356
VICEROY SHUM..
(Daily Press 31st May.) Was it not an American child who felt sorry for the lions, because there was too little of DANIEL to provide a square meal for all? The gentle reader might cultivate a similar tenderness of pity for the news. papers, for there is sometimes not enough real news to go round; but the lions of modern journalism prevent that kinduess
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
man, a high ministerial place, he lost no time in tackling the usual methods of
paying off" his enemies and rewarding |
He is a bold as well as a his friends.
clever politician, and he stake i to boldly. He trusted too much to the rope of Imperial favour that he held, and sine even the EMPRESS DOWAGER has to consider face' sometimes, SHUM fell into at least nominal disgrace If he had really been sent back to Canton, it would be a sert of gilded
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[Jane 1, 1907.
prepared by the unofficial members of the Board. The report was prepared by five residents of the community who were appointed by Sir Mathew Nathu as a special com. Sanitary Department of which we are sup mission to inquire into the working of the posel to have some control. Mr. Hooper & motion is that it is advisable to discuss this report. It is not a report from the unofficial members of the Board. It is the report of the Commission appointed by the Governor. The PRESIDENT-If any member has any thing to say on the report, I think, it bal
by roaring over the little as if it were much exile, rather than the selection of a strong batter he said this aftern woo.
It is even to be feared that some of them
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man for a crisis. Until we have confirm-
Mr. H OPER-No. It will take three or four
ation, however, we do not think our realers hours for me to say what I have to say on this need waste time in speculuing as to the reasons for a step that may not be taken,
HONGKONG SANITARY BOARD
A meeting of the Sanitary Bard was held
May 23th at the Bard Room. The Hou. Dr. J. M. Atkinson (Presiden) presided, and There were als present Hon. Mr. W. Chatham (Vic-President), Dr F. Clark (Medied Ofer of Health), Hon. Mr. 1. W. r win Registrar General), Dr. H McFarlane (Assistant Medical Officer of Health), Hon. Mr. F. J. Badeler (aptain Superintendent of Police, Major T. P. Jones, R. A. M.C.. Ho. Mr. E. A. Howelt, Mr. H. Humphreys, Mr. A.
helton Hooper, Mr. Lau Chu-pak, Me. Fung Wa-chun, and Mr. G. A. Woodcock (serotary).
THE COMMISSION'S REPORT.
report. It is hardly fair to the other, but if you ask me. Iam prepared to do it..
Mr. HUMPHREYS - Chink the Government in its letter to Mr. Hooper referred to the matter indicating that the Board ought to take soma na ice of i'. It s not a matter to be gone iut at this meeting.
The PRESIDENT read the letter from the Government accompanying the raport which pre- -umd that members have been furnished with copies Hadded that there was no request that member of the Board should give their views. If the Government wished those they would hvensked for them. It seems to be a matter entirely between the Government and Commission,
the
majority of the Board wish to discuss it, it is Mr. Haw*TT-I beg your pardon. If the
Icelainly within our power to discuss it without
any quest from the Government.
I am pre. pired "to discuss it, but not this afternoon, either here or elsewhere.
invert the philosophy of Mrs EDDY and obtain comfort by imagining that which does not really exist. The public which is paying extra to see the lions fed-it is wonderful how far a metaphor will carry, sometimes-is supposed to like the Loise they make, but there are some, it is to he hoped, who do not approve such foolishness. It is rumoured here that a report Las come from elsewhere to the effect that some one heard it stated that there is a real rebellion raging in South China, with thousands an! thousands of rebels, who, it is rumoured, are believed to entertain the desire to overthrow the present Manchu Dynasty. A shipping clerk has it on the authority of the office messenger who overheard a river. steater captain te a passenger that the chief officer had heard the rebels had real guns. Evidently the Dynasty is in im- minent danger, and the tel-graph clerks are overworked. The London papers are by this time-telling their readers that there are new symptoms of "the awakening of China." To-morrow or next day the Daily Mail will re-assure our friends at Home with an exclusive telegram to the effect that the foreign population of Hongkong is not That helieved to be in will not be quite correct. We are in some danger, of getting excited about nothing would be impossible to discuss it in in particular. These local troubles, pro-detail this afternoon, I move that a spcialb, called to discuss it, and they intimate to bably due entirely to dear rice and conse meeting of the Board be called to discuss the quent privations among the masses, have been, we firmly believe, greatly ex-ggerated. more likelihood of an anti- There is no dynastic rebellion on even a medium scile of importance than there is of a peaceful revolution in Hongkong giving manhood suffrage to its inhabitants.
any
danger.
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Hoa. Mr. HEWETT remarked, before the business of the day was proceed-d with, that ha thught some trouble ought to have been taken by the Sanitary Department to see that members received from the Department the report published for their information.
Mr. HOOPER asked whether the minute of the Colonial Secretary criticising the report bad been received.
The PRESIDENT-No, it has not.
Mr. Hoops&-Under. thos circumstaners. I think it is only respectful to the Go verument that the Board should give them their views on that report, and as
report and
pass
whatever resolutions we consider necessary, either recommending that it be adopted in toto or in part. Also I would ask you, Sir, that you obtain from the Government permission to discuss, at the same time, the reply which has been made to that report by the Colonial Secretary, because it se's out alter- native schemes to those recommended by the Commissiou. I am rather surprised that his minule has not been sat, hecanse in across something that reading it I came 1
on writing to I did not understand, and the Government about it found it was A a misprint, so that it has gone to the public
Ever since the departure of Viceroy SHUM from Canton, that astute politician has been the subject of countless paragraphs, statements, and rumours. It is not even fortuitous that the stories of rebellion should be emphasized at the same time that there came an incredible story of his return to Canton. That story was current in Canton a full week ago or more, and though we do not insist that it cannet possibly have foundation in fact, we declare with confidence that the alleged rebellion and the rumours affecting Vic-roy SHUM's career have no connection. If he has been re-appointed to the Viceroyalty of the two Kwang, which we decline to believe as at present advised, it was not because there was this special reason for a change. He never had much success against the his chronic rioters. of Kwangsi, and helplessness-we will not say indifference- in the matter of lawlessness in the Canton Delia was notorious. Those who have studied our columus attentively will have gathered a fair idea of the present posi tion of SHUM, who risked imperial displea- sure by his corkscrew progress toward (?) his Szechwan appointment. After much scheming, both here and in the North, came the announcem ut that he had actually the EMPRESS- dared all and i: duced
Once DOWAGER to change her mind. where he had all along wanted to be, near the Throne, and granted, for so young à
under a misapprehension. As the teply I have received from the Government alludes to what the Board may do under the circumstances. would ask that I might be allowed to read it if it is in order.
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ןןח ·
The PRESIDENT-It is not in order. Mr. HOOPER Then und r those circum
to ca'l a special stances I would ask meeting to consider this report. If you cannot see your way to do that, under section 13 of the Ordinance it is in he power of any three members to call a special meeting.
The ('APTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE -Does the Government notify us to sy any- thing on the report?
The PRESIDENT-No.
Mr. HOOPER-They wouldn't have it unless they wanted us to comment on it. Mr. BADELERY-Then it is between Commission and the Government really?
The PRESIDENT —Yes,
sent
the
Mr. HOOPER-Is this to be discussed? The PRESIDENT-It is quite within the option of the Board. Personally. I dont s'e how the Board can discuss a report which has been prepared by the unofficial members of the Board.
Mr. HOOPER-Not entirely, one na:fficial member was not on the Commission.
MR. HEWETT-I think you miss the point of Mr. Hooper's remark. The report
was not
The PRESIDENT made some remark which was not andible.
M. HEWETT-I am not prepared to accept your ruling, b-c1use we have not bien definitely asked by the Government.
The REGISTRAR GENERAL-I think if any member wishes the report to be discussed it is quite within the province of the Board to disen-s it I don't think it should be refused. I think a special masting ought to be called
The PRESIDENT -I don t see myself any good can come from discussing the r port, but if it is the wish of member that a meeting should
me accordingly. I will arrange for a meeting to be held. I must, however, protest against the way in which the in pectors and servants of the Department-
Mr. Hewer: I beg your pardon. You are discussing the report.
The PRESIDENT-I am in order to make remarks. The subject is before us. Ihav.stated I was prepared to discuss it. Proceeding, he said- must protest against the way in which the inspectors and sorvints of the department have been branded as in the latter parts of paragraph 398, where te report states no maa is apparently too poor to be exploited, and there is no form of exaction, however mean and con-
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temptible, to which the inspectors and servants of the Sanitary Department will not stoop". It is much to bi regretted that of the in-pators have so demeaned themselve. as to aco pt brib', but that the whole staff shoull be stigmatised in this way is most unjust. The number of Sanitary Iuspectors is 35. Of these five were found guilty of orrupt practices and were dismissed, while on transferred to another department. The cases
Was
of eight others were inquire into, aud the commissioners reported that. in their opinion, the charges had Lot been proved.
Mr. HOOPER-You have no right to say that,
Sir.
The PRESIDENT-I have seen it in thy report.
Mr. HOOPER-If you can refer me to that in this report I shali bɔ mach'obliged.
The PRESIDENT-No charges were midə against the remainder,
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Mr. Ho PER-an you refer me to the report to substantials yone stilament?
The PRYSIDENT-No. Mr. HOOPER-You are now using confidential which the Government have information precluded the Commiss a from using in order · t justify them. You ought not to bi p'acid i baiter positi thin onessives. If you had it from the Eroative Council in which you are bound to secrecy then it is a mitter
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