!
L
298
on the other; with some simple form of appeal needed for both. It is the earnest hope of many who, like myself, support the main principles of the Bill that the Government will find a means of removing this flaw. Otherwise there will be failure to secure that absence of friction in its operation, the attainment of which is one of the avowed objects of the Government.-Yours etc.
M. STEWART,
NEW PUBLIC HEALTH AND BUILDINGS BILL.
(C
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE DAILY PRESS."]
Hongkong, 6th May 1908. SIE,-The suggestion made by Hon. Mr. Pollock, K.C., during the debate on the second reading of the Bill now before the Legislative Council that a proviso be added enabling parties dissatisfied with the rulings of the Building Authority or Fanitary Board to have recourse by a simple mode of procedure to the Supreme Court is one of so just a nature and would I believe be so acceptable to the Community that the Government should not for a moment demur to its enactment.
Prior to the passing of the Public Health and
"
|
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
breach of the agreement and seek compensation from the Hongkong Government. The divan keepers will also require to be met with compensation, Secondly the loss of revenue to the Colony by the extinction or reduced value of the opium monopoly will inv lve increased taxation. But that is not all. The closing of about 20 shops will cauze a slump in the property market. Rents will fall but taxation will have to be increased to maintain the
Buildings Ordinance No. 1 of 1903 the right of appeal Hon. Mr. Pollock asks for actually existed as enacted by Ordinance No. 15 of 1889. Section 87. Whenever any person shall be dissatisfied with the exercise of the discretion of the Surveyor General in respect of any act, matter, or thing, which is by this Ordinance made subject to his discretion, the person so dissatisfied may in lieu of reverting to any legal remedy appeal to the Governor in Council who may make such order in respect thereof, as may be deemed expedient, and such order shall be final for all intents and purposes," I therefore think if this Section were re- enacted it will do away with any suggestion that the aggrieved party was driven to any expense on account of appeal, because if he so approved he could appeal to the Governor in Council in lieu of going to the Law Courts.
Yours faithfully.
A. SHELTON HOOPER.
THE ANTI-OPIUM CRUSADE.
Of the many agitations which flourish at Home the one which has the greatest interest for as in Hongkong is the anti-opium crusade, and now it looks as if that movement has reaobed itg culminating point, aud that the objects which the organisations have in view ⚫ are to be realised. The edict of the Imperial Government for the closing of opium dens in Hongkong has been issued. It has been in the bands of his Excellency for several days, and though nothing has been given to we know the public from official sources authoritatively that the news given in Reuter's telegram is correct.
Naturally the question is a serious one for Hongkong. The sentimentalists at Home have their particular views inflamed by exaggerated stories. Undoubtedly men smoke opium to excess and dream their lives away. Undoubtedly scenes are witnessed in opiam divans which are not particularly edifying. But the same can b said regarding liquor and public houses, and yet the wholesale suppression of the manufacture of intoxicants and the wholesale closing of public houses is not advocated except by fanatics whose extreme views exclude them from con
sideration, and so it is that sentimentalists have brought about В result regarding which there has not been much forethought. The practical aspects of tbe question have not been fully considered. It goes with- out saying that the opportunities for smoking cannot be stopped without inflicting much loss and hardship, and that large sums will have to be paid in compensation, because confiscation cannot be tolerated by an ultra-moral people, Moreover the opium trade cannot be suppressed without attacking vested interests and without. Healing a blow at trade which is likely to
seriously affect the interests of the Colony,
In the first place the Opium Farmer will consider the closing of the opium divan & a
revesno. Thus it will be seen that the question is a very serious one and residents in the Colony will await with interest the decision of the Government which has to face this difficult financial problem.
That some such result has long been anticipated is generally well known, and it is significant to refer to the notification published in the Government Gazette of 18th August, 1906, which states:
No. 710.-It is hereby notified that His Excellency the Governor-in Council has been pleased to amend the Form of Grant of the Hoogkong Opium Farm, published in Govern. ment Notification No. 439 of the 23rd May, 1906, by adding the following provisos :-
"Provided always that in the event of the exportation of Raw Opium from India being so restricted during the term hereby granted, as in
the opinion of the Governor-in-Council seriously to affect the business of the Grantee, the onus of proof whereof shall rest on the Grantee, the Governor-in-Council upon the application of the Grantee, shall reduce the reat payable under this Grant to such an extent or may modify the terms of this Grant in such other manner as to the Governor-in-Council may seem equitable.
"Provided also that in the event of the exporta- (ion of Raw Opium from India being probibited daring the term hereby granted and the Grantee not being able to procure sufficient opium for boiling the Grantee may give notice to the Governor-in-Council of bis desire to surrender this Grant, and, if, in the opinion of the Governor-in-Council such prohibition seriously affects the business of the Grantee, the onus of proof whereof shall rest on the Grantee, the Governor in-Council shall thereupon, or so soon thereafter as he may deem desirable cancel the same. Nothing in the two proceeding provisos
is to bi takon to mean that an alteration in the quantity of opium exported from India is to be accepted as primi facie evidence that the Farmer is entitled to a reduction of rent or to a modi. fication of the terms of tuis Grant,"
It is interesting to note the progress made On the 10th March Mr. O. Grady asked in the with regard to the prohibition policy in India. House of Commons whether, in view of the fact that the export of Bengal opium had fallen and the further fact that the area of cultivation from 53,583 chests in 1906 7 to 48,000 in 1907-8
perio 1 to 562,50 acres in the last year quoted had extended from 553,697 acres in the former
he could inform the House whether the resulting crops of such extended area was or would be exported to other countries than Chine, or whether the habit of opium consumption was growing among the peoples of India, and that such extended area of cultivation was to meet would be taken drastically to reduce the area such home demand; and, if so, whether steps
of cultivation below that of 1906-7.
Mr. Morley replied: There has been no ex tension of the area under poppy. The standard- or maximum area fixed for regulating the grant, of licences to cultivate was fixed for 1906.7 at that year was 553,697 aores, For 1907-8 the 594,000 acres. The area actually harvested in
standard area was reduced, to 562,500 acres below this figure. For 1998-9 the standard area The actual area, when returned, will prove to be has again been reduced to 500,000 acres. afraid the drastic reduction demanded by my hon. friend would hardly extend employment.
I am
of the Indian Viceroy's Council has allowed During the current year the Finance Member in his financial statement for a decline of £380,000 in the current year's revenue from opiom.
Mr. Chan Kai Ming, the Secretary of the Opium Farm, was seen by our representative with reference to the telegram. He said that he had received no communication from the Government yet, and in reply to questions be said if their revenue was reduced they would have to seek compensation.
[May 11, 1908.
THE JAPANESE DISASTER.
We have received sopies of the correspondencs that has passed between His Excellency the Governor and the Japanese Consul, relative to the sinking of the 'Matsushima,'
Letter, dated 2nd May, from His Excellency the Governor to Mr. S. Mashiko.
"DEAR SIR, I write to express to you my great regret at the news which I have seen in the papers of the loss of the cruiser Matsushima, which was so recently a visitor in this Port, when I had the opportunity of meeting her gallant officers.
Our British Navy has also lately had several serious losses, so that We are allies in misfortune.
I earnestly hope that when we receive fuller Dews we may hear that there has been no great loss of life."-Yours very truly,
(sd.) F. D. LUGARD.
I etter, dated 2nd May, from the Japanese Consal to His Excellency the Governor.
"YOUR EXCELLENCY,-I beg to tender my sincere thanks for your kindness in sending Captain Taylor to this Consulate to express Your Excellency's sympathy on the accident to the cruiserMatsushima.'
I telegraphed immediately to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Tokyo, expressing Your Excellency's cordial sympathy." truly,
I am pleased to inform Your Excell noy that
Yours very
(Sd.) Saizo Mashiko.
I etter, dated 4th May, from the Japanese Consul to the A.D.C,, Government House,
"DEAR CAPTAIN, -I have received a tele- gram from the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Tokyo, and beg to enclose you a copy of the above."-Yours truly,
(Sd.) SAIZO MASHIKO.
(Copy of telegram.) "On the 30th April, at 4.8 a.m., one of the Japanese training squadron, the 'Matsushima', sank in a few moments while anchoring at a port in the Pescadores, owing to the explosion funnel being seen on the water at full tide. of the after magazine, only four metres of the
According to the investigation up noon of May 2ad, 3 officers, 24 midshipmen, 7 semi-officers and other crew numbering 205, were saved. The bodies of the Captain, one
39 orew were found, but those of 21 officers, 6 officer, 27 midshipmen, one semi-officer and midshipmen and 111 crew are still missing.
of the
Being prevented by the extent wreckage, it is very difficult for divers to
discover the bodies,'
Letter, dated 5th May, from the A.D.C., Government House, to Mr. Mashiko.
"DEAR MR. MASHIKO,-I am in receipt of your letter of yesterday's date, enclosing copy. of a telegram from your Minister for Foreig Affairs with regard to the 'Matsushima' cata strophe, which I have submitted to the Governor. His Excellency desires me to express to you his great grief at the terrible nature of the disaster and his profound sympathy for the relatives of those who have perished."-Yours very sincerely,
+
(Sd) P. H. MITCHELL TAYLOR.
Peking, published a telegram from its Shanghai A couple of weeks ago, the Tatung Pao, of
merchants there were holding meetings secretly. Correspondent to the effect that the Chines0
The object was to retaliate upon foreigners for the disuse of Chinese bank-notes ia payment of Municipal taxes etc. within the limit of the International settlement; now it is reported in the local native journals that the Tuchibpu (Ministry of Finance) has telegraphed to the vinces stating that the cause which led to Viceroys and Governors of the various Pro- unusual tightness of the money market in every part of China is attributable partly to the use of bank notes in the interior of the Provinces; and as the circulation of foreign notes concerns the financial position of China, soms means Viceroys and Governors, have been advised to must be provided to obeok it. Thus the deprecate the use of foreign bank-notes outside the limits of the foreign Concessions at the various Treaty Ports.
FIREARMAN
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.