1950-03-17 — Page 1

New

COPYRIGHT ISM, DIESELĄ toga zamek NT

VOL. V NO. 64

For the Prepelsfor nj

HONGKONG TELÈCTRAFIL For and on behalf of

SOUTH CHINA MOANING POST, LID.

The

Today's weather: Modernta or frosh earl winds.. Cloudy, ́ Rather milder.

Noon Observations: Barometic pressure, 1019.3 mbe, 30.10 in. der. F. Helative Temperature, 67.5 deg. F. Dew polni, 57 humidity, 71 %. Wind direction, ERE. Wind force, 7 kuola.

High water: 6 ft. 9 in at 9.00 p.m. Low water: 3 ft. 1 in at 2.27 pm,

Hongkong Telegraph.

Appointment For General Sir Brian Robertson

London, Mar. 16.-General Sir Brian Robert- son, the British High Commissioner in Germany, has been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Middle East Land Forces. The appointment was ́approved by the King.

nt the

made Deputy Adjutant He will be succeeded as High was Commissioner by a civilian, Sit and Quartermaster Gameral to Ivone Kirkpatrick, Under-Scere-Britain's crack Eighth Army,

He went with the Elthth fary in eirge of the German Department

Foreign Army all the way to El Alamein.

HL: administrative

qualities Office.

The Foreign Office and War were picked out again when he amee announcement reporting was made Governor of Tripoll. General Robertson's appoint le ball up the civilian ment rald that he will succeed vices to this battle-torn area.

He finished the

war Field General Sir John T. Crocker in about

General Cracker is Marthal Alexander's cher ad- June. to be Adjutant-General of the ministrative oflleer in Sicily

taly, and was appointed Chief under Field Marshini of Staff પ

-Britain's Montgomery in 1945. Cadet at

In postwar Germany he got Inmous the 1914-18 War broke out. Iis one of the most exacting jobs British faced father was Field Morshol Sir that has ever Wilinin Robertson-the first nilitary man administering soller in the British Army to the British Zone with its mil- rise from a private to the rank lions of war-shocked people and hattered elties and communica- of a Field Marshal.

long.

Forces in September.

General

Robertson Sandhurst

Was fo

it college-when milltary

WITH EIGHTH ARMY

Tall, epare and with piercing General Robertson served in blue eyes and fair hair, he was the Army throughout the firtan-authoritative and dominating World War and for some time personality. He deall fairly but after, but in 1933, after his firmly with the Germans. father died and he succeeded

He wan Britain's "No, 1 Khaki

to

the tle, he went into business Diplomat."-Reuter. as an official of the Dunlop Rub

ber Company in South Africa.

When

war broke out in 1939. Malaya

General Robertson joined the His re- South African forces. putation went higher and higher

the -through

campaigns in Italian Somaliland and Avys sinia-unti in June, 1942, he

GENERAL ROBERTSON

EDITORIAL

THAT

For

Rubber Russia

Penang, Mar 10-Malaya is to send Russia aome 15,000 tons of rubber this month.

FRIDAY, MARCH 17, 1950.

Dine

At the

For

P.G.

Reservations

Price 20 Cents

Tel: 27880

Britain

Improved Situation Permits Harbour Tragedy: To Spend

Reduction Of HK Garrison

The military authorities consider that the situation in South China has improved sufficiently to warrant a slight reduction in Hongkong's garrison in order to meet military needs elsewhere, said the official Army spokesman this morning.

Discussing the decision to transfer the 26th Infantry Brigade from Hongkong to Malaya to help in the anti-landit campaign there, the spokesman said the move can be regarded as a permanent one and, according to present plans, the Brigade will not be replaced by other troops. He pointed out, however, that should the need arise, the Brigade could easily he recalled from Malaya.

No date has yet been set for the Brigade's departure, as transport facilities and arrangements for its reception in Malaya will first have to be settled. The 26th Infantry Brigade consists of the 2/6 and 2/10 Gurkha Rifles and the 184 Buttalion, Cameronians.

Departure of this Brigade will still leare about 28,000 troops in Hongkong.

Gilman's

Employee Missing

FRUITLESS

ALL NIGHT

SEARCH FOR

FOR VICTIMS OF COLLISION

To Be

Seretse Khama To Allowed, Temporarily, To Return To His Tribe

London, Mar. 16-Britain's Labour Government, attacked from all sides over the Seretse Khama affair, agreed today to let the exiled African go back temporarily to the Bamangwato tribe and his pregnant English wife.

It also announced that a White Paper would be published, lifting the veil from many of the reasons why Seretse, chieftain-designate of the 8,000 tons from Malayan ports tribe, has been banned from his home for five years.

One ship is loading about

this week and another lo due

next weekt.

Odessa.

Penang

The Commonwealth Minister, | Government's own

But the Government has not climbed down over the ban on

RIOTS CASUALTIES Sercise, whose trouble began

Mar. 10-A when his uncle, Theked!, for New Delhi, government spokesman said to mer Regent of the tribe, declared day that at least 600 Hindus a feud over his nephew's mar- were killed on the East Bengal flage to a white giri. railway between Jamalpur and Bahadurabad in recent rioting

supporters,, asked

More On Colonies

London, Mar. 16.-Britain will spend £6,846,500 more on developing her Colonics in the next 12 months, but the grant to Malaya in aid of local revenues is cut by £2,000,000, bringing It down to £3,000,000.

This was announced today with the publication of Govern- ment estimates for the Foreign

nd Imperial Services in the fancial year ending March 31, 1031.

The extra money for Colonlar development is the bigges em In an overall increase in tho services of £13,787,645, Tho total estimate is £80,018,848. Of this,

£19,150,000 will be

sources of the

people.

Colonies and

The next largest increase is

Mr David Fitzroy-Williams of Messrs spent on opening up the re- Gilman and Company's shipping depart-improving the welfare of their ment, and Mrs Penelope Osborno, 23-year- £5,443,330 for the generat old widow, who was en route from Sanworking of the Colonial and Francisco to Singapore, are missing as a result of-a-collision in the harbour last night between the HKY Ferry Man To and a walla-walla in which Mr Fitzroy-Williams and Mrs Osborne were travelling.

Survivors of the tragedy include Mr Doyle, radio operator of the ss Steel Navigator, and three Chinese crewmen of the motor boat. One of the Chinese, is in Queen Mary Hospital.

The accident occurred about, and had a most distinguished the 10.30 p.m. Mr Filzroy-Willams record of service, winning the to Hongkong aboard the Steel DSC. Ile came been for had

which Was lying with the fleet after 1945, and

years ago. his motor boat Mrs Osborne, a Greek subject,

10st her war-time-

770. The

Middle East services for which the total estimate is £19,453,-

main item under this-tending is £6,050,000 for war damage compensation schemes in the Far Eastern ter-

llories.

On the domestic side, Britain will step up her civil defence costs by £2,316,000 next year. The total bill for England and Wales will be £6,104,270. The cost

of training civil defence workers will be down by £272,- 390, but grants to local authori- ties will be up 21,530,400.- Reuter,

Untouchability

An Offence

New Delhi, Mar. 16-The Indiented today that those who continued to which practise untouchability,

new was abolished by India's constitution, might soon

able to prosecution. The an- Houtrement said: "The govern- Fient is considering framing legislation prescribing pu

punish- men! for offences arising from the practice of untouchability. A bill to this effect will be Introduced during the current session of Parliament."-United Press,

for n debate on calling mation of Liberal length to take another consiguncul Mr Patrick Gordon-Walker, declared that the

at Buoy A2, to clear the ship took his discharge about two movements nsiderat. Both chips are destined for told Parliament that 27-year-old Seretse's stay within the Pro-Seretse Khama's exile to be re- Navigator,

Seretse would be allowed to tectorate and his

Mr Herbert Morrison, leader for her passage to Singapore and from London to there would be kept under re- return

thought that it then rejoined the British Govem-nt House

American According to official

await the which was alongside. Bechuanaland to collect evidence view by the trade statistics, Russia IC-

Mr Osborne, a passenger on husband a year ago when he government enteret the local rubber market for a law-suit about ble Inhert-ment, having regard to his con- would be better to

duct and the interests of order publication of the Government's

White Paper early next week.the Steel Navigator, and Mr was killed in a motoring ac- last month, purchasing 1,009ince.

and good government tons.--Reuter.

She was on her way, with her He added that it might be The House could then tee how Doyle, the ship's radia operator cident,

ked to be permitted to Join Mr Davies agreed to this, necessary to apply certain con- it felt about a debate,

Mr Fitzroy-Williams in his two children, a lad of four and ditions to his return, but they

wall-walla as they desired to a one-year-old baby boy, to join

her mother in Singapore. SERETSE'S REACTION would not restrict his liberty

Enohere.

They did so, and the motor regarding his law-sult.

Seretse Khama said tonight bont left the Sleet Navigator. It also that he would probably fly to had just cleared the bow of the Trhekei has also been exiled agreed to pay the cost of his South Africa on Monday on the in

his had booked him a seat.

"Duck!" between Moslems and Hindus. for five years by the Govern-air passage and a bill of legal plane on which the Government Doyle,

expenses incurred from

He added, however, "The iden moment later the motor boat Court Martialled The Minister, who facea visit to London.,

Mr Gordon-Walker said he of going home as a prisoner was hit by the ferry Man Toj hostly from a number of the

Norfolk, Virginia, Mar. 16-- had told Khams that arrange-my own country, not having}

ROOF CAVES IN

courts martial were ments would be made for him committed a crime, does not ap-

The canvas roofing of the General and his wife, a former London pest to me very much,

walla-walla caved in os a re-ordered today for the Command- to be

"I should typist, Ruth Williams,

like to have gone sult of the impact and it la be ing Officer, the Operations On- together around the time of her unconditionally, but there are lieved that Mrs Osborne

Navigator of the cer and the and

The Fire Brigade were called United States Navy's glant to the Great Eastern Hotel, Con- confnement.

certal terms unacceptable". Mr Fitzroy-Williams, who were

the Missouri, because naught Road Central, shortly He declined to state what the

Ilo added, Travelling Hinaus ment. will not be safe on this line."- United Pres

Public And The Budget

lo

is

THAT the Hongkong Reform Club

call an open meeting should discuss the 1950-51 Budget is an encourag- some degree of Interest ing sign that can yet be shown in this important subject. What remains to be seen, how- this ever, is the public response to opportunity for expressing opinion on n question which affects, to some extent, the daily lives of the majority of the Colony's inhabitants. The Hongkong Re- form Club probably has not forgotten the public apathy towards its endeavours to unearth popular opinion regarding constitutional reform, and in view of this experience, which could almost be described as humiliating, credit must be given to the Club for trying yet again to Awaken public consciousness over a vital issue. Next Tuesday's meeting designed to obtain some representative reactions to the latest Budget; it is also so-called Pro Bono n challenge to the Publicos

to of Hongkong for them demonstrate whether or not they are willing and capable of giving vent to their feelings and convictions; whether the Budget means nothing more to them than an intricate maze of figures, or whether they appreciate it as the most important piece of annual legislation introduced by Government. Budget figures taken in the mass are bewildering, but from them can be discerned a pattern of spend- ing which may or may not be acceptable-- according to the point of view. It has been stated that the prime object of the Reform Club's meeting is to explain to the public the whys, hows and wherefors of revenue raising. This is useful, up to a point, but it covers only one aspect of the Badget. The other is expenditure, particularly the question of whether the Colony receives proper value for the millions of dollars which are being officially spent every year. The greatest single item in the Estimates is the administrative costs, 1, e, the cost of Personal emoluments, HCL government.

allowances, pensions, accommodation for civil servants, and the customary with associated running expenses offices absorb nearly 50 percent of the total expenditure-an appallingly high proportion. A study of the detailed that estimates of expenditure reveal Government contributions to privately organised social, health, educational and recreational enterprises amount to a mere seven percent of the total Budget-and these institutions, it has to be recognised, ure the principal media for catering to the Colony's social and cultural welfare. On the other hand Miscellaneous Services, which are little more than charges for non-productive services, require 18 .per- cent. of the total expenditure, roughly 11 is proposed eight percent. more than

to devote next year to Public Works non- recurrent, most of which have at least the virtue of providing improvements for the benefit of the general public. The "whys, hows and wherefors" of raising revenue Is, undoubtedly, an important subject, but it must be considered also in relation to the "whys, `hows, wherefore" of spend- ing that revenue after it has been raised. The Hongkong Reform Club has a wide field of inquiry, if it cares to explore Il. For instance, official methods of estimat. ing revenue as well as official proposals for garnering it. So far as

revenue

estimating la concerned it has long been a "by guess and by God" system with little or no confidence displayed either in divine intervention or Ina.vidual ability to assess prospects. Revenue estimates, It has been frequently shown, bear little relation to the actual intake of any one year, and Invariably the explanation is that the Colony has enjoyed unexpected windfalla: yet these have a peculiar habit of persistently recurring. Some realistic revenue estimating would not come amiss, and would rapidly convert that estimated deficit for 1950-51 into a surplus which, it is quite confidently anticipated, will in any caso eventuate.

his

TO PAY PASSAGE The Government had

The length of his stay and

shouted

when, according to Mt USS Missouri's Fitzroy-Willian Officers To Be

Mr

out

and K

BLAZE ON ROOF OF HOTEL

movements within the Pro- terms were, but intimated thuilling in the stern of the boat Chesapeake Bay before 9.30 o'clock this morning

tectorate

fortunate

in

on January 17, 12.

when blaze

was reported to The Missouri is the biggest have broken out on the roof. The firemen discovered that a worship afloat,

Admiral William M. Feenteler, large basket had caught alight

The motor boat sank imine- diately, but Mr Doyle and the three Chinese crewmen were the Commander-in-Chief of the and the flames, which gave

enough to get clear and they were rescued by one Atlantic Fleet, cald that formal rise to some alarm, were quick-

not bo madely charges would

with little extinguished of the sampans unloading along-public before the courts were damage being done side the Steel Navigator.

establishment. As soon

the Man To hit the motor boat she sounded her

were imprisoned by the collap Bechuanaland he would continue to fight the of

sed rooding. would be kept under review Governinent's five-year ban.-

Reuter. by the Government, having re- card to his conduct and the In- terest of good order and good government in the territory, he added.

Government statement would be issued As soon as possible setting out in greater detail the facts and considera- London, Mar. 10-The British 505 signal and the Steel Navi- tions that led the Government Government has made token gator

cognition.

ING

reserve

£3 Mil. Loan For

Our Airport

to toke personal disclosed. evidence for his law-suit,

The loan will be free of in-

switched on a

scarck-

rushed

to its decision to withhold re-provision for a £3,000,000 loan light to assist In the rescue

to the Hongkong Government operations. Mr Gordon-Walker, answer to meet

A police launch ales expenditure on the questions, made it clear construction of an air port, to the scene with a searchlight, that Scree Khama would be the Civil Estimates for 1950-51, but although a search was main- lowed to return to the tribal which were published today, fained all night, there was no sign of Mrs Obsorne and Mr Fitzroy-Williams, RECOGNITION WITHHELD terest and the terms of re-

POLICE INQUIRY The Minister niso said that it payment will be settled later.

The Police conducted an in- on board the had been decided to withhold it is not required immediately, quiry last night recognition of Seretse Khoina 09bul token

made Steel Navigator and took state- provision is chief. That implied that it had

thai, Parliamentary ments from witnesses. not been decided to refuse re-approval of arrangements may this morning for Singapore.

The ship left port at 4 o'clock cognition.

be obtained. Later, when the House was The Eaturates Include £150,-

Joined Mr Fitzroy-Williams discussing next week's Parlia000 of a grant of £250,000 in Gilman and Company after the mentary business, the Liberal respect of the University of war. He was a First Lieutenant leader, Mr Clement Davies, Hongkong-Rester,

of destroyer during the war

order

Chinese Reds Take Mr Keswick's

S'hai Houses Away From Him

Mrs Claire Keswick a pected to take диду 1,600 advisers. Among the houses wondering

belonging where sho will foreign residents from China.

to Brilons that

for Mrs Limit," the last house on the rojoins her husband there Keswick, for she will be saying highway before the airfield, be early next week,

goodbye to her eight-year-old lenging to Bill Hawkins, who daughter, Margaret, who are with his wife, Gladys, havo Her husband, Mr John Res-turing on the same day to Eng-lived there over 30 years. wick, head of Messrs Jardine, land by tire, sa Canton to

Gladyo Hawkins refused to Mallicson and Co., Ltd., owns continue her schooling

palatial houses in the Mr Keswick is at present in budge from the property last summer when the Nationalists their Jast preparing

defence, which proved

live in Shanghai when she tinged with andness

The day, however, will ha have been taken over is "The

two Hungjae district of Shanghai, Tientsin but la

they

la expected to re- were time to meet

In

have both been return to Shaco his two houses ditch"

By the Chinese his wife. Communist authorities to RC- were requisilloned, he has taken more impressive in propaganda commodate

releases than in actual practice. advisers flat in town, it Russian

it is understood. who are said to be pouring into

the News leaking through

She kept the Union Jack fly- China since the conclusion of Chiness "Bamboo Curtain" says ing from her garden for over 30 the Smo-Bovlet treaty.

The Chinese Communists have years, despite many_upheavals, Mrs Keswick is leaving Hong- taken over 2,000 houses near but from the flagstaff now flies

by kong tomorrow

the

Shanghai's Hungino airdeld for the Hammer and Sickle of the General Gordon, which is ex-the 1138 of the Russian USSR.

convened-Iteuter.

RUM!

FOR CHILLY. EVENINGS

"Lemon Hart"

от

"Clipper"

FOR TODDY

FROM JAMAICA

Bacardi

FOR COCKTAILS

FROM CUBA

All Three From

CALDBECK'S

PHONE 20075

to

the