42
catties only, and assured me that would be sufficient, I suggested to them, as they had a con- venient centre, that they adopt the practice at Kwai Peng of distributing every three days and giving unboiled rice. Twelve of (Chinese) to be the minimum portion and up to three catties according to need. They promised t adopt this suggestion and to send me regularly a report of the work done.They expressed themselves as quite clear on three details over which I feared there might be misunderstand. ing, viz. :-(i) The rice was for free distribution only, not for cheap sale.. (ii) It is to be dis- tributed unboiled. (iii) That the responsibility for, and expense of carrying up from, boat is their business. Unloaded 1000 catties and set s.il at 5 p.m.
Arrived near village called Cham Pau Hu at 6 p.m. ou opposite side of river from Cheung Tong. The people called to ask for help, Weut into the plac, and found it in a very dilapidated condition. The people were evident ly in need. Some other villages were distant two and three miles. Persuaded them to send
· messengers and inform them that rice was here, for the needy only. Next morning, Thursday, June 25th, at 6 a.m. distributed r.ce to people from this village, on river bauk, 2,200 cutties, giving to each person about 15 catties. Gave to old gentleman from small place across the way consisting of twenty souls, 20 catties for dis tribution. Afterwards people from villages in Chan Pan Tun, sent to last evening, arrived, ou river bank. They numbered 45, but leading man gave me detailed lists of over one hundred people. Did not feel justified in garing out rice recklessly, so handed to them for distribu- tion 800 catties, Left this place at 8.30 a.m. and two hours later as we neare a sandy beach on right hand river bank, saw a number of people assembled. They informed us they were from a village called Ngan Wán. Caused people to sit down in or.er. They numbered about 100. Distributed to each one in measures holding thirteon||catties, and gave in all 1,550 catties
1
Reached Po Min at 2.0 p.m. With col porteur went to Shin Tong and saw five of the leading members and most influential people of the town. They said that matters were very bad, that 1,500 people had been. daily receiving rice-gruel daring the two months they had been distributing but that the people who were really in need of rice were very many more. Hariest was not due for twenty days at least. They promised to see to distribution in the different villages on their side of the river, but toid ine plainly they could not undertake any places on the north bank. Decided to give them 10,000 catties. At the Shin Troug also had conversation with gentle- men from villages on north side of river. Gave 6,000 catties to San Chu (large place) 1,8.0 to Kam Ting, No Sin and No Tâp (very small places) and 200 catties to Tam Haug. Finished weighing by dark.
They understood clearly that rice was (i) For free distribu⚫ion (ii.) That porterage from rice boats was their business. (ill.) That no deserving person was to be refused help, irres- pective of what his native village might be.
Left P'o Mui at dawn on Friday, June 26th. At 8.30 a.m. old gentleman came in boat with six others from village on North bank, named Sueung Chau, to crave help Population now one hundred odd. A few people had food, Crops had been destroyed by robbers and some people killed. A few had died of starvation. Gave them 800 catties.
Reached Leung Hing at 12.30 p.m. Visited meu of the municipality with colporteur. They said there were several poor and needy people in their village, and that in the vicinity the villages were exceedingly needy. Offered to go at once to some of them to see. No one was wi.ling to accompany me to point out the way. Took this as au indication they were rather afraid I would find the places not so needy as they had represented. Found that the village of Lenng Hing itself was in very fair condition. Business seemed good, the shops were well stocked, the people healthy and strong in appear- anoe. On way back told the very necessitous to come down to boat. A company was soon gathered together and toi them distributed 400 catties and set sail for Nanning at 2.3) p.m.
Reached Nanning at 7||am Saturday, June
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
27th. Called upon the Um Magistrate, who did not appear much interested in the object for which I had come.
aid the conditions here were not so bad and the villages could not be reached even by soldiers ou a count of robbers. Requested him to lend me a horse and a few soldiers and I would visit villages and investigate. He pro- mised to see the Taolai about this matter, as he could not say anything before doing so. Neither could ha promise me a place for the storage of rice before consulting him. Would let me hare an answer next day.
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(July 18, 1903. Reliefs of rice on account of the Hongkong Famine Relief Committee, Kwai Un to Nan. ning, to date Jụng 28th, 1903.
Catties.
20
June 21. Wing Shun lent U.S. Consu`ate 0,035
22. Shipwrecked crew 23, Ling Li
Ling Li odd persons Ch'eung Tong
Ch'enog Tong odd person
24, Cham Pan Hü
Na Ho..
Cham Pan Tun...
Cham Pan T'un odd persoLS
:
short of rice through delays c.used by rio› junks Own crew Ngau Wan..
San Ch'n
Kam Ting, eto.... T'am Hung
26 Sheung Chan
Leung Hing 28, Ling Li
6'0
50
10,000
2,200
200
800
50
50
1,550
40,000
6,000
1,800
200
800
44
400
20,000
134,758
244,068
Total shipment from Kwai Un*
Distribution to date June 28th, 1903 134,758
31
Still in hand...
109,310 N.B. ~10,00) catties promised No Lin not yet deducted, as it has not been discharged up to p eseut. Will appear on next account.
CHINESE AND THE NEW ORDINANCE.
The Chuy Ngoi San Po (Chinese Daily Press) of yesterday contained some strongly-worded comments on the new Public Health and Buildings Ordinance. The following is a free translation of the leading, article :—
On Sunday, June 28th, a deputation of four gentlemen called upon me. Three wer from Ch'enng Tong and came to express thanks for the rice given out there; the fourth man was from Ling Li and came to beg for rice for that place and district. He was not prese t when I called and explained that the seeming June 25, 1o Miu indifference of the people was caned by fear. They have been completely cowed lately in consequence of the raids of robbers and the ev n'ual burning of their village, and they dared not enter into any transiction with me for fear of consequences, although their circums tauces were worse than those existing else. where. Even rice bowls many of the people did not possess. Ho assured me that there were at least in the thirty villages of that district about 900 people without food, and without the hope of any for three months, as the first crop had not been planted owing to the lack of rice. Gare him 20, 00 catties.
Later in the day a gentleman named Lu Lung Kwong came from Lo Lia to ask for rice for that district. Mr. Hinkey had told me that this place was in great distress. It is five miles inland from Leung Hing, and had the people there shown greater willingness to help in relieving distress I would possibly have left rice for this place and district there. Mr. Hinkey had m ntioned to me a gentleman named U Fu Ai, a native of Lɔ Lin, an honest and responsible man. This gentleman called apon me yesterday, but as I had not then segu the magistrate felt I could not on the instant "Now that the new Public Health Bill has promise him anything and requested him to been passed, the Government has commenced to wait till evening for au answer. This gentle- take measurements of the interior of dwellings man named above came in his stead t-day, as in No. 5 Health District, with a view to deciding Mr. U could not remain longer in Nanning. the maximum number of persons who should be In No Lin district there are 31 villages with a permitted to live in ench flat. The Chinese population of 3,000, all of whom are needy.inhabitauts are much agitated by the news, and Rice is due in about a month. Gave him since the commencemeat of the Tomb Festival 10,000 catties.
many have moved their families back to Canton, and thero is great concern as to how the Government officials will carry out the new Ordinance. House-rent in Hongkongis now enormously high, and the Colony has become one of the dearest places in the world to live in. Rice is dear, fusl is dear, and if the Government intends to enforce this new Ordinance to the full extent it will be extremely difficult for the Chinese inhabitants to live here Those with small incomes will not be able to remain here, but will be obliged to remove their familes to the mainlan l Whichever way the matter is looked at, it will bear very harshly on the Chinese. If the men remain here owing to trade connections, they will have to provide for their families in Canton, at great incon- venience because of the distance, and if the families remain here, the expense of living will ba so high that they will be unable to make ends meet. Consequently, the minds of the Chinese are aflame. We are told that in a certain street in the Wanchai district it will be necessary to pull down the partitions in the flats in order to meet the Government requirements, bat we do not vouch for the accuracy of the rumour.· At midnight on the 12th inst. a sanitary inspector made a house-to-hou e visitation in Gough
During the day the Un and the Wai magis- trates came to see me. The latter had conducted Mr. Clementi from Kwai Un to this place ou the occasion of his visit two months ago. Thy Un informed me that the Taotai was very pleased I had come to distribute rice and wisbed to extend his sincere thanks to the Hongkong Committee for their generous contribution of rice. The Wai Un seemed to be well informed of the state of affairs here, and told me that had it not been for the promise of rice made by Mr. Clementi the distribution of gruel would have ceased at the end of the fourth Chinese month, but in consequence of that promise the Kwangsi Shen T'ong had continued to give during the fifth months and the Kwangtang Shin Tong was now distributing for this, the intercalary fifth moatb. The people were in expectation of this English" rice and would be disappointed if they did not now receive it. Ten days he thought would be sufficiently long for distri' ution in the city itself.
**
The officials seemed gieally opposed to my going into the country to investigate at present, offering as their reason the bad condition of the roads and the presence of robbers. They pro- mised to send members of the gentry class into the more distant villagos to enquire and make full lists as to the numbers of the destitute. I hope to see the gentry to-morrow and to arrange a system for the distribution of auboiled rice to the people of Nanning and immediate neigh bourhood. I hope to arrange it on the Kwai Póng system. This distribution will be for the people living within walking distance of the distributing centre. The investigations of the gentry above referred to are limited to the places beyoud easy walking distances.
treet, and next day the Sanitary Authority issued circulars to the house-owners requesting them to pull down all partitions on every floor within a fortnight, and they are not allowed to be put up again without the consent of the Sanitary Board. Now, the upper flats are as a rule occupied by several families, and the abolition of partitions will rob them of the privacy they now enjoy. Everyone knows the sentiments of Chinese women in this respect, and if the law is put in force it I enclose a rough draft showing amount of will be a great violence to their feelings of rice still in band to credit the Hongkong Com-modesty. Some time ago, in the by-lanes, the mittee. Trusting you will finding everything in order.-Believe me, your obedient servant, CHARLES G. COFF.
Government would not allow partitions or cubicles to be put up. We hope that the Government will soon amend the Ordinance,
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.