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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
and it may be presumed, as time goes on we | their old policy of devoting themselves to shall have perils of every shade between the development of their own splendid the two. The Yellow peril, though territory and accepting as little responsi- becoming feeble of late, dies very hard and bility in distant ports as may be possible. we shall probably not hear the last of it for No doubt both Japan and the United many years yet. Then there is the peril of States will be on the alert, just as other Japanese supremacy in the East, as though nations are, to preserve their interests both it were not absolutely necessary that there in the Far East and in the Pacific and there should be some dominant power in these may occasionally be conflicts of interests parts to assist in maintaing reasonable and at times somewhat acute rivalries, but relations with the countries with which such inatters are susceptible of adjustment foreign nations have to deal and with which between nations possessed of common sense. upon the whole European nations have It is not to be forgotten also that no nation shown themselves, very little able to deal has been on more friendly terms with Japan effectively
than America, nor bas any nation done more for the last half century to preserve the peace in the Far East than the United States. The idea, therefore, that a rivalry for so vague an object as what is termed the | domination of the Pacific is likely to become a subject of acute antagonism may when the question is considered in the light of actual facts instead of somewhat high-flown theory, be dismissed as one outside the sphere of practical politics at all events for many long years to come.
The latest "peril" which has attracted attention and formed the subject of innumerable disquisitions is that of the domination of the Pacific. The idea was started by Russia before the recent war with Japan and was emphasised by the Emperor of Germany to the Tsar in the well known message in which “The admiral of the Atlantic " congratulated the "Admiral of the Pacific." Russia cannot at the present day at least be looked upon as the dominant power in the Pacific, though it would be a mistake to imagine that, not- withstanding all her disasters, she has altogether abandoned her aspirations in that direction and that the time may not come when she may try once more to assert them though no doubt in some less emphatic manner than in going to war with Japan or any other strong Tower. In the meantime
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HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL.
(Continued from last week )
The COLONIAL SECRETARY moved that the Bill be read a second time and referred to the Finance Committee.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL Seconded, and the motion was agreed to.
PUBLIC NOTARIES ORDINANCE,
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL-Sir, I beg to move the second reading of a Bill entitled "An Or Public Notaries within the Colony. dinance to provide for the appointment of
J5 The Bill
is a very simple one. At the present time, Sir, no solicitor can be admitted as a notary public locally. It is necessary he should send home affidavits, paying fees for admission as a notary in England. This Bill makes provision for the appointments of local notaries public, and is based on the general precedent prevailing in other colonies. In the Colony where I was previously, in the Bahama Islands, they had a similar Bill, and there is one on the same lines in existence in Fiji and I believe in several other colonies. The Bill provides, authorises, and gives the Government power under its band and seal to admit any person as a notary public admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of this Colony. It requires that he shall make the necessary declaration in precisely similar form to that required of any notary appointed under the Imperial law at home, when subject to the payment of a certain fee he is enrolled as a notary public of the Supreme Court.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded the motion.
the idea has been set about that there is certain to be great rivalry between Japan and the United States for what is termed the mastery of the Pacific. The subject is a good one for academic discussion. Japan has just succeeded in virtually establishing herself in Korea; and the United States are established in Manila-ergo, it is assumed these two nations must be regarded as com- petitors for domination in the Pacific. This is really about the sum total of any substan. tial arguments that can be advanced on the subject, but it is quite enough to afford a good subject for effusive writters and nervous diplomatists. The simplicity of the theme commends it to the public who love a simple issue, and have a strong dislike to modifying facts that may stand between their major premises and their conclusions. But can any one who is moderately acquainted with the actual circumstances seriously believe that there is ever likely to be any danger of such a rivalry between Japan and the United States for domination in the Pacific as might lead to hostilities between the two nations? When writers of the kind above indicated deal with the subject they seem to look upon the Pacific as if it were small but important territorial possession like Belgium. The Pacific is a tolerably large Ocean and it would tax either Japan or even the United States pretty heavily to obtain a "command of it, in the same way, for instance, as Great Britain is supposed (let us hope correctly) to have command of the English Channel. It is a grand idea suitable for Kaisers and Tears, but one which diminishes very much in importance when the real facts connected with it are looked into with any critical at- tention. It will tax the resources of a very great nation with a very determined purpose to make any attempt to command the Pacific. Japan is far too well advised to do anything which the most apprehensive of persons could fairly construe into an act of the kind, and
General that similar Bills have existed in many the experience of the United States in colonies for many years. I cannot suppose that Manila is not so encouraging as to make any objection would be raised to a gentleman that country desirous to extend her respon-acting as a notary publie under a local ordinance. sibilities in that direction. On the contrary merely make these remarks so that it will not the trouble and expense they have had is be supposed that the unofficial members al- much more likely to cause a reversion to lowed the Bill to be passed without considers-
19
some
Hoo. Mr. HEWETT-Sir, I think it advisable entirely in sympathy with the Bill. When the to say a few words on this subject although I am draft was placed before this Council I found that some professional gentlemen would be affected by this Bill, and took very strong ex coption to it. I reosived a number of letters on the subject, particularly from one number of the profession. I went very carefully into the whole question and consulted several solici- tors, men of large experience in the Colony, and I found ths, although a few were opposed to it, the majority were strongly in favour of it. Several arguments against it were brought forward, and one which to my mind appeared to have some weight was, that according to the rules at home nobody could become a notary public unless he was admitted by the faculties ground at all for this objection, and it has at home. I found that there was absolutely no already been explained by the Hon. Attorney
[October 14, 1007.
tion when we know a small proportion of the solicitors in the Colony objected to the passing of the Bill.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL—Sir, I will move committee on the Bill.
a future date that the Council go into
on
SEDITIOUS PUBLICATIONS ORDINANCE.
The ATTORNEY-GENERAL—Sir, I rise to move the second reading of the Bill entitled "An Ordinance to prevent the Publication of There has been an amount Seditious Matter.'
of seditions matter published in this Colony for some time past, which in the opinion of the Government may have the effect of inciting to crime in Chins, and the object of this Bill, Sir, is to prevent Hongkong becoming a place where seditious pamphlets may be printed and circulated with a view to distribution in China. Now, Sir, the Bill is a simple one, based upon precedent. It is based upon an Order in Council framed at home in reference to Chius and Koren. You will observe that the subject has created a good deal of criticism, but as a matter of fact the phraseology of the Bill was not drafted by me. It is possible that the words in the Uill may be regarded as somewhat too general, and it may be considered as proving hostile to the criticism of the Press here against
the action of the Chinese Government, Sach is not its intention. The intention of the Government is to prevent this Colony being made a centre for seditious publications. That being so, when the Council permit the Bill to go into committee, I shall move that we eliminate all the words after" China” in the fifth line, which read, or to excite enmity between His Majesty's subjects and the Government of Chins, or between that Government and its subjects." We are of opinion that the Bill will have the necessary effect without the insertion of those words. In addition to that, Sir, the two hon. gentlemen who represent in this Council the Chinese community suggested it might be desirable that there should be a short preamble inserted in the Bill to explain its provision. I had an oppottunity to-day to cenfer with the hon. and learned gentleman opposite, and, I think, we have between us prepared a short preamble which will be of some assistance and satisfaction. At any rate it meets with the approval of my hon. friend opposite, and I believe the hon. gentleman on my left.
The COLONIAL SECRETARY—In seconding the motion I would mention that for some years past the incontinence of the native press in this Colony towards the reigning dynasty in China has been a serious source of embarrassment. Only the other day, ir, a publication was distributed in this Colony in which were repre- sented some of China's leading statesmen sitting with their heads in their hands, and I hold in my hand, Sir, a paper which only reached me within the last five minuter, being a translation of an article which appeared in a Chinese newspaper a few days ago, in which the following passage occurred" I am now restlessly trying to follow the heroic name of Ng San-cheung.' That was the man who started the Taiping Rebellion to overthrow the Ching dynasty sad place the Ming dynasty on the throne. The Ching of the Manchu dynasty, and Ming is the name dynas y, as gentlemen well know, is the old name of the former Chinese dynasty. That is nothing more or less than inciting persons to deliberate rebellion against the great and friendly empire which lies so close to our border, i think Bir, I need not ald anything more in justification of this Bill.
The Bill was then read a second time, and Council went into committee to consider it clause by clause.
Hon. Mr. OSBORNE –I would like to ask does
this apply to newspapers printed in other than the Chinese language ?
The ATTORNEY GENERAL-Yes, Sir. It would be impossible to make any distinction If you are going to place a bean to seditious limit it to that language. The real object of it is publications it would be clearly impossible to to affect publications chiefly Chinese, but at the sam time it would be quite impracticable to draw any distinction between languages.
Hon. Mr. OSBORNE-If a newspaper printed in English publishes an article on political life in China it might be considered as calculated to incite tumult, and yet it might be bona fida criticism,
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.