364
Chinese
have
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in times
at
[October 25, 19 9. THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
will assist her in putting of India. Almost as bad would it be for the
the importation of opium; preservation of the King's peace if now whisky total stop to were to become the favourite stimulant of the and the time will arrive when the country will main body of the population. In that case the have got rid of the vice, and when the people will prosper and progress, and the reformation Captain Superintendent of Police would have
which at the present time is only being a busy time. New whisky is, we know, a mad-
of the leading mon dening poison. Crimes of violence would in- attempted by a few
a reality. But if crease and our quiet midnight streets might of China will become come to rival in disgrace the slums of Liverpool the opium vice is not stopped we may wait for the Greek Kalends before any reformation can or Glasgow. Luckily the so far not developed a liking for whisky. On be introduced. Sir, as regards the military wish not to discuss the all hands I find confirmation of the statement contribution, I
fairness of the Colony contributing B that they prefer brandy and beer. I un- derstand also that they are taking to stout certain amount, but to ask your Excellency
But, even and port wine.
so, I regard whether you will not make known your
18 to It is consoling plan
the calculating of it. Your the prospect with concern. to believe that they will prove less obstro Excellency, when speaking in September last the police. But year, "the incidence of this contribution does perons in conflicts with it is grievous to be compelled to consider not however fall, as Mr. Chamberlain desired it should, so that in times of increased prosperity such a prospect at all. Indeed, when oue re
the Colony should be able to devote flects upon the colossal nightmare of alcoholism which darkens all our dreams of Western a larger sum to its defence and
prosperous it- should contribute civilization, the fear that the evil may spread less
less." Now, sir, you told us the other day that Eastward with the growth of commerce and
pause industrialism must give every man
the Secretary of State had already decided Every man who recognises alcoholism as,
to appoint a committee to inquire into the great evil must pray that it will not increase incidence of this contribution, and I would among the Chinese and will side with me in suggest that your Excellency should con-
would not be wise hoping that you will not get the anticipated six sider whether it lakhs necessary to balance this Budget, and the present moment to appoint a few members further that you will be forced to rely less and of Council, official and unofficial, to elaborate the scheme your Excellency had in mind, and less upon this source of revenue as time goes
also send information to the Secretary of on. My objection to your leaning heavily upon it is not based solely on sentiment, though my State to assist the committee appointed in It coming to a fair conclusion on the matter. objection might be nore the worse for that.
we do not do so, the Secretary of appears to me to be advisable that the Govern. If ment should lean for financial support as light- State and his committee may arrive at wrong ly as possible upon revenue derived from conclusions, and we will be blamed for any mistake or misconception made. As regards alcohol for a prudential if remote reason sug- gested by the interesting fact that when the subsidiary coinage, I must say that I was much Opium Farm was first started in this Colony, struck by the views expressed by my hon. friend Mr. Osborne. I think the subject well worth the Colonial Treasurer, after objecting in vain
the consideration of the Government, and his against it, on the ground that it was improper to get revenue from vice, resigned. The whirligig of time has evenged him, and inasmuch as it is the avowed object of the best and most con- sistent writers on the opium question to attack
when alcoholism
once opium is out of the way, perhaps we should not altogether disregard the warning. It is at least con- ceivable that a strong sentiment against the use of alcohol may some day sweep England possibly, at some time of national humiliation, occasioned, perhaps, by a narrow shave from destruction in some great war-when the voice of the doctors and the preacher will be listened to. In such a case, we might receive some fine day telegraphic instructions to close all public-houses forthwith,
present and approaching troubles over the readjust ment of the burden of taxation would, if by that time we were dependent largely upon the revenue from alcohol, recur. (Applause.)
|
really think our, justifiable curiosity as to the meaning of the word "substantial" warrants the despatch of a wire. To return to the subject of our needs, not counting the loss on opium. Opinions were divided as to the probable yield of the new revenue from alcohol. Some said it would yield a million; others less than half that. Compared with the higher guess, that of the Government seems moderate enough and then-it exactly makes ends meet. Later, in the course of your Excellency's introductory remarks, it seemed to me that I caught the suggestion of a hope that the yield would exceed the estimate, and that this source of revenue might in any case ultimately be relied upon to increase. I confess I did not like the sound of that. view with concern the possibility. If this Colony pays more than six lakhs of duty
on intoxicating liquors consumed in it, the inference will be irresistible that the Chinese are taking to drink. The number of European residents in the Colony shows no signs of rapid increase, and it is a matter of everyday comment and congratulation that the consumption of alcohol by individual mem- bers of the rising generation markedly de- creases. If, therefore, with the sources of information at your command, Your Excel- lency considers it probable that there will be an increased yield from this new source of revenue, it means that a progressive in- crease in the amount of alcohol consumed by the Chinese section of the population is anti- cipated. I wish to direct attention particular- ly to the fact. I trust it may obtrude itself upon the notice of the Secretary of State. I wish there was the smallest chance of its being taken to heart by those who seem to think that the prevention of opium smoking will prove an unmixed blessing to the native population. A leading medical practitioner tells me that whereas formerly he never had to treat cases of alcoholism among them, now he frequently has to. The other day at Your Excellency's table a Chinese gentleman of position assured me that in Canton, among the well-to-do, the opium habit was fast dying out and that a new fashion for drinking beer and brandy was as rapidly | coming in. That a similar change is taking place among the Chinese in Hongkong is said to be the case. The fear that an increase in the evils of alcoholism in this Colony would be the immediate result of the abandonment of the opium habit has frequently been ex- pressed by many among those who bring to a study of the question neither the wilful blind- ness of the political partisan nor the in. evitable shortsightedness of the bigot. Nuer ly all the anti-opium writers appear to assume that the evil of over-indulgence in it is derived from the opium itself, in some way special to this particular stimulant, instead of from the defective will power of the victim. That is where opinion divides on this question. If you attribute vice to weakness of character you will think that the removal of one form of temptation will inevitably lead to the substitution of another. An apt in- stance of this occurred in England not a Hon. Dr. Ho KAI-Sir, I rise to generally hundred years ago. There was a so-called endorse the remarks and views expressed by my wave of temperance. People took the pledge unofficial colleagues. I say generally endorse, in great numbers. They gave up alcohol sud- because I have no hobbies, and I do not denly, without any previous training and dis- endorse all the remarks of my hon. friend cipline of the will. What was the result? Mr. Murray Stewart, especially his remarks They took to opium. Immediately there was about the closing of the opium divans, a new scare and alcohol returned triumphant. and his fears regarding the Chinese in The reverse of this threatens to happen here, this Colony taking to drink in and in Canton. This was and is our main fear. opium being prohibited. Sir, I may remind Some of us incline to the perhaps old-fashion- that hon. gentleman that the opium trade is ed belief that you can only cure the weak-doomed, and no more argument, however elo- mindedness, of which the opium habit is quent (hear, hear)-will make a jot of differ- merely an indication, by means calculated also ence. The mighty nation of England has issued to provide against opium being replaced by the other forms of intoxication-by supplying religious or patriotic motives sufficiently powerful to strengthen the will power of the individual against excessive indulgence of every kind; by popularising, among the rising generation those primary manly virtues which war with all sottish habits. Pending the growth of a sentiment sufficiently powerful to thus up- lift the Chinese people, we in this Colony have had to consider what the effect would be if the place of opium were to be taken by some other even more pernicious stimulants, say, for in- stance, by that dangerous hemp product which is capable of animating with a murderous courage even the cowardly political assassins
1
and our
Hon. Mr. WEI YUK-Sir, I support the remarks of the hon. Mr. Stewart with regard to the Clock Tower. I think it is a pity to have it removed. It is an old landmark and it ought to be allowed to remain where it is.
scheme seems to me at first sight, at all events, to be quite practical. I would recommend the Government not to wait for any length of time for the reformation of the currency in China, because, from the signs of the times, and not- withstanding what people have said in support of currency reform, I am quite sure that the Chinese Government could not introduce such a reform Those who are within a reasonable time. acquainted with the system of administration of the different provinces in China, and also of the means used for raising local revenue for contribution to the Central Govern- ment, and also for local funds, know that of revenue coinage affords a large source to particular provinces, and were it not for this the provincial governments would find great difficulty in making up their contributions the Peking Authorities. Therefore to it is almost impossible for them in the to cast out this source of near future revenue and adopt a uniform standard through- the dumping out China. With regard to
and the carrying out of of dead bodies sanitary measures among Chinese, I think your Excellency will expect me to say a few words, I thank your Excellency, on behalf of the Chinese community, for your handsome appre- ciation of the efforts of the leading Chinese in assisting the Government in putting down body dumping, and also of the diffusion of knowledge of sanitary matters among the Chinese in general. The success which attended their efforts is largely due to the relaxation of the stringency of sanitary measures, and I hope that the Government in future will be able to secure the operation of the Chinese by timely concessions are consistent with the carrying which out of the sanitary regulations of this Colony. I can assure your Excellency of the co-operation of the leading Chinese, and long as their advice is listened to, they are not afraid to take up the responsibility of spreading sanitary knowledge in the Colony among their own countrymen. In connection with this I wish to refer also to the district dispensaries. Your Excellency knows that these dispensaries were started voluntarily by leading Chinese, and their existence is justified by the work that they have done, and that they are going Hon. Dr. Ho KAI-Certainly not, and I am to do. I hope the Government will assist
Now, so
them but not control them. The dispensaries very glad my hon. friend says so. far as the opium trade is concerned it will die are supported entirely by voluntary contribu- out if China will carry out her policy tions and should not be subjected to Govern- of suppressing its production, and the foreign ment control. With regard to land sales, I
mandate
case
of
that since China has de sired, on account of the many people who suffer from opium, that the import of the drug and its growing shall be stopped, that it shall be stopped, and now no power in the world will prevent it. (Hear, hear.) Sir, is it logical to suppose that if you were to wean someone of a particular rice the fear of his falling into another would prevent you from putting forth restraint ?
Mr. STEWART~No.
Co-
SO
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