186
strengthen his case by a reference to the state of affairs in China upon very doubtful and inadequate information.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
distress. The English working man or labourer need not, however, look to China
How far professional mendicancy goes in China, it is naturally difficult for any European to say; though the fact that it is well known that in some places there exist "Beggars' Guilds " would certainly seem to indicate that there must be a very fair number in this condition; but as regards the "hand to mouth" people who make up the so-called " submerged tenth" in any country, auyone who has the slightest knowledge of Chinese cities and has seen anything of the wretched sampan population which is to be found in most of them, will be slow to believe that the indigent are less numerous in propor- tion to the general population in China than in most places in Europe. There would certainly not be more poverty, but far less, in China, if a portion of its population were employed in large factories, and the remarks of a few narrow-minded Chinese officials upon a point of this kind will scarcely be of much value in solving the difficult economical problems which are exercising the public mind at home at the present moment. The couleur de rose aspect of affairs which seems to have been accepted by M. SIMON and Sir JouN GORST with so much avidity, is certainly not that which presents itself to men like the Abbé Huc and others who have intimate knowledge of the Chinese, and who have repeatedly called attention to the amount of destitution which exists in many parts of the country. We strongly suspect that in respect to other countries referred to by Sir JOHN GORST, for instance Egypt, he is under a similar mistake. Не Блув,
"In the city of Cairo, with its population of more than half a million, there is not a hungry person.' This may be so, but auyone who has made a trip to the Pyramids may be excused if he has a shrewd idea that there are hungry people not ver far from the city of Cairo. The truth is that in comparisons of this kind we are apt to fall into the error of concluding that there is necessarily more poverty in the places where attention is called to it than in those where it is less a
12
some
subject of observation. Of late years special attention has been drawn to the condition of the working classes and the poor in most places in Europe, but more especially in England; and from the facts which are thus brought under notice we are apt to conclude that things are worse there than in countries of which we know lese. Cer- tainly there are not many who will consider China a model to hold up to Europe on "social and economical questions. The com. fortable assurances of M. SIMON's native informant (probably his teacher) that under the Chinese system" there is no cessation of work" is hardly reconcilable with numbers of Chinese who are at all times ready to flock to any foreign country that will offer them even the roughest em. ployment. There is, however, one point at which something may e learut by the working classes in England from those in China, and that is that something may be done to stave off destitution by being willing to live more carefully and frugally while employment is still to be obtained. The British workman can never be in so good a position as one in China in this respect, as it is impossible for him to live upon a little rice and pork, as the inasses of the working classes in China do. In this respect the Chinese, in common with many other Asiatics, stand at a great advantage, but even with this in their favour there is no question that in common with other people they often suffer great
for a lesson in this direction. It has been repeatedly pointed out that much could be learnt by him in this respect from his brother workmen in France or in Germany; and there can be no doubt that whatever Government can do n the direction of social reform, permanent amelioration must depend largely upon an increase of intelli- gence and of habits of providence and fore- sight on the part of the working mon themselves.
REGISTRATION OF CHINESE PARTNERSHIPS.
(Daily Press, 23rd February.) Overlooking the report of the Committee appointed to enquire into the registration of Chinese partnerships, we introduced into our comments on Jan. 30th last a remark which appears to have misled the com- mercial community of Singapore. We said a Bill securing certain results would be hailed with approval by the banks and business men dealing with the Chinese. This has given Singapore the erroneous impression that Hongkong is unanimously in favour of legislation in this direction. Tae Straits Times of Feb. 14th, which quotes our remarks in full, says :--
The Daily Press of Hongkong has been airing views critical of the commercial com munity of Singapore in resenting the legistra tion of Partnerships Bill. Hongkong, it seems, those entertained by the majority of members nurses views on the subject that are alien to of our local Chamber of Commerce. Possibly the community there does not understand the situation in the Straits and the effects at such legislation will probably have upon our com- merce. It, therefore, may be well to elucidate, for the benefit of the northern Colony, our position in the promises, and that can be best subject by the Hon. A. Huttenbach, which em- done by quoting in extenso the speech on the bodies all the arguments against the measure but which has hitherto not boen published in full.
we
Our contemporary then gives the text of a
very long effort of omtory by the gentleman nained which
have ead and considered, and in it found nothing to make us want to modify the opinions we expressed. Extra rdinary pres sure on our space prevents us going into the subject matter again; but we wish to forestall further criticism of our former re- mark by briefly explaining the position in this Colony. So far as we understand it, the business community here would welcome any practicable legislation; but the general opinion of those in opposition is that at present such legislation is impracticable. Hongkong is in exactly the sime position as Calcutta on the matter; the scheme pre- sented too many difficulties, and is, therefore, dropped until the man and the time wash arrive to whom and when difficulties will appear but as things to be surmounted. The report of 1901 states that the members of the Commission of Enquiry, with one exception, were agreed that legislation was inadvisable," though for different reasons. That is the present position in Hongkong; the nerd continues to be felt, the principle is admitted, but the matter is shelved because of its apparent impracticability.
"
The Empress-Dowager of China is exercising the greatest care and secrecy in the conduct of important affairs of State. She has instructed that all important memorials should be trans the Throne, and that all important telegrams lated into Manchu before being submitted to must be sent to her direct so as to prevent their contents being divulged. All oret Imperial edicts will, in future, be issued in Mancha and not in Chinese as heretofore.
(February 24, 1906.
HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
A meeting of the Council was hold si the
Council Chamber on February 22nd.
PRESENT -
!
SIR MATTHEW NATHAN, K.C.M.G.
HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERnoe, Major
HATTON, C.B. (General Officer Commanding HIS EXCELLENCY Major-General VILLIEÄS
the Troops).
Hoo. Mr. T. SERCOMBE SMITH (Colonial Secretary).
Hon. Sir H. S. BERKELEY, K.C. (Attorney- General).
1
Hon. Mr. A. M. THо180N (Colonial Trea- surer).
Hon. Mr. A. W.. BREWIN General).
(Registrar-
Hon. Captain L. A. W. BARNES-LAWRENCE R.N. (Harbour Mastor).
Hon. Mr. W. CHATHAM (Director of Public Works).
Hon. Dr. Ho KAI, M.B., C.M., C.M.G. Hon. Mr. WEI YUK.
Hon. Mr. GERSHOM STEWART. Hou. Mr. H. E. POLLOCK, K.C. Mr. A. G. M. FLETCHER (Clerk of Councils).
· MINUTES,
J
The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.
HIS EXCELLENCY'S ADDRESS, Before business commenced, HIS EXCL LENCY, in an address to the Council, ssid ;-
The need for the meeting of the Council to-day arises from the requirement of Ordi- nance No. 6 of 1837, that the Jury List for the year, which comes into force on March 1st, should previously be cousid red by the Council. It is also necas ary today to continue which expires on the 30th March. This Ord·n- the Summoning of Chiness Ordinance of 1899, anco enables the Registrar-General to summon
Chinese from the New Territories for the purpose of inquiry into matters concerning the inhabitants of these territoriti s, It is not often used, but it is desirable to have the power, and the Registrar-General has requested that it should be retained for at any rate another two years.
Advantage is taken of the mesting to-day to ask the Council to vote the sums entered is the Finance Minutes Nos. 1 to 6 that are before you. The first of those deals with a sum of $8,0 0 to meet expendi. ture in connection with the visit of His Royal Highness Prince Arthur of C nasught. authorised this expenditure bing incurred with the full confidence that the vote would be
I
passed by the Council. (Hear, hear.) The second Financial Minute is for
a pay- ment for services rendered last year by the Eastoru Extension Telegraph Company. For the present year and for future years this payment will be considerably reduced by the establishment of direct communic..
tion between the Harbour Office and the various stations from which the approach direc of ships is signalled. Provision for this
communication has, 86
you will remember, been made in the estimates for the year. Finance Minute No. 3 is on socount of the new rifle range which it is proposed to establish on the Peak, mainly for the use of the Hongkong Volunter Rose ve Associa tion. This is in pursuance of the general policy of the Government, a policy which, of the public, to extend as much as possible I am glad to say, has received the support
the practice of rifle shooting in the Colony. Finance Minute No 4 consists of two parts, of which the first, £65,201, is a revote of
Such
sums voted last year for extraordinary public works necessitated by some of these works not having been completed during the year. a revote is required every year, as it is not possible to spend the exact amount sanctioned. Last year the revote amounted to $71,896; this year, as I have stated, it $65,201. There is a further vote in the same Finance Minute of $6,02) to cover some additional amounts in excess of those hitherto provided powder Depot at Green Island, and the im- for the Bacteriological Institute, the Gun- provement of the Green Island Light, all of which new services have now been com- pleted. By this small additional vote no exoses is involved on the approved total estimates for
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