306
THE NAVAL YARD QUESTION.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
THE KWANGTUNG REBELS.
7th October.
ANOTHER MISSION STATION BURNED.
Mr.
"chow"
(Daily Press, 11th October.) Various corresponents of the London
The Triad rebels in the Kwangtung province papers writing home from Hongkong dis- cuss the Government's decision not to are still active. On the 5th inst. a letter was re- transfer our Naval Yard from its present ceived at the German Basel Mission, Bonham position on the island to one on the opposite Road, from Mr. Schultz, the head of the mission station at Kiaying-chow, stating that an out- side of the Harbour. They all remark on station at Shak-ma, in the Using ning district, the disappointment caused by this decision, had been burnt down. The station was a small and the majority refuse to consider the one, and was occupied by a native preacher official refusal as final. At the time when only, who succeeded in making his escape. the decision was telegraphed out to Hong- At Shak-ma the rebels previously met and kong we treated the question at some length, defeated a body of Chinese militia. and we know of nothing which has happened Schultz also stated in his letter, which is since then to alter the state of affairs. dated 1st October, that the rebels were gather- The position is briefly this:-All residents, ing in force at Tai-peng and threatening Kiaying chow. The population were in a panic, whether belonging to the services or civilians, and preparing for a general flight. Merchants recognise the advantage to the Colony which had piled their wares in boats ready to depart the throwing open of this portion of the on the first sign of the approach of the rebels. present harbour-frontage to building, etc., The magistrate at Kiaying-chow, a would confer on Hongkong. A large space mandarin or sub-prefect from Chihli, who has in the heart of the City would be added to only been two months in office, has adopted a our available land, rents would necessarily passive attitude in the matter, and is said to be come down, and we should have a continu- doing absolutely nothing to defend the town ous and unbroken Praya. On the other against the rebels, with whom he is believed
to be secretly in sympathy. hand, the experts on whose advice the Naval authorities are evidently relying are against the scheme, which they hold to endanger the safety of the Harbour for the purposes of our fleet. It is pointed out that the continued security of Hongkong ns ́a naval base is vital to the growth of the
concentrating in the vicinity of Kiaying-chow, Colony, and this can be disputed by none. which town it was anticipated they would make It may be argued that expert opinion is not their next objective. Owing to the scarcity of infallible. In 1886 Admiral (then Com-news from the disturbed area, our knowledge of modore) MORANT advocated a scheme for the trend of events stopped at that unsatisfac erecting a new Naval Yard at Kowloon, and tory stage until on the 8th inst, when the many Naval authorities have since supported German Basel Mission in Bonham Road received another letter from Mr. Schultz, one him. But it must be recognised that every year's delay makes the transfer more and So much time and more impracticable.
money has now been expended on the exten- sion of the present site that we cannot share the hopes of those who look for a change of plan on the part of the home Government. We recognise as fully as anyone else the substantial benefits promised to the com qtunity by a removal from the centre of Victoria of works occupying so much space as the present Naval establishment.
ELEVEN BEHEADED,
9th October.
As we reported in our issue of Monday, on the 7th inst. the Triad rebels in Kwangtung province after sacking and burning one of the Germae Basel Mission out-stations at Shak-ma, wer,
of their missionaries, containing news of a decidedly hopeful character.
When it became certain that the rebels
The
intended to attack Kiaying-chow, Mr. Schultz, who had all along faithfully stuck to his post, removed to an out-station on the farther side of the town to await developments. mission station at Kiaying-chow is about one English mile from the town proper, and would probably have been the first place to be attacked With Mr. Schultz were two other missionaries, Messrs. Kastler and Raminger, But from out-stations, who intended making a we are not convinced that the advisers of reconnoitring tour toward Piang-thong with the Government are wrong in condemning sites on the mainland, and cannot share the optimistic views of so many civilians, both here and in England, as to the likelihood of the Naval authorities relenting.
THE CRISIS: TELEGRAMS.
[FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT.]
Shanghai, 6th October, 1.25 p.m. A telegram from Hsianfu announces that the Imperial Court left the city for Kaifeng- fu to-day. Grent preparations are being made for the reception of the Court at the various stopping places, entailing heavy
expenses.
the object of ascertaining the exact nature of the damage perpetrated there by there rebels.
From Mr. Schultz's letter, which is dated 2nd October, it now appears that he rebels, who were in force, were met on the 1st inst. by Imperial soldiers from Chowchow-fu about forty Chinese li (rougly twelve English miles) from Kiaying-chow. Aft r a sharp fight the rebels were defeated, and had twenty-two of their number captured. The rebels then retired, and the prisoners were taken to Kiaying-chow, where eleven of the number were beheaded a few hours latter.
a
The rebels are now full flight towards the north-eastern part of Kwangtung province and are supposed to be making for Ping-yan, hilly country, where they probably anticipate throwing-off the soldiers, who are following them up. Mr. Schultz, Mr. Kastler, and Mr. Raminger have returned to the mission station at Kiaying-chow.
[October 12, 1901. HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Legislative Council was held on the 10th inst. in the Council Chamber.
Present:
His EXCELLENCY the GOVERNOR (Sir HENRY Major-General Sir W. GASCOIGNE, K.C.M.G. BLAKE, G.C.M.G.). (Commanding the Troops).
Hon. J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, C.M.G. (Colonial Secretary).
Hon. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C. (Acting Attorney- General).
Hon. Commander R. M. RUMSEY, R.N. (Harbour Master).
Hon. C. McI. MESSER (Acting Colonial Treasurer).
Hon. W. CHATHAM (Acting Director of Public Works).
Hon. A. W. BREWIN (Registrar-General). Hon. C. P. CHAзER, C.M.G. Hon. T. H. WHITEHEAD. Hon. J. THURBURN. Hon. J. J. BELL IRVING. Hon. Dr. HO KAI. Hon. WEI A YUK.
Mr. C. CLEMENTI (Acting Clerk of Councils).
FINANCIAL.
that The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved Financial Minute No. 61 be referred to the Finance Committee.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER Second-
REVISION OF STATUTE LAW.
ed, and the motion was carried.
The Acting Attorney-General moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance for promoting the Revision of the Statute Law by repealing Enactments which have ceased to be in force or have become un- necessary and by making Amendments in The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and various Ordinances. the motion was carried.
THE LAW RELATING TO BUILDINGS. The ACTING ATTORNEY-GENERAL moved the first reading of a Bill entitled An Ordinance to The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded, and further amend the Law relating to Buildings, the motion was carried.
THE ESTIMATES, The COLONIAL SECRETARY mored the
second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to apply a sum not exceeding three million seven hundred and thirty-nine thousand cents to the Public Service of the year 1902. three hundred and twelve dollars and twenty-six He said--If this Bill be road a second time, I All information mittee, as is the usual course. propose that it be referred to the Finance Com- necessary regarding the various items of the Bill will be given, if asked for. ed, and the motion was carried.
The ACTING COLONIAL TREASURER second-
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-I beg to more that this Bill be now referred to the Finance
Committee.
The ACIING COLONIAL TREASURER second- ed, and the motion was carried.
-
moved
: QUIET IN THE NIGHT-TIME, The ACTING AttorneY-GENERAL the second reading of the Bill entitled An Ordinance to amend an Ordinance for the better of the Town of Victoria and its vicinity during securing the Peace and Quiet of the Inhabitants the night-time (No. 17 of 1844.) He said- Hon. members will have had circulated to them a printed statement of the amendments which I propose to move in committee, and hon. members will also have noticed the paragraph at the head of the Bill asking them to consider The case of Mr. Gilmour, an officer of the
Chinese in Java, though born in the Colony, those amendments. If they are agreed to, I steamer Ajaz, at Yokohama, is still fresh in the minds of residents in the Far East. The Mer- cannot be naturalised so as to be put on the propose to move the suspension of the Standing Orders with a view to enable the Bill to be chant Service Guild now write to us that, as in same legal footing as European Dutchmen.
carried through at once. I may mention, sir, the case of Mr. Kent, another officer who had They remain a class apart on an Asiatic foot- suffered in a similar manner, the Guild have ing, and inferior to Europeans. This dis- that a certain number of pages of the revised brought the matter before the British Govern- advantage has become unbearable to many of edition of the Statutes are now in type, and that ment. Lord Muskerry, acting for the Guild, these Chinese, now that Japanese there have type cannot be broken up till this Bill is passed. has seen the Minister to Japan and Lord secured equality with Europeans in legal stand-Therefore it is a matter of urgency that this Lansdowne, presenting at the same time a ing. Of late the Chinese residents of Batavia Bill should go through at the present meeting of the Conncil. Sir John Carrington, as hon. claim for compensation for the loss to which have striven not only to give their children an Mr. Gilmour has been unjustifiably subjected. European education but also to send them for members are aware, has kindly consented to Lord Muskerry has been informed by the it to Europe. Their object is to ask for these carry through the task of bringing out the new Lord Lansdowne has youngsters equality with Europeans in Java, edition of the Ordinance, and it will be of very Foreign Office that instructed His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires at on the ground of their having had an European great assistance to him if this measure could Tokio to make representations to the Japanese bringing-up. The Chinese have never pressed be got through to-day. Government on the subject of Mr. Gilmour's this point before. It was the equalisation of Japanese with Europeans that stirred them up. treatment."
The COLONIAL SECRETARY-Sir, I beg to second the motion for the second reading. I
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.