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THE GOVERNMENT OF HONGKONG.
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
(Daily Press, 27th May,) Although it may be conceded that, in his further criticism of the administra- tin of public affairs in this Colony, "Ferutator has pitched the key rather high in come directions, yet in the main we are confident he has expressed the views of the vast majority of the com- munity. In asserting this, we have no desire to join in any wild accusations against the Government or to take part in any sweeping condemnation of the form of administration under which we live. There are two sides to every question, and it would be crassest fully to refuse to acknowledge the good points in a system because it is open to criticism on others.
We are quite ready to admit that we are governed with every desire on the part of the officials in Downing Street to provide for all the just wants of the Colony; and if intentions could count for anything we should probably have little to complain of. The residents are on the whole lightly taxed; those of British origin are immune from the in- quisitorial income tax, while those of foreign derivation are not, as in some other coun- tries, required to pay a poll tax. All resi- dents, of whatever nationality, can come and go unquestioned, unhampered, unafraid. No passports are demanded; no customs officers make landing or departure an ordeal to passengers. No obstructions are placed in the way of any legitimate trade; no privileges are accorded to any class or race. Land can be acquired as freely by aliens as by His Majesty's subjects, and justice is administered with absolute impartiality in all the Courts of the Colony. Under this just und lib ral rule, wisely designed to encourage and develop trade, a mighty commerce has, as the result, grown up: the port has become the greatest in Asia and one of the first in point of tonnage, and in many other respects, in the world. It would be churlish and ungrateful in the extreme to omit to gi e credit to our rulers for these great, these magnificent results. We are penetrated by a sense of our deep obliga- tions to the tenacity and foresight of the Governments that, having put their hands to the plough in the early days, refused to be guided by the pessimistic forebodings of Mr. MONTGOMERY MARTIN, and persevered in their policy until success beyond all imagination rewarded their faith in un- restricted trade and liberal measures.
Having said so much, in vindication of our position, we turn to the situation which bas in later days developed, and propose again briefly to discuss the new points raised by «Scrutator" in his effort to arouse public opinion on the manner in which affairs municipal have been allowed to drift. We have already referred at some length to the crying evils of the system of drainage, which for our sins has been thrust upon us by sciolists, who appear to have been unable to grasp the great salient fact that a system suitable to the wants of a civilised people in a temperate climate is not necessarily adapted to a semi- civilised race in a semi-tropical country. Whether this system should be entirely superseded, or whether it can be so modified as to neutralise its dangers, in the sense indicated by our correspondent "T.," is a question for experts on the one hand and the Treasury on the other. But that something must be done and a large outlay incurred, to rectify the mistakes of the past, is a fact that surely no Government can refuse to recognise. The utter inadequacy
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[June 3, 1901.
of the Sanitary staff to grapple with the not propose to deal with it here. But berculean task of reforming the sanitary Scrutator is amply justified in referring condition of the city of Victoria has been to the Public Buildings of the Colony in demonstrated to the hilt by "Scrutator." | disparaging terms. There is hardly a A staff consisting of a medical officer, a respectable-looking block of Government sanitary surveyor, and a score of inspectors buildings to be found on the island. The of nuisances could at best, even in B Post Office is adapted to the needs of a temperate climate, only touch the fringe of town of 5,000 to 10,000 inhabitants, and their real work; but in this huge aggregation would be a most indifferent specimen of of slums they are simply set to essay the architecture in a village. Representations impossible. Much credit is due to Dr. on the subject of the miserable accommoda- CLARK for the cheerful energy with which he tion and the inadequate staff of the Post daily takes up his Sisyphean task; but it is Office have been made to the Government by surely time that the citizens of Victoria the Chamber of Commerce and by the Press, came to his relief, and alleviated the hope and in deference thereto the accommoda. lessness of his efforts. The ratepayers do tion has been enlarged recently; but the not, we feel sure, grudge the money for staff remains short of the requirements, and providing a staff competent to deal with the has lately been still further denuded by sanitation of the city. Much the same the transfer of one of the principal clerks may be said for the medical staff. It is to Shanghai as Acting Postmaster. We undermanned and underpaid; and proper believe it is intended to proceed with the inspection of arrivals is alike impracticable contemplated new Post Office almost im- and unthought of. Yet there is no reason,mediately, and we trust this will prove to Dr. BELL's opinion notwithstanding, why be the fact. Why, however, the staff should some sort of supervision should not be go undermanned is incomprehensible while exercised over arrivals. As we have pointed there are unattached cadets available as out, it would be difficult, and perhaps temporary assistants. The Harbour Office impossible, to exclude all persons suffering is simply a disgrace to the port, and ought from or sickening for plague from entering not to remain in existence an hour longer the Colony, but some tentative efforts might than necessary. The Law Courts are most be made in this direction. In the matter wretchedly housed, and are wholly unsuited of overcrowding and the cognate one of for the purpose, while architecturally they insanitary dwellings, something has been are a standing reproach to the Colony. The done by the passage of the Building foundations of the proposed new Law Courts Ordinance, but much more might have been are in course of being piled, but at the effected if the Sanitary staff had been equal present rate of progress it will be many to the work and the accumulated filth years before the apstone of the central and refuse removed and noxious nuisances dome will crown the edifice. To the Gov- abated. With regard to the sale of articles ernment, as to the typical Chinaman, time unfit for human food, this is a matter that is of no importance, and in its vocabulary presents no difficulties, always provided there is no such word as hasten. It has the Sanitary officials have the time to been decided to take down the present exercise proper supervision over the Clock Tower and re-erect it at the head of markets and storekeepers. This is a Blake Pier, both as a measure to secure a duty, we think, that should devolve on shelter to passengers and to remove an them, and not on the police, few of whom existing eyesore and obstruction. But it possess the requisite knowledge to examine would be interesting to know about what' and analyse the articles. The control and date this improvement will be effected. regulation of the chair and jiurickisha traffic, The Government is miserably lacking in on the other hand, is obviously the work of initiative. It was left to the fertile brain the police; and, either for want of men or of a resident to think out the scheme for of stringency in their instructions, it is the redemption of the foreshore; and if the very ineffectively carried out. All that continuity of the great arteries from west Scrutator" says under this head is capable to east is ever secured, as now seems of most undeniable proof. The coolie; probable, it will be due to the same calculat engaged in this traffic are without doubt ing mind. In the matter of municipal about the most insolent, ill-behaved, and administration the Government has ben rascally set of scoundrels that could be tried and found wanting. It has not kept found in any city in any quarter of the pace with the times; it has not shown globe, and require very stern treatment to adaptability; it has frittered away money keep them in hand. It is a common trick uselessly in some directions; it has made on their part to refuse fares, if they perceive the Colony suffer severely in others from the chance of securing a griffin to victimise; its imprudent parsimony. The British it is a commoner one still to substitute a community are justified in believing that a base coin for that paid by their fare, and Municipality could not do worse, if it did impudently demand another in its place; and not do better, and they evidently want to they almost invariably attempt extortion from try the experiment.
We are not too women if unaccompanied by male friends. sanguine of its unqualified success, because, The carrying coolics are not many degrees as we have said before, there seems a dearth less objectionable, for they jostle and collide of experienced men who could afford to give with passengers, whom they, being dirty sufficient time to the work; but we are open and unsavoury, frequently compel to yield to conviction. At any rate, no harm could the pavement to them and their burdens. result from an attempt to take the sense of In no other part of the East would such the community on the subject, and we conduct be tolerated for a moment, but in therefore propose that a public meeting be Victoria, where it is unlawful to use the held to consider the best means for making argument of the stick, and the guardiau of representations to the Secretary of State the peace apparently has too much to do to for the Colonies in favour of the establish- regulate the sidewalks, walking in the streets
ment of a Municipal Council for the city of is provocative of misery to ladies and of Victoria. strong language from their lords. Large discretion and a thin cane in the hands of a European constable would no doubt go far to cure this evil; it is not one to be dealt with by fine or imprisonment.
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The question of education is one apart from that of municipal matters, and we do
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The Provincial Treasurer of Chihli, says the Peking correspondent of the N.-C. Daily News, has been ordered to send an encimous sum towards the expenses incuried by the return of the Court: also to raise a capitation tax of three cents a month.
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