three practical thorities. Stall it is possible that the / harmoniously with the military sun- allery: which also would be required assume that it is the matured co-opinion also that the tendency is that there shall be a majority of sideration. —

He is clearly of presentatives in the Council but suggestions which are worthy of con- Sanitary Board might be developed In order to distinguish the local from riction of at least a considerable for the trade of the Colony to pass such representatives, in other words

into a satisfactory Municipal Council Imperial expenditure.

No doubt these dificulties are folly members of the community that con-

proportion of the most influential more and more into Chinese bands that, at any rate as regards legisla

controlling all or some of the the subject has been considered from every point of view and that recognised by the peritioners, Tabo

I cordially welcome what is said tion, the power shall be vested in a

rerezne which is now derived from may have purposely avoided details changes are desirable at in the petition as to the skill and very small section of the population,

rates. Whether any scheme of they decision is to be regarded as final. I have the bosom to be, in ender 15, gain a Erst hearing for Hongkong and that for the present energy of the

kinds feasible I would ask you care. British merchants and that more than mine-tenths of it their case in the abstract and the Crown Colour System should be who have been or still are residents shall be controlled by representatives

fally to consider at your leisure, and | Sir, Your most obedient, hurchle in the meantime you are at liberty, servant, substituted some may be good tactics. All depends on

measure of self-in Hongkong, and I can testify with of the small remainder. It is my duty to please to their public spirit. But

CHANZHRLATK the agency by which the House of government.

12. The third demand is that the Commons is intended to be worked | 2mine the arguments which have the fact remains that the over. Official Members shall be allowed to

been brought forward with care whaling maw of the community peak and rote as they please. It is three points. I am not inclined to 17. As regards the first of these land attention; and I should be are Chinese, We have said that out of the Brit

that they have! demand which is familiar in the add to the number of the Unofficial ish Constitution and its coloral wanting in courtesy I did not thriven under a

certain form of case of Crown colonies, but only one Members, without at the same time ofspring it is hard to dedne, ang 570 à full answer to a petition, government and that in any scheme answer can be given to it, viz, that increasing sise the number of Official fod principles which may be safely which is far reaching in ite scope, involving a change of sdministra. the paid servants of the Government Members, for in a Crown Colony -applied zuisersally :

and which has been strongly sup-on their wishes should be consult cannot be left free to oppose the there must be a very distinct prepon what AZA called principles being mostir word ported.

Government, I should be surprised | derance on the Official side, and ed and the interests carefully to lears that the Officials themselves that the mafinal result of evenly! Yetirbes: If an exception may be 3. The petitioners have addressed watched and guarded.

State to the Governor.) made it would be in favour of the theraselves to the House of Come:

%. The commanies with which

wished to be given this freedom. balancing the numbers : Mariah Downing Street 99th May, 1986. eternal principle of right that mons, as they have of course every

Hongkong is in the petition a

It is in fact not peculiar to the and Unofficials is friction and irits

Sir,-I have had under my cos- **Taxation implies representation."

tion. Crown Colony system; it is of the right to do. From this it is nature favourably contrasted,

sideration the correspondence which 28 regards To this principic the Honkong to infer that they consider that they its mode of government, are Malta the paid supporters or components as I can judge, no strong objection petition for an amendment of the essence of all administration that With this provise there is as far has passed in consequence of the Tatepavers refer in a delicate and bare grounds for discontent, which Cyprus, Mauritius indirect manner, though some of the Secretary of State is unwilling Honduras Hongkong, it seems to for and when necessary speak for Connel except that for practical addressed to the House of Commons. to increasing the numbers of the constitution of Hongkong which was of a government should either vote their advocates in the Prece take

or unable to remove, and that there, ders from all of these four the settled policy of the goverment / Woriting purposes the number in the year 1894 and on which my strunner ground.

wish to emphasise in a suitable and dependencies of the British Crown or else resign their places. The difficulty of applying the

already sufficiently large. If how reasonable manner

alike in degree and in kind. It is the objectiona

ever, an addition is made, it is diff predecessor had not given a final principle in the circumstances which they feel to the existing

smaller than any of them, it has no

12. The fourth and fifth dains cult or equitable grounds to resist decision before he left office. no doubt the reason why the neti.

are to the effect that the Council or the conclusion that another Chinese I should have been glad to history or traditions, no record rather the elected majority in the representative should be appointed, have been able to tioners laid sneh slight stress on it,

System.

1. They ask that subject to Im-cld settlement or of political usages Council, should have complete con- On the other hand, this is contrary with you They want British representives.

on the subject at practically no indigenous popals management of local offairs ton; and, I understand right, it

far as I understand them; and Mr. the pressure of business at this De-tive, static rather than dynamic. There is polat no doubt in these Keswick who, in his interesting and partment has been exceptional for They are there to protect and safe European or Chinese. hax few e-long residents, whether contentions, in that the municipal in temperate letter, which is enclosed some time past.

stitutions, which are to be found in your despatch, advocates the ap

gaard, rather than to stimulace and 8. It is perhaps a fair account of Ceylon and the Straits Settlements pointrent of an additional Crofficial

experiment. And it is above all Hongkong and its

fortunes 25 do not exist in Hongkong, but the Member to the Legislative Council

things stimulation and experiment that British trade needs at the per

and British

SW. Robinson, K.C.MG.,

tc., be, &c.

Despatch from the Secretary of

communicate

20

SHANGHAI COMMENT ON THE PRESENT PETITION. In a leading article on the peti tion to secure farther Unofficial Members Legislative Councils of Hongkong, on the Exxecutive and

the C. Daily News" says:--- that however well intentiored fox For the core of the master is this,

they

emment officials may be rarely take quite the same vely in- teres in the affairs of a commercial community as the members of that community do "themselves. Their

exclusively but as the ratepayer perial checks and safeguards, the and constitutional rights. It har trol over local expenditure and the to the wishes of the petitioners as earlier date bat, as you are aware, interest is negative rather than posi-

zre British only to the extent may be granted-

per thousand of the population of the Colony, where would the reprez entative roverament come in!

(a) The free election of ren

presentatives of British tionality in the Legislative Council of the Colony,"

(b) A zmajority in the Connell Bish Colony, to say that 30 year dealty at Hongkong is and must strongly deprecates "the addition that he could hold ont no hope that

of such elected represent atives."? (c) Perfect freedom of de-

freedom of base for the Official Members with power to vote according to their conscientious convic-

•tions.”

(2) "Complete control in the Council over local expendi

ture.

17

(e) "The management of local

Bigány."

character."

be to draw a Ene between matters to the Legislative Council of a which might be entrusted to a un second representative of the Cas sinal council and the business which nese.

3. In his despatch of the 23rd of Angust, 1894, Lord Bipon stated. Hongkong will cease to be a Crown Colony, Neither can I hold out any sach hope, for I conceive that in the case of Hongkong, represent are Government on whatever form of franchise it might be based, and with whatever supposed safeguards as to the Executive power would be wholly out of place.

two

These and other Œculties. "of theory and practice. will no doubt rumble away before the triturating force of free discussion. As to the

ago is was taken by and for the

sent time. If it is to be carried broad question whether democratic

British Crown to serve Imperial

triumphantly to government is suitable desirable, ori

poses, and in safeguard Brush

tinies which its past. deserves it the greater, des- practicable for so unique a communi.

trade in the Far East.

mast be reserved for the Colonial The balance of argument therefore

must have behind it the rigorous ty as that of Hongkong. it would

Holding a commanding position Government. In saying this I am appears to be against any change in

volition of those who are directly probably depend less on general con

at the month of the Canton river, aware that possibly or even probably the present number and composition

interested. It may be argued per iderations than on the personnel.

endowed by nature with & harbour, which has been carefully aspirations of the petitioners, and

Lae a municipality would not meet the of the Legislative Council.

haps that the present constitution That which is best administered is best:" and the practical effect of

kept as a free port, like the Sister that they may place a wider con.

of Hongkong does not cramp the 18. The second suggestion is that Dany kind of government is very much

an pofcial Member should be ap-i Crown Coles of the Straits Settle-truction upon the terms. "local expointed to the Executive Council

exercise of volition in commercial a question of who administers it.

ments, strongly protected by an Impenditure" and "local affairs" than The raggestion is made by Mr points to be decided.

4. There remain two pratical affairs. Our reply is that does and The outside view of Hongkong.

The first is

must because ingrained in the perial garrison and British ships cl1 bare placed upon them. view of visitors and short time re-

(5) "A consultative voice in wax. it has owed its prosperity to

Eeswick, and you state in your whether the present constitution of 14. One of the difficulties with despatch that you have personally the Legislative Council should be in is a desire to take a hand, a real nature of every British commanity -sidente appears to be that it has on]

questions of Imperial these advantages, as well as to the which I am met in dealing with this Lo objection to it, and that the cozy way modified. The second is hand, its own governance, and the whole been very well governed

polity of the Imperial Government, petition arises from the fact that the cession would be very popular and whether an unofficial element should repression in that direction has and The Colony, compels the admiration They quote the Colonies of Malta, and to the fact that, being strongly wards employed require to be more not altogether impolitic. of friend and foe alike. Undoubtedly Cyprus Mauritius and British guarded, it has attracted a large inx and the intention with which tion of a gentleman of high standing

accurately defined before their mean.

be introduced into the Executive must have a fatal psychological there are and must be faws. We Honduras enjoying more liberal Chinese population who have found they are used can be fully ganged. and great local experience would be

I can well realise that the addition Counci

effect in others. And anybody hope never to live in a place which forms of government then that that under British rule their lives This criticism especially applies to a gain to the Executive Council, and points my view is as follows:- two will, we think, readily admit, who knows Hongkong and Shang- 5. On the first of these is free from them. But it is some der which they are themselves liv. and their property have been sale the last in the list of the petitioners I shall be prepared to sanction the gather that the Legislative Council

hai sufficiently well to compare the times easier to perceive the sighting at Hongkong. They lay stress evils we are actually suffering from upon the commercial energy which merely that it has prospered as a given a consulative voice in ques after further considering the follow enough for practical purposes, and manity. Why Largely because 1 should be inclined to judge not claims, viz. that they shoa't be proposal if you still recommend as at present constituted, is large livelier and more enterprising com- that the latter formy by far the than to realise the greater wils has raised the Colony to its present Crown Colony but that it has pro- tions of an Imperial character. This ing points. which may follow. If Hongkong had position of importance. They claim spered in great measure because it sentence seems to point to some kină

homogeneous population of the common right of Englishmen has been a Crown Colony.

that an increase to its numbers is from its earliest days Shanghai has 000 Englishmen. or even of any End to manage their local affairs and

of the three Eastern hardly likely to add to its efficiency held its destiny in its own hands, of Imperial Federation. and it is colonies at the present time is there to any of Europeans there would no doubt

9. It may, bowever, be contended possibly written with reference to any oficial element in the Execu Hongkong is to remain a Crown holds ratepayers' meetings, and can appreciable extent. As because it elects its governing body, be's suficient of them eligible for Colony where Imperial considera was suited to the infancy of the which has not been without difficulty the step would in all cases be active casted by balancing evenly the un- sires. It is responsible to itself and the expenátars of the that while the Crown Colony system the military contribution question tive Council, and I am not clear that Colour no useful purpose would be give corporate expression to its de public functions and competent to fairly "represent" the people. Bus:

Colony, it is now time that a large in various colonies including Hong-y beneficial, where as I am quite oficial members and the officiais. the exercise of that responsibility out of seven hundred busy men the 5. Hongkong, when 53 years ago measure of self-government should kong. The subject raised is so wide clear that the existing system has Bat having regard to the fact that acts as a tonic. Hongkong with its obances of getting the requiste numit become a British possession, was be conceded.

and so vague that it would be use on the whole worked well and that in the absence of the Governor the present constitution is deprived of ber who will honestly devote the inhabited, I understand. by some

I therefore propose very shortly less to attempt to discuss it. The therefore there is no strong reason Officer Commanding the Troops will these advantages and is the less necessary time to unpaid public bus 7,000 to 12,000 Chinese squatters to examine the separate points na

question of a general remodelling of for disturbing it es must always be small. True, and fishermen. According to the to which the petitioners suggest the colonial system of Great Britain

in future administer the Govern rigorous in consequence. · Yet its in every Council for the last fifteen census of 1881 the population, in that some concession should be for it would probably amount to Keswick proposes that the Unofficial of advantage that he should be a Ta, the next place I note that Mr. ment, I consider that it would be

stake in China is just as great as ars there has been one-rarely round numbers, amounted to 221,400, zde...

no less as it would necessarily be Member should be of English birth member of the Legislative Council, verned by the factors that govern Shanghai's and its future wall be Unofficial Members who have of whom 211,000, or more than mine. 10. They ask in the first place for Federation of the Empire, is a most sideration that it would be invidious come part of any scheme for a It must, however, be taken into con not given their time, but have enter tenths, were Chinese. The Euro-the free election of representatives interesting question; bas one of wo and inequitable to lay down tag to add one official member to it will continue to be as long as its and if he is added to it. I am wil be any the less wide awake, which ours. It cannot, therefore, afford to

the Colony. But a continuous 8,500, and nationalities other than lative Council of the Colony."

azd Americane numbered of British nationality in the Legis wide and far reaching a scope to be Chinese subjects of the Queen shall the unofficial bench. Who the lat esion of such men can scarede Europeans, Americans, and Chín

dealt with in regard to a single case be debarred from appointment to the ter should be and what special init does at present to the "moficial

governance affords as little scopezas. "the words

alone. But I may state simply that Executive Council, and therefore the terest, if any, he should represent,

control

tions are not involved "

heart and soul into the affairs peains

somew

nat

In Done