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The CHAIRMAN said-The Governor recom. mends the Council to vote a sum of $26,189 to defray during the current year the increases in salaries of Government Officials sanctioned in the Secretary of State's Despatch No. 280 of 8th December, 1899.
The Hon. C. P. CHATER-I beg to ask that the consideration of this vote should be post- poned for at least a fortnight. The financial minute which has just been read was received by the unofficial members late last evening and we have not had time to go into the matter as thoroughly as we should like. Personally I have no objection to the vote, but I should like to have a good deal more information before the vote is passed. I should like to know whether any other officers of the Government have asked for ivoreases, and if so who they are and what has become of their application such and what reasons they have given for asking for increases before this vete is finally passed by the Council. The reasons given in the papers for the increase, I think, are very good, but they are equally ap plicable to the other civil servants as they are to the officers who are going to be affected by this vote. Therefore I think the unofficial members would like to have the full facts before them before they are prepared to vote on the matter. The Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I quito sup- port, sir, what has been said. If the reasons given in support of this increase to certain heads and assistant heads of departments are applicable to them, I maintain that they are still more applicable to the clerical staff in the civil service, aud that it is not equitable that the heads and assistant heads should receive increases whilst the juniors and clerical staff should not participate in an increase which per- haps they are more entitled to than the heads and assistant heads.
The COLONIAL TREASURER -It seems to ine what we call a dog-in the-manger policy to de- prive the beads and assistant heads of inc cases which are admitted to be justifiable because others have not got them.
The CHAIRMAN-I do not know whether honourable members have carefully read the cor- respondence which was laid on the table.I forget the exact date-a fortnight ago or a month a.o -with reference to this matter. You will ob. serve from that that, under date 23rd July. 1899, His Excellency the Governor forwarded a memorial from certain members of the Hong kong Civil Service on the subject of the in- dequacy of the salaries of public servants. That was a general representation made to the Secretary of State for the Colonies. Practically the reply to that is contained in despatch No. 280. I do not think there is any objection, if you wish it, to postpone the consideration of this financial minute, especially as it only reached you at a late hour; but I draw your attention to the correspondence. It is not a question of certain members asking for increases of salaries and of distinctions having been made between the applicants. If you carefully read this correspondence I do not think very much more can be laid before you. You see the Secretary of State for the Colonies bas practically decided the question for himself.
The Hon. C. P. CHATER-That may be the case, but we bare to give our vote one way or another.
The CHAIRMAN-I merely mentioned it. The COLONIAL TREASURER--Some of them have not got an increase and they want to deprive others. Those who bare uot got an increase would have a better excuse for apply ing after this role is passed.
The Hon. C, P. CHATER-I said that the financial minute was received by the unofficial members late yesterday afternoon and we have not had sufficient time to go over it carefully. We should like to consider also whether any other officers in the Gorerament service have made similar applications for increases of salaries and if so who they are and what reasons do they gire for the application. I for one have absolutely no objection to the Tate before us, but it is best to make one job of
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
The Hon C. P. CHATER-I should say a fortnight.
The CHAIRMAN observed that there were officers going on leave to England and they would like the matter settled.
The Hon. C. P. CHATER-The postponement would not affect them, because the Secretarying their own names. of State for the Colouies has sauctioned the increases from the begi uing of this year. Therefore a fortnight sooner or later does not matter.
The CHAIRMAN-I no not sea much harm in the matter being postponed for a fortnight.
The Hoa. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I wish just to express my regret that we should have been accused of adopting dog-in-the-mauger policy on this question. I consider that that remark was entirely uncalled for, especially coming from the Honourable the Colonial Treasurer. My object in supporting the senior unofficial member is to endeavour to see that justice and fair dealing is done to the other civil servants.
The CHAIRMAN-I do not think the honour. able the Colonial Treasurer meant anything personal. He made use of the expression as a mere colloquialism. There is no more business before the Committee.
The Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD-I am sorry, sir, to see that the Honourable the Colonial Treasurer has not seen fit to withdraw the un- warranted expression.
This was all the business.
THE ANTI-FOOTBINDING MOVEMENT.
༔
On March 1st the wires brought the glad news from Ladysmith, but St. David may hence. forth be considered not only as the Patron Saint of Welshmen but of Chinese womnou, for on that day, for the first time, they were invited within the much-dreaded portals of Government House. The Organising Se retary of the Natural Fest Society (Tien su Hui) of China was to advocate its merits. Some people thought this would deter rather than attract Chinese ladies, especiall those of bound feet, Some people thought they would in any case be too frightened to come to Government House, so Chinese gentlemen were invited to escort the ladies and their families, and to be themselves entertained in another room by L rd Suirdale. Will 20 come? was the question of the moru- ing. Oh, I think 50, and when over 100 chairs hearts sank at the prospect of how empty they were seen drawn up in the great ball-room some
soon would look. Only 70 invitatious even had been sent out. But, as four o'clock drew near,
the approach to Government House presented a
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many
Meanwhile the pressure round the table in the ball-room was increasing; the little girls of the school had more than once been told they were too small to have books, and ought to make room for their elders, but the clever things were actually holding out their money and writ
After that Associates' cards could not be refused them, and some 47 were enrolled. The shook to the rich Hong. koug indies minds must not be forgotton when they found only 10 cash, or 1 cent each, was asked from them for the privilege of joining the Tien Tsu Hai. This is the sum that has been fixed as a proof of sincerity, that would suit the millions of China, and the richer ladies compromised by paying for the servant as well as themselves, or sometimes for some eager chil- dren who had not brought any cash. The wish is, at the end of 1900, to publish to the remotest districts of the rast Empire how adherents in the various great cities there aro opposed to the binding, and thus give more conrage to mothers among a wholly bound population not to bind their children's feet by thinking how many there are unbound else- where, and we understand that the Hon. Secretary's eager hope is to number some 5.000 adherents in Hongkong, either as annual sub- scribers of one dollar, life members who have given ton dollars down, or associates who have given 19 cash, as a proof that they really mean it when they say 'both in my own house and outside,' &c. This last class obviously is to consist of Chinese ouly, the two former of foreigners and Chinese, and we understand that Miss Blake, having kindly consented to under- stand the duties of Hon. Secretary_of the branch of the Hongkong Tieu Tau Hui, will now be happy to re eive contributions and curol names.
This seems to be the first time that any Governor or his family have shown kindly solicitude as to the condition of the Chinese woman subjects of our Queen in Hongkong, and the ladies evidently felt quite assured of the friendly feeling entertained towards them, and after the first few minutes showed no sigus of the trepidation or contusion that might be expected, but simply diguified Chinese good breeding. St. David's meeting was the largest meeting of Chinese ladies yet seen, surpassing in numbers the ever memorable Chi- hese party given by ten Chinese ladies to in ugurate the Schools for the higher education of Chinese girls, in which Mr. King Lien. Sban, now in danger of his life, but for the moment safe in the Fortress of Macao, has been from the first the prime mover.
even
If the Heads of the various Missions here. Charch of Eaglaud, Roman Catholic and Nonconformist-will enroll as many of their people as are desirous to join the Tien Tsu Hui, - it will greatly facilitate the work of the Hon. | Secretary-Communicated.
A NEW IMPERIAL DUCREE,
carious spectacle, for from all the entrances Chinese women were to be seen hobbling pain- full onwards! Some fifty extra chairs had to be brought in. Then appeared a school of possibly 200 little Chinese girls who, very much to their surprise, were requested to seat them-
We take the accompanying translation from selves on the edge of the platform, and in large | The North China Daily News :- groups on either side of the speakers's table, a
27th February. (1) The Grand Secretary K'au Kang (Mac- living demonstration of those the meeting was to help, fat and rosy with pretty little rounded feet | chu) having been this day ordered out on a se for the most part, but with one or two poiuted | critįmission of investigation, his post of Chan- disortions among them Amahs had been re- cellor of the Haulin Academy is hereby given quested to stand and some 70 or 80 Chi-pro tem, to Duke Chang Yi (father-in-law of
Dese
women
weru
to be seen now
stand.
ing down either side of the bail-room when Lady Blake entered and welcomed her guests." Mrs Ho Tung read aloud the Society's pledge. In my own family and out- sido I wish to do what I can to get rid of this cruel custom, &c.,' and after Mrs. Archibald Little had finished -peaking there was a crowd pressing round the table to sign on the rolls in spite of the counter-attraction of books being given away elsewhere and the drawing-room fast filling up with elegantly-clad Chinese ladies enjoying tea and cakes with Lady and Miss Blake and the foreign ladies present; Mrs Hoare chat- ting with them in Mandarin. (who speaks like a native); Miss Johnston and Miss Eyre discoursing in Cantonese; Mrs. Bruce The CHAIRMAN-As I said there is no and other English ladies rather admiring the objection to a postponement. I would only soft hues of the ladies dresses, their complica. ask your attention to the printed correspon- ted hair-dressing, and their embroideries, and dence in the meantime. The Council meets deciding that foreign ladies met them at a this day week; do you wish for a longer post-disadvantage in rough morning frocks, for the ponement than a week,
Chinese ladies were in full dress.
the whole matter.
Mrs. Glover
the late Emperor Tung Chih, ant uow Grand Proceptor of P'n Chün, Heir-Apparent to the Throne).
(2) For the same reason the Grand Secretary K'un Kang's post of Captain General of the Blue Hauchno Binner Corps is hereby tempor. arily given to Tsai Hsun, Prince Chuang, 1st
Order.
[Note:-The secret mission above neted is supposed to referto charges of p-culation against prominent members of the Board of Works su- porintending the enlargement and decoration of the "Myriad Ages" Mausoleum, which is des. tined to be the Empress Dowager's last resting-
have already been expended.—Translator.] place, and upon which over five million taels
A Japanese paper learns that an agreement has been concluded between Messrs. Takeyama & Co., of Moji, and a Chinese Steamship Company in China for the supply to the Chinese company of 10,000 tons of Japanese coal in monthly instalments, commencing in this month.
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