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Mr. Dennys-Opium smoking has & very somnolent effect. In Jules Verne's "Round the world in eighty days" the traveller is taken to a Hongkong opium divan and he missed the steamer next morning because he fell into a heavy sleep and did not wake for two days. That of course does not happen in real life, but three or four pipes have a very stupefying effect. I ask your Worship to give a carefully considered decision in this case and to allow the other cases to remain over. Altogether there are 102 opium divans in the colony and therefore the case is rather an important one. 1
Dr. Clark-I would like to say that it is not our intention or wish that these opium divans should be registered. What we wish is that they shall not be used as sleeping places for coolies apart from the sale of opium.
Mr. Dennys-That is not the charge. The opium farmers are quite ready to take any sug gestions from the Sanitary Board as to the management of these places. What they object to is these places being called common lodging houses. If there is any overcrowding or anything of that sort, or any regulation which the Sanitary Board wishes to enforce, the opium farmers will do their best to see that it is properly carried out. They do not want to be forced to register as a common lodging house, and that is the only offence with which they are charged.
Dr. Clark-In reply I say that of course we have taken out a summous for keeping these places without a licence, but we do not wish licences to be taken out for opium divans; we wish them to be used solely for the sale of opium and not as sleeping places for coolies. The Sanitary Board considered this question some time ago and they decided they would not issue any regulations for opium divans, but would bring them within the Or- dinances and by-laws of the colony, and for that reason we have taken out these summonses.
The Magistrate-I will give my decision on Saturday morning at 11.30.
At the Magistracy on Saturday Hon. Com- mander W. C. H. Hastings delivered judgment in the case in which La. Chuk Ping, the keeper of an opium divan on the first floor of No. 10, Cross Street was summoned for keeping a com- mon lodging house without a licence.
Dr. Clark appeared for the Sanitary Board and Mr. Dennys for the defendant.
"
August 27-1896
THE HONGKONGWEEKLY PRESS AND
11, the harbouring of bad characters should be selves and I have but few comments to mak discouraged equally in a divan as in a lodging on them. The $200,000 passed to res house; numbers of poor creatures, however, who of last account have been on fixed dep constantly appear in this Court for petty thefts, the Hongkong and Shanghai Bank for some unlawful possession, &c., can give no other ad-time past, and our interest account, already dress than that of some divan, which is their only reduced to a nominal amount at the debit, home. If good order and decorum were also to I trust, appear on the credit side of our be habitually enforced in divans the number statement. A case of salvage accounts for the of assault cases would show a material decrease. marked increase in our towage earnings. The Where prepared opium is retailed under licence constant prosperity of the Company is not only from the Farmer, the retailers are required to a proof of the high class workmanship performed obtain the name and address of the purchaser by our efficient staff, but is also a sign of the for insertion in the certificate; with very slight ever increasing shipping trade of this colony. Taking also into consideration the very low labour similar particulars could be noted in a re-
These considerations, book value of our various establishments, I may gister in the divans. however, are beside the province of the Court. safely say that the prospects of this Company are very promising indeed. At Kowloon the Ordinance 4 of 1895, section 2, provides a de- finition of a common lodging house. Any new houses for the European employes are house or part thereof where usually only male approaching completion, while the buildings for persons are housed-not being.members of the the same purpose at our Cosmopolitan establish same family-to the number of 10 persons and ment are already finished. At Cosmopolitan upwards." On the first floor of 10. Cross Street, Dock some work of extension is going on, while between 12 and 12.30 a.m. on the 11th inst., 26 at Kowloon, with a view to relieve the pressure men were found, 23, of whom were asleep; of work and to meet the increasing wants of our constituents, your directors have under 97 hours later, viz., between 1 and 1.30 a.m. on the 15th, on the same floor in the same house, consideration certain schemes for adding 32 men were found, all asleep, except the man largely to the facilities of that establishment. who opened the door. The presumption is The negotiations with the Government for therefore a fair one that more than 10 persons the construction of a new dock at Kowloon are usually housed there. No attempt was have been broken off, our proposals hay- made by the defence to show that they were ing been declined by the Admiralty. Upon members of the same family, that there were · Mr. Gillies' return to the colony in May last, any special circumstances to account for the Mr. Cooke was granted leave of absence. I presence of ten persons and upwards. I have wish still to mention that high praise is due to our staff, who have at all times--I may say day therefore no hesitation in decidiug that No. 10, Cross St., first floor, is a common lodging house and night during the very busy half year done as defined by Ordinance 4 of 1895. I feel com- their utmost to assist our managers to attain pelled to remark that the elementary rules of the good results before you to-day. In con hygiene held to be absolutely necessary to cluding my remarks I am glad to be able to apply to common lodging houses seem to be state that the working for July shows very equally necessary in this class of house, which satisfactory results, while the month of August equal in number more than 20 per cent. of promises well. Before proposing the adoption that of the registered common lodging houses of the report and accounts I shall be pleased to in Victoria. With regard to Dr. Clark's re- answer any questions which shareholders may marks that the Sanitary Board do not desire wish to put regarding the matters now before the registration of these houses, this Court is the meeting. bound by the four corners of the Ordinance. If the Sanitary Board did not intend to proceed criminally with a view to the law being enforced, I fail to see why proceedings should have been taken in this Court at all. I can scarcely seriously suppose that Dr. Clark accepted un- reservedly the statement for the defence that the Opium Farmers are quite ready to take any suggestion from the Sanitary Board as to the management of these places; if so, unless the Board's suggestions were backed by statutory authority, he would be idle. stances, I shall impose the nominal fine of $1 to carry conviction.
The defendant was convicted and fined $1. His Worship, in giving judgment, said- The summons in this test case is that Lai Chuk Ping at No. 10, Cross Street, 1st floor, did on the 15th August, 1896, keep open a common lodging house without registering the same and obtaining a licence from the Registrar- General, contrary to Ordinauce 24 of 1887, section 73. For the defence, it is arged that it is an opium divan that is kept, not a lodging house, that under the terms of the licence it would be utterly impossible to turn the divan into a lodging house, that the licence is valid for one month only and liable to withdrawal at any time, that customers pay nothing for board and lodging, and are supplied with neither food nor drink.. Referring to the by-laws relating to common lodging houses, No. 11 is quoted to show the insuperable obstacles in the way. "The keeper of a common lodging house shall not knowingly permit persons of bad character to lodge in his house, and he shall maintain and enforce good order and decorum therein, and he shall also keep a register of the name, occupa. tion, and native place of each lodger." The Dross Farmer pays the Opium. Farmer $4,300 a month, and he licenses 102 divans at a monthly fee of $6 each and a commission on each piece of dross opium sold, ranging from 40 cents to $3.50 per day for each divan. He also gets the export and import duties on all dross ranging from $2 to $400 per mensem. It may safely be assumed therefore that there is a fair margin for profit. Registration of divans as common lodging houses would not, however, decrease these profits. Registra- tion is free, and were the dross licence to be withdrawn the lodging house licence would still be valid. In no common lodging houses in the colony are the inmates supplied with food or drinks :"for lodging the average charge is about 2 to 3 cents a night-for lodging pure and simple. With special reference to by-law
11
Under the circum-
HONGKONG AND WHAMPOA DOCK CO., LIMITED.
The half yearly meeting of the shareholders in the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Com- pany, Limited, was held at the offices of the Company, Praya Central, on the 24th August, Mr. J. Kramer presided, and there were also present-Hon. J. J. Bell-Irving, Messrs. St. C. Michaelsen, J. H. Lewis, N. A. Siebs, J. S. Van Buren, G. B. Dodwell (Directors), D. Gillies (Chief Manager), T. I. Rose (Secretary), T. Arnold, C. S. Sharp, F. Henderson, H. Wicking, R. Mitchell, W. Parfitt, P. Jordan, and J. J. Leiria.
The SECRETARY read the notice convening the meeting.
The CHAIRMAN-Gentlemen, with your per mission I will take the report which has been in your hands for some time as read. It is a great satisfaction to your directors to be able to continue to lay before you such favourable results. When we met a year ago, we placed before you what was then described as a record report. Since then our figures have steadily increased, and according to the report we have now for appropriation the highly satisfactory sum of $623,547.42. This enables us to again pay a dividend of 8 per cent, and a bonus of 4 per cent. to shareholders, to make a return of $20,000 to contributing shareholders, write off some $51,500, increase the reserve fund to $400,000, and carry forward about $157,000 to new account. These figures speak for them,
Mr. WICKING-Mr. Chairman and gentles men, in the last half year's report I think some provision was made to compensate the working staff of the Docks for the large amount of over- time which they have given. I see no provision on that account in this report. I think it is only right that some compensation should be.
made.
The CHAIRMAN-That is always done at the end of the year and it will surely be taken into consideration then.
Mr. WICKING-I hope it will, es it is only just to the staff who have been working at night. They should be paid for doing night work, as the men come here without expecting to do such work.
The CHAIRMAN The remarks I have made show that the work done by the staff is highly appreciated, not only by the shareholders, but by the directors as well. This matter will have the earnest consideration of the directors- at the end of the present year.
Mr. WICKING. I am very glad to hear your remarks. In that case I think I have no more to say on the subject.
The CHAIRMAN There being no further questions I beg to propose the adoption of the report and the passing of the accounts.
Mr. SHABPMr. Chairman, I have very much pleasure in seconding the resolution which you have put. In doing so I must congratulate, and I think all shareholders will join me in congratulating, the Board and the staff been presented to-day, I heartily endorse erally upon the very fine report which remarks made by Mr. Wicking about the work of the staff. Looking as far back as the last year's figures it is simply marvellous to see, how the prosperity of the Company has not only been kept up but has also increased would like to believe that this state of will continue, but I am sure that shareholders will be glad that something is put by rainy day in the way of increasin fand and writing down property second the adoption of the report and
Carried.
the
ne
The CHAIRMAN-Gentlemen, that is all the business. I thank you for your attendance. Dividend warrants will be ready to-morrow
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.