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having boarded the Fatshan, the steamer made her way back to the wharf and no further in- *; cident occurred. ·
The Chinese Authorities meanwhile were also requested to maintain order, and a body of braves were detailed for duty at the wharf. They did not, however, even attempt to disperse the crowd which remained till the Fatshan left for Hongkong. The steamer left with hardly any hinese passengers.
None of the placards were removed till late at night..
The incident is by no means closed, and there will be further developments unless the Viceroy takes prompt action in the matter.'
On Saturday the Viceroy had placards posted up all over the city counselling the people to refrain from demonstrations against the British ship. It is pointed out in the placard that the allegation (of fatally kicking a Chinese passenger) was not against a British subject, bút against a Portuguese.
The British cruiser Alacrity and the torpedo boats Fame and Handy are at Canton in addition to the amall gunboats usually stationed on the river.
All was quiet on Saturday and the Canton Macao, Steamboat Co's steamer Honam left in the evening with a full cargo and the usual orowd of Chinese passengers.
THE JAPANESE MINISTER TO
ENGLAND.
A large number of residents accepted the invitation of the Consul for Japan and Mrs, Funatan to an “At Home” on the Hirano-Maru où Des, 29th to meet Mr. T. Kato, G.C.M.G., who is on his way to Engand as Japanese Am- bassador, accompanied by Mrs. Kato. Mr. Kato has twice occupied the post of Foreign Minister, and has on a previous occasion represented his country for five years at the Court of St. James. Mr. Kato is regarded in Japan as "que of the junior statesmen with a bright future" He has many friends among English statesmen including Sir Edward Grey, the present Minister of Foreign Affairs. Of Mrs. Katol Sir Claude Macdonald said at the recent banquet of the British Society in Tokyo It may in- terest my hearers to know that when the Roya, Family of England heard that Mr. Kato had been appointed as Japanese Representative in London they expressed a desire that Mrs. Kato, whom they knew and liked so much, would accompany her husband. Anybody who has the proud privilege of knowing Mrs. Kato will agree with me when I say that she is a fitting helpmate to her husband, and a lady endowed with the most gracious sweetness of character combined with a very great deal of common sense. Miss Kato is accompanying her parents
The ship was gaily decorated and the hos- pitality shown the visitors on board was much appreciated.
His Excellency and Mrs. Kato were the principal guests at a dinner at Government House last night.
3
COMPULSORY EDUCATION FOR CHINA.
The Board of Education has discussed the urgent necessity of introducing educational facilities for young children." The following propositions were brought forward :-
(1) A department for the education of children over four years of age shall first be established in Peking and in all large district towns at which all children over the above mentioned age must attend.
(2) No difference shall be made between the sexes at this tender age. This is in accordance with the Japanese method.
(3) When the children reach the age of seven shey shall be transferred to small primary schools, and boys and girls shall then be deparated.
(4) The Government shall establish primary girls' schools.
(5) Parents will be held to blame if their children do not attend these schools.
(6) The Board of the Interior shall make the above clearly understood by the populace of the
Capital,
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
-CANTON AND THE OPIUM ··
QUESTION.
OLD REGULATIONS A FAILURE-NEW ONES
INSTITUTED.
J.
The following is a translation of a proclama tion issued yesterday :-
"This proclamation is issued by the Provincial Treasurer,the Literary Chancellor, the Provincial Judge, the Salt Commissioner and the Chief Superintendent of Police to inform the public that on the 25th day of the 1st moon of the 33rd year of Kwang Su we received a dispatch from His Excellency Chow Fook, former Viceroy of Liang Kwang, instructing us to issue licences to persons who are habitual opium smokers, in order to prevent illicit smoking. This is in accordance with regulation No. 2 made by the Central Government for the suppression of opium smoking, as approved by the Throne. There are two kinds of licenses, one being issued to people over 60 and the other to those under 60 years of age. All licenses will have to be renewed annually. when the mount consumed by the licensee must be reduced with a view to his finally weaning himself of the habit at the end of the fixed period of 10 years. The object of issuing these licenses is to prevent a person from, consuming more opium than is specified in his license. From inquiries made after we had issued these licenses last year we dis- covered that many people had been purchasing opium without a license and re-selling it to others, and we find that this practice is still going on. We also learnt that some people make use of the license to purchase opium several times a day while others purchase a larger quantity than that specified in the license. The regulations are thus rendered practically nugatory. We have therefore ins- tructed the deputies appointed for the suppres- sion of opium smoking and the principal asso: ciation formed with the same object to make certain new rules and have them printed on all the wooden licenses. These rules have been submitted to His.Excellency the Viceroy who has approved them.
!
now
The following are regulations for obtaining licences:
1. All opium smokers are requested to call at the police stations in their respective districts to obtain licenses and no charges will be made for
game.
2. Old licenses will be exchanged for new ones and licences will be granted to persons not holding any. Enquiries will be made before granting new licenses to ascertain the identity of the smoker.
[January 4, 1909. Monetary fines will be substituted for deli. quents who are too weak for hard labour.
7. No licenses will be granted to directors, professors, and teachers of schools and colleges, students, military people and the police force. Double punishment is provided for infringment in these classes.
8. No licenses will be granted to public houses and junks.
9. Licenses issued to inmates of the following public houses that have ceased business viz :— opium dens, fantan houses, barber shops, watch houses, gate keepers, ti-pos houses, coolie and chair coolie "houses, latrines, nunneries and monasteries must bear the photographs of the smoker. These applicants must send in three photographs-one to be attached to the license, one to be deposited in the police station and one to be sent to the Bureau for the suppression of opium smoking. Licenses will not be granted if applicants fail to bring their photographs with them.
[Note. This rule is rather incomprehensible, I think that, in a round-about way, it in- dicates an intention to require the higher class of opium smokers to furnish pho- tographs next year when renewing their licenses.]
10. Nobody is allowed to purchase more opium than the amount specified on the license.e
11. Any person who visits Canton and who intends to remain here for some time must furnish substantial surety to obtain a license; if the person be an official he must get a brother officer as surety, if a merchant, he must get a shop to stand security for him. No license will be granted to any person who is on a temporary visit.
12. All licensees must adhere strictly to the regulations printed on the license. Those daring enough to infringe the regulations will be severely fined.
13. Each prepared opium shop must provide itself, with a special chop, 34 fan long and 1 fan, 7 li wide, to be stamped on the license when people call at their shop to purchase opium, so as to prevent a smoker buying twice with the same license.
ARRIVAL OF THE “HIRANO MARU.”.
This proclamation is to inform the public that the new wooden Licenses are ready for distribution and we trust that
The new N.Y.K. twin screw steamer Hirano all presons who are habitual opium smokers Maru, one of six sister ships built or building by will call at the Police Station in their the Kawasaki Shipbuilding Co. of Kobe and respective districts to exchange their old the Mitsu Birhi Dockyard, Nagasaki, licenses for new ones and abide by the rules arrived in port last week. The new vessel, printed thereon.
Vendors of prepared which was launched at Nagasaki on the 21st. opium are also requested to adhere strictly to April, is commanded by Captain H. Fraser, one these rules in the transaction of their business.of the oldest commanders in the Company's Those who act in defiance of theserules, whether service, and he has every reason to be proud he be a licencee or a dealer in prepared opium, of his handsome craft, which is designed for will be severely fined, and no leniency will be
the European service, and is now making shown the offender. Do not disobey this, but her maiden voyage. The general comfort tremblingly obey it.
of passengers has been kept in view throughout and leaves nothing to be desired. There is accommodation for fifty-eight first class, twenty-eight second class, twelve special and one hundred and forty steerage passengers, while there is also, special accommodation for twenty-five first class and third class passengers. All the cabins are neatly and cosily fitted up, and the decorations and fittings are of the latest designs and of a first class nature. The saloon is a splendid apartment and is well lighted and ventilated. The smoking rooms, social hall, drawing room, music room, barber's room, dark room for amateur photographers, eto, are all that- could be wished for, and in addition there is a fully equipped surgery where all cases of sickness can be treated. The laundry, galleys, pantries, bakery, etc., are models. The lavatories and baths, showers, etc., are also a feature of the vessel. She is fully supplied with fire fighting appliances, life boats, rafts, belts, etc., and the latest designs of navigating instruments are carried. The cargo space is ample and for the handling of heavy weights she has four large derricks and cranes, one of which is capable of lifting forty tons. The following are the dimensions of the vessel Length, 482 feet 9 inches; moulded, 465 feet breadth, 56 feet; depth, 34 feet 6 inches; ton- nage gross, 8,770 tons; horse power, 7,300 speed sixteen knots. She has three decks and her propelling machinery is of the latest and best description. She is built entirely of steel and is lighted throughout with electric lights.
**
3. Old licenses held on fictitious names will only be exchanged if the smoker finds a sub- stantial surety in the person of an official, gentry merchant, &c. Any infringment of this clause will render the offender liable to arrest and a will be enforced for 10 years. "compulsory confinements oure treatment
Men over 60 years of age will not be imprisoned, but fined,
4. Confirmed smokers of over 60 years of age will have their allowance reduced by 10 per cent on the new licenses and younger smokers will have theirs reduced by 20 per cent.
5. Licenses can only be renewed at the place where the original licence was issued.
6. Those who have already infringed the opium regulations, and those who have complet ed their course of compulsory treatment at the institution for curing opium smoking cannot
obtain licenses.
Three months' hard labour will be the punish ment for those who obtain a license under & false
name.
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Private notes are available after approval.