802
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
APPOINTMENT BY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
for no other - reason_than_that he had seen | LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL VACANCY. another man da it, also, leaped from the window. His experience was different, for he was able to enter the Pollos Station and say he had jumped but of the window. He had only a sprained foot to show 'as the result of his daring but stupid deed. Truly a marvellous escape !
In these days when football has attained such popularity that “ gates” are counted by tens of thousands and a final at the Happy Valley brings out hundreds of spectators, it will provoke a smile to read that among the acts of the Scottish Parliament which the Lord Advocate now puts forward for repeal as öbselete or unnecessary is one dated 144 and bearing the quaint title "Of Playing st the Fut Ball." Apparently it W88 framed to prevent the youth of the country spending the time at football which should be employed in archery practice, in which alas, they were woefully deficient compared with their rivals south of the Border. Even to-day there are those who think that there is too much homage paid to the god of exercise and that more serious attention to business would make less probable those frequent outbursts about the success of foreign competition, but those who decry the value of sport would hardly wish to see such an Act enforced as to prohibit football or other manly exercises.
This reminds me that the football season in Hongkong has been brought to a close by the splendid victory which the team from H.M.S. Diadem achieved over the Hongkong Club on Baturday afternoon. It was a brilliant scene at the close, when the cosmopolitan population, with its variety of colour and picturesque dress soclaimed the winners, and the Commodore presented the Shield to the winning team. After all, it was only the expected that happened. It has been realised during the season that the sallors showed better form and played better football than the landsmen, and their success has been thoroughly deserved.
I felt somewhat aggrieved on Saturday night when some Americans jeered at our Fire Brigade. They made fun of the engine tearing along the principal thoroughfare at the rate of three miles an. hour, and one of them became so excited that he rushed into the middle of the road and tried to persuade a stolid Indian policeman to remove himself from the danger zone. Then they laughed when they saw the helmeted men return in ricshas. It seemed like a parody to them that one was heard to declare that they couldn't beat that in "Noo York." Admittedly the absence of horses dashing through the streets with the engine on which men are seated furiously blow- ing whistles robe a turnout of the Fire Brigade of that picturesqueness which it possesses at home, but it has to be remembered that the con- ditions here are not the same and the Brigade is a useful institution and not an ornament.
BANYAN.
BEGGARS AND BEACHCOMBERS.
A WARNING TO SHIPMASTERS.
The Singapore Government has sent to the Hongkong Government copies of an Act to prevent the landing and leaving of decrepit beggars at Straits Settlement ports. The Act has been recently amended. It is to be published
in the next Government Gazette. It will then
B
Owing to the Hon. Mr R. Shewan having left for home on holiday, a temporary vacancy fill this the Chamber of Commerce, whose on the Legislative Council has occurred. To representative Mr. Shewan was, held meeting, which was well attended, in the City Hall on the 26th April. Mr. E. A. Hewett, the chairman of the Chamber, presided, and there were also present-Messrs. N. A. Siebe, H. M. Tibbey, A. V. Apoar, H. M. Nemazee, D. R. Law, W. D. Graham, F. J. V. George, R. Bisshop, A. Shelton Hooper, T. F. Hoagh, A. G. Wood, J. R. M. Smith, G. H. Medhurst, 8. H. Michael, W. Danby, E. S. Kadoorie, H. Suter, 8. D. Setna, A. Rumjahn (representing Rumjahn and Co.), D. M. Nissim, O Ellis, J. J. Leiria, G. A. Champeaux, A. 8. Mihara, H. E. Tompkins, G. C. Moxon, J. O. Hughes, L. Engel, A. Haupt, and A. Forbes.
the meeting,
The Secretary having read the notice calling The Chairman read the following letter:
Colonial Secretary's Office,
19th April, 1905. SIR-I am directed to inform you that Mr. R. Shewan has tendered his resignation of his seat in the Legislative Council, which has been accepted by H.E. the Governor, and to request that the Chamber of Commerce will be good enough to take steps at an early date to nominate a member for the vacancy which has been occasioned.
T. SERCOMBE SMITH. The CHAIRMAN also read a letter received the same day from Mr. Shewan, wishing the Chamber success. He was sure the Chamber would all endorse the views expressed by the committee in thanking Mr. Shewan for his service during the period he had represented the Chamber. Proceeding, he said that only vacancy, proposed by Mr. Wood, vice-chairman, and seconded by Mr. Law. The regulations were that in such a case it was not necessary to have a ballot. The election only required a show of hands.
one candidate had been nominated for the
Mr. WOOD then proposed the appointment of Mr. E. A. Hewett, who he was sure would pay great attention to the affairs of the Legislatite Council (applause).
Mr. Law seconded.
'T'here being no other nomination,
The CHAIRMAN thanked Mr. Wood and Mr. Law for having proposed and seconded his appointment and the members for the kind man- ner in which they had accepted it. He had been associated with the Chamber of Commerce for six years and he could assure the members that he would endeavour to work on behalf of the Chamber in the future as he had done in the past.
A show of hands was then taken, and resulted in the appointment being carried unanimously. Mr. HEWETT again thanked the members and repeated his statement that he would do his best to look after their interests. Before they separated he referred to the terrible disaster that had befallen San Francisco connected with California from early days and and neighbouring cities. As we had been
as Hongkong had been connected with San Francisco for many years to our mutual adrant- age we all felt the blow almost as if it had fallen upon ourselves. That being so, the committee thought it would only be expressing the opinion of the Hongkong community in sending the following telegram to the Governor of California on 23rd inst.:-“The Chamber of Commerce desires to tender to the city of San Francisco and neighbourhood its heartiest sympathy in
dire calamity that has befallen them.”
This concluded the business.
be seen that it imposes on the master or con- signee of any vessel bringing such persons to the Colony the liability of either re-conveying them to their port of embarkation or paying to the Government the costs that are incurred by the Colony for their maintenance and removal, and also renders the master liable to a fiue in the event of their being landed without the leave of the Chief Police Officer. Masters and owners of vessels conveying passengers to the Colony should therefore take precautions against Early on the 26th Aprii a Chinese girl socepting as passengers any persons not attempted to commit suicide by jumping off the natives of the Colony or Federated Malay ¦ Prays in Connaught Road near Centre Street. States who may reasonably be suspected of She was rescued by a sampan man and taken to belonging to any of the classes of persons No. 7 Police Station, where she informed described in Section 1 of the Act, for whose Inspector Collett that she wanted to makee landing in the Colony the consent of the die". She refused to tell the police where she Government has not previously been obtained. lived or what troubled her.
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(April 30, 1906. SUPREME COURT."
IN BANKRUPTCY JURISDICTIÓN,
Saturday, 21st April,
APPLICATION FOK RÉLEASE OF CHINESE, MERCHANTS.
Mr. E. H, Sharp, K.O., Mr. H. E, Pollock, K. C., and Dr. Ho Kai appeared in support of a writ of habeas corpus on behalf of the seven Chinese merchants, witnesses in the trial of an issue to determine whether Wong Ka-cheung had become bankrupt. was a partner in the Lai Hing Bank which
Mr. Sharp, in opening, directed his Lordship's attention to the motion that his Lordship's order dated 10th April, 1906, be dissolved, dis charge the commitment and release the ball.
His Lordship observed that his motion was for habeas corpus.
Mr. Sharp thought it would be more con venient to take the short application first,
His Lordship said he granted the writ o habeas corpus yesterday only for the convenience of parties.
Mr. Sharp added that both would be takeţi that morning.
His Lo dship remarked that he had very great doubt as to whether habeas corpus was the proper procedure.
Mr. Sharp said it would be unnecɔssary consider that if his Lordship granted application. The point had been raised in two ways. If his Lordship would grant that motion it would be unnecessary to consider habeas corpus.
The question whether habeas corpus was the proper remedy was argued at length.
Mr. Pollock followed Mr. Sharp and quoted authorities, after which his Lordship latinated that he would give his decision on that print on Monday (to-day).
**
Mr. Sharp then moved that the Chief Justice's order made on April 10, whereby Chen Hong kiu Chan Yam, Trang Hung, Vong Sai-ho, Lau Sing-kin, Chu Kai-un an Ng In-ting were sentenced to three months imprisonment, be dissolved and that thy be discharged on the ground that they wer, not informed by the Chief Justice what stato nehta made by them respectively constitute the alleged perjury, and on the ground that before sentence was passed upon them an oppor unfty was not given to them of being heard in their own behalf, or of showing cause why they should not be so committed.
His Lordship pointed out the summons had been taken out in chambers, which practically covered that ground. And then there was the material point that the order only referred to. seven, whereas the commitment was of eight. men, one man having disappeared before the warrant was issued.
Mr. Sharp, having read the motion, quoted the section of the Ordinance dealing with perjury, and said he would ask that the important phrase therein "It appears to the court" meant it judicially appeared to the court under the observance of the essential principles on which judicial enquiries must be con-lucted. He then read from the official report of his Lordship's commitment and submitted that that commit- ment was bad upon the grounds stated in the notice of motion. The two essential grounds were, (1) that the prisoners were not informed by the Chief Justice of the statements made by them respectively of the alleged perjury ; (2) an opportunity was not given to the prisoners of being heard on their own behalf. He sub- mitted that it was a fundamental and in-
variable principle of law that no person could be punished until he had been given an opportunity of being beard in his own defence, and a very material port of this right was the right to call evidence if it should be necessary. He quoted authorities in support of his contention.
witnesses were almost parties.
His Lordship said that in this case, the The Oficial Receiver was suing for creditors.
when the evidence was given, as they would have Mr. Sharp mid those people were not present been had they been parties. They come there on the last night to hear the judgmonk..
His Lordship-I believe they were horn ovory- day.
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