42
HONGKONG'S PETITION TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
(Daily Press, 8th July.)
a
[July 15, 1901.
| sanitary measures would suit its case many have com › forward and done so, but well. It is the only possible excuse the their signatures were not, us far as we know, Government can present, though we should solicited. It was believed that the prayer of (Daily Press, 6th July.)
imagine it would require something stronger the petitioners would be successful with- The community will be gratified to learn than this to bluff the Home Government. out the signatures of the Chinese; and it that the Petition to the Secretary of State The Chinese have even been influenced so may be mentioned that the few Europeans for the Colonies, asking for an enquiry into far as to discuss the possibility of pre- who have not been able to sign the the existing sanitary condition of the colony,senting a counter-petition, but it is to be Petition. have expressed keen sym- is still being extensively and representatively earuestly trusted for their own sakes and pathy with its objects. The signature- signed. If, however, any special induce for the future welfare of the colony gen-sheets will most likely be collected to- mert is needed to residents who have not erally such an act of folly will not be per-morrow, so any residents who have not yet yet signed for them to do so, it will be pastrated. It may be, and it is not unlikely, signed and who desire to do so should sign found in the fact that certain Chinese are though we can hardly imagine such want to-day. organising an opposition to the Petition. of public spirit, that certain residents hav- We have had interviews with several leading ing large vested interests in the colony Chinese on the subject, and whilst they have set the ball of opposition rolling
(Daily Press, 11th July.) To-day the Petition to Mr. CHAMBERLAIN express sympathy with the general desire amongst the Chinese. Whatever be the asking for an enquiry into the sanitation of of the Petitioners to improve the sanitation cause. such opposition does exist, and it the Colony will be sent to the Colonial of the colony, and consequently advance its is well the European community should Secretary with a request that it be at once permanent prosperity, they take exception know it and he prepared in no uncertain forwarded. The Petition in the matter of to the document for several reasons. They terms to deal with it. Chinese ignorance of signatures is the strongest that has ever think it is an indictment against H.E. the the laws regulating health and life, and been sent from this Colony since it was GOVERNOR, who, they rightly state, has prejudice against their application, should founded. It is a matter of regret that so been most considerate and kind to the not be allowed to keep back this colony, energetic and so able an official as the late Chinese. Most of our readers will or to permit its being kept as insanitary Dr. AYRES did not live to witness this agree with the latter sentiment, although and as unhealthy as it is at present. What triumphant outcome of his labours. The they may express it in a different is even more important, it should be made form. The Chinese also allege that if the plain to the Chinese here, the vast majority which are contained in the Petition and many extracts from official medical reports objects of the Petitioners are fulfilled such of whom are not British subjects, that the make up the case for the petitioners are results will mean a Sanitary Board with more British are the governing race. arbitrary powers than that body now pos. convinced that if the Petition were explained Colony qualified to express an opinion on We are endorsed by every professional man in the sesses. The Chinese naturally expressed correctly to the intelligent Chinese any such the subjects dealt with. themselves that they would like to see the opposition would cease, for that document the community is concerned, the labours of So then, as far as Sanitary Board swept away! To accuse has but one object, namely the improvement the late Colonial Surgeon and the present this poor, helpless and unaided specimen of of the colony with a view to its future Medical Officer of Health have not been in municipal administration of possessing prosperity, in which all, Chinese, Indians vain, and their reproaches as to the indiffer- arbitrary powers is indeed amusing. The and Europeans alike, must participate in. Chinese should know through their own
ence of the public have at last been met by unanimous public action. One important representatives on that Board that it is entirely without any powers whatever, and
and gratifying aspect of the movement for It is satisfactory to learn that the opposi- local sanitary reform is that it has revealed it cannot discharge its own punkah-puller |tion on the part of certain influential without the sanction of H.E. the GOVERNOR Chinese against the Petition, which we The men whom
new independent force in the Colony. in Council. Its one function is to take mentioned in our last issue, has subsided upou
we have long looked as the leaders of the community certain departmental work off the hands of and given place to sympathy. Their objec- have refrained from signing the Petition. Government, and to philanthropically sug- tion arose from entirely wrong conceptions It was
residents produced by
who gest measures for local improvements for of the contents of the Petition and of have hitherto never posed as public men, Government consideration and emasculation. the attitude of the petitioners towards although the Committee contained in its Beyond that it is merely a select. debating the present local administration and in- ranks several of the leading men in our society in which local officials may dividuals constituting the Government, shipping and mercantile circles Therefore, sometimes assert an independent opinion Therefore the opposition has been withdrawn, if the object of the petitioners he attained, unchecked and occasionally give vent to because the Chinese concerned in it have it will break down once and for all the theory their feelings and provide an exhibition of taken the trouble to read the Petition in a good manners.
far too long prevalent here that the welfare For all practical purposes sense which the Committee responsible and destiny of this Colony is controlled and the Sanitary Board may be likened to the would have all to read it; namely, regulated by a select few who stand as its helplessness of a moribund infant-left on
that it is nót an attack : 011 the steps of a convent with the customary official, as it covers twenty-one years of yield to public opinion when they cease by any public representatives. They will have to chit to the benevolent. The third conten- administration, during which period many their own inclinations to represent it. tion of the Chinese is that improved sanitation officials have served. The Cominittee, which Petation has been signed by all classes and would mean increased taxation, forgetting the was entirely representative of the coin- rices of this cosmopolitan community, Government this year expects a surplus of munity, has adopted a perfectly legitimate although the preponderance of signatures is almost a million dollars, part of which should and constitutional course, recognising, as all naturally British. If any condemnation of be devoted to public improvements. Of course must do, that the task of sanitary reform in the existing sanitary system is needed, it is to the European community these objections Hongkong is so stupendous on the part of the Chinese to the Petition entirely outside the power of the local doctors, architects, and engineers have signed to be contained in the fact that nearly all the would seem to be easily explainable-the Government to accomplish. Whether the the Petition. The majority of the lawyers Chinese need only to read the Petition to find existing Government has done its utmost have evidenced its legality by their signa- they are entirely wrong in their deductions. in the interests of public sanitation is tures, and it is even gratifying to learn that The difficulty, however, is that the Chinese another matter. It has, unfortunately for the document has received episcopal bene- having once become possessed of an idea it its own reputation, certainly never pre- diction, inasmuch as the two local prelates is not easy to convince them otherwise. sented any serious evidence of it. They are not open to conviction except from petitioners simply
The bave appended their names to it.
In spite state from official of the abortive Chinese opposition, the lists their own people. Many residents will documents only the existing lament comprise many signatures of that nation- doubtless treat any opposition to the able state of affairs, and sanitary reform of the colony from the such quotations how the repeated recom- have unanimously supported it.
show by ality, and the Parsees, as was anticipated, Chinese as a matter of little moment,mendations of colonial medical officers, and of The community will be delighted to learn knowing the innate objection in the lower even special commissioners, have been evaded that H.E. the GOVERNOR is in so hearty classes of Chinese to cleanliness, and and ignored. The Chinese have at last accord with the wishes of the petitioners recognising that if the sanitation of the come to understand thisand to recognise that that he has already written home asking colony be left to Chinese taste, things the Petition is not intended us an indiet went that a sanitary expert shall be sent here to would come to a sorry pass. The point to against any local officials; indeed, many of enquire into the sanitation of the Colony. be seriously considered is, however, whether the latter, including, we believe, H.. the Such request, we believe, went home by the opposition of the Chinese has been GOVERNOR himself, have privately commend the last mail. influenced for specific motives.
Everyone will appreciate ed the objects of the Petition, as pointing this exhibition of practical sympathy with the Government naturally must provide some 10 the only possible solution of a desires of the community, although they tangible excuse for twenty-one years of very grave situation. It should be well may question the apparent haste of His neglect and apathy, and it is conceivable that understood that the Chinese have not Excellency. We think H.E. would have Chinese opposition to the introduction of as a body been asked to sign the Petition; shown greater wisdom had he waited a
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