Unless the people are allowed to have some say in the affairs of the Shanghai Special Municipality -and uunlest officers are elected by the public, My. Sun Pao-chi (the Tupan) and T have decided to tender our Pesignations and not to accept omfiee," said Mx, Vu Ya-ching, chairman of the Chinese General Chamber of Commerce, and Huipan (Associate Director) of the Muni cipality, in the course of an address fat the Ningpo Association yesterday, when a reception—given his honour by that organization and by the Chinese Ratepayers' Association and the Shanghai Street Union There were about 100 guests present, among whom were Mr. Fang Shao-pak, Vice-Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce; Gen. Li Ching-wa, 8. U. Zau, L. T. Yuan (members of the Chamber of Commerce), members of the Ningpo Association, and the other organiza tions giving the reception.
Mr. L. 7. Yuan, who presided, suid that as Mr, Vu was leaving again for Peking in w few days they: felt it incumbent upon themselves to give a reception in his honour. They could talk ax friends with frankness and there was no ques: tion but that Mr. Vu would under-stund their feelings and give ear to their words, He would without daub: be sympathetic with their hopes." However, Inv, Vu had said in_peraonal conversation with him that he was nez stite whether he would accept the poxt of Huipan Decause he demanded that Shanghai be phized on a real municipal basis and that the people should have something {0 say upon the ad~ ministration and affairs of the people (applause). Mr. Vu wanted to abide the wishes of the people and all the time he was in Peking he was. fighting on their behalf.
Mr. Vu, who was greeted with applause, said tha the plans for the Municipal Avex had not yet been made public and until that were publicly announced he could not speak on future affairs with any certainty, as the Government might promise a thing one day ind the next day another Government might come in and smash up the plans of its predecessor. Government promises were useless unless they were publicly announced. The Cabinet had discussed the matter twice and arguments arose with the result that it referred to the Department of Tegal experts, who also disagreed as to the plans proposed. Tt was, however, still under consideration.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.