Sept. Tux German mail brought us a copy of the report of the duel between the Governor of Hongkong and Mr. H. Whitehead, the most combative of the nuofticial members of the Hongkong Legislative Council. It is in pamphlet form, and is entitled Hongkong Retrenchment Committee. Governor will Out here in the East, society is not appoint. Correspondence between. imbued with the same spirit of worldli-His Excellency and an unofficial memness that characterises its Western ber of Council in connection therewith, prototype. We are confronted with a with a preface, being the leading article serious problem and are being gradually in the Hongkong Daily Press of the compelled to understand that if we 29th August, 1893, We-have called would go surely, we must go slowly. it a duel, but while Mr, Whitehead is We are far removed from socialistic alone on his side, the Governor enlists troubles; the working classes with whom the services of the Colonial Secretary we have to deal fortunately do not} Mr. G. 'T. M. O'Brien, and of his aide-demand larger wages and shorter hours de-camp Captain J.' Sterling. For but the trouble that threatens us lies some time the unofficial members, led nearer home. It is an ever-present by Mr. Whitehead, have been urging 2 foe to be met with in our own house: retrenchment in the public service of holds. Times are worse than bad; the Hongkong, and have been asking for see-saw dollar falls lower every day, the appointment of a Committee of and records of failure are incessant and Inquiry, and they at last succeeded in imminent. And yet we all go on our impressing their views on the Marquis way—not exactly rejoicing—but trying of Ripon, the Secretary of State for the to ignore the precipice that is yawning Colonies, who wrote in a despatch dated close to us. It is the social competition the 21st of Apr that is our enemy; not one of us can "I have further come to the conclu-bear to relax a little from the standard sion that, notwithstanding what has we started in China's palmy days, already been decided in the direction We were able to keep up to it formerly of economy, additional advantage would without feeling the strain; and although be derived from instituting a compre-things commercial are so different now-7 hensive enquiry affecting all depart-adays, we do not wish to be called mean ments in the service, so that the facts nor to be laughed at for openly retrench- and the possibilities of reduction in ing. Weall regard our Eastern comforts the future may be placed on record, as a just compensation for our enforced and thus no opportunity of effecting exile and we cannot see why we should retrenchment allowed to slip by." simply. be called upon to live so much more! In obedience to the Marquis of Ripon's despatch, the Governor proposed.
We do not wish to take too gloomy to appoint what the Daily Press a view of the situation, but it is use- {calls a "whitewashing Commission,"
is one from which we may all learn a! man, the Harbour Master, Mr, Wode-less to deny that Lady Jeune's warning consisting of the Chief Justice as Chaiepersonal lesson sit the present time. house, Magistrate, and Mr. May, Captain-Because we reduce our expenditure Superintendent of Police, and Messrs, there is no need that our lives should Chater, Keswick, and Whitehead, Un-lose any of their real beauty and/ officials. Chis was the Governor's mode charm, There is no necessity for! of executing Lord Ripon's decision, that our womenkind to become dowdies, a Committee should be appointed, "over and we ourselves need not wear which the Colonial Secretary or the gloves like overcoats because they are; Chief Justice might preside, with one or cheap. After all, the only sacrifice} two other Government officers and cer-that is required of us is, that we should tain unofficial members of the Council
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.