The usual formal business is transacted.
Licensing of Restaurants.—Upon the recommendation of the Watch Committee, and with a view to minimising the Police enquiries and general inconvenience arising from the existing system of considering, as they arise, the cases of many undesirable applicants, it is decided thas hereafter Restaurant Licenses shall only be granted quarterly, i.e., on 1st January, April, July and October. Applications will be filed for consideration en bloc by the Watch Committee prior to the quarterly issue of licenses.
Tuotui's Proclamation.—From a report cly the Captain Superintendent, of Police the Council learns that 8 copies of the following proclamation issued by the Taotai and countersigned by the Senior Consul, have been brought to the Central Station by a runner of the Mixed Court, to be posted by the Municipal Police in the Settlement. It is decided to address the Senior Consul in the matter, and to enquire whether the contents of this document hare been brought to the notice of the Consular Body and, in particular, whether its concluding paragraph is endorsed by the Foreign Consuls.
Translation of Proclamation issued by the Tavtai dated 8th May, 1998.
On the Sth of the 4th moon, H.E. Wei, Viceroy of Nanking, telegraphed stating that he had received " Telegram from the gentry and merchants of the Two Kuang provinces residing in Shanghai stating that H.E. Wang, Governor of Kuangsi, wanted to borrow French troops and French money and that they beg the Viceroys and Governors to join together to protest against such action. H.E. the Viceroy had telegraphed to Governor Wang who sent an answer by wire stating that the accusation of the gentry and merchants was unfounded. The fire of the rebellion had died out; even if it had not died out, and if troops had to be borrowed, he would not-do such a thing as to "cut off a piece of flesh to heal a wound."
The gentry and merchants are hereby informed that efforts are being made to detect those who created this rumour. If arrested, they will be severely punished. Enquiries have been made and it has been ascertained that most, of the gentry and merchants, natives of the two Kuangs. who reside in Shanghai are reasonable and inoffensive people. Even in the event of anything extraordinary happening they would not believe or do anything until they had confirmed their information from reliable sources; certainly they would not believe such rumours. Moreover the rebellion in Kuangsi_is being successfully suppressed; if funds for military operations were wanted they could be obtained by notifying the High Authorities in Peking who would then order the neigh-houring provinces to render assistance.
Assistance would certainly not be asked for from a Foreign Power; Gorernor Wang's telegram is clear on the po Amongst the people there must be patrio-tie men who recozuise this.
It would therefore appear that certain persons have spread) most unfounded Tumours to stir up the minds of the young and the ignorant; who, in their turn, did not try to find out whether the reports were true or not but called a meeting and made speeches in public. They went so far as to send ti where. Their foolishness in listen others would be laughed at by Foreigners they might be pardoned for being deceived but their falsehood is highly reprehensible.
Magistrates in charge of districts hare now been ordered to created these rumours. chan quiries in regard to those who naines without. their knowledge in sending the telegram above referred to.
Mixed Court.—Deportation ut Prisoners:
The following correspondence ix ordered to be published.
Council Room, Shanghai, 16th March, 1903.
Siz,—The Captain Superintendent of Police has drawn the Council tention to the detrimental results frequently arising out of the present sistent of deporting prisoners sentenced at the Mixed Court; I have the honour to enclose copy of his' report on the subject for the information of the Consular Body.
In supplementation of this report and as an example of the results of the present system, the following case is instruc: tive. "A dangerous character Woo Zai-sung convicted 1901, of burglary from foreigners' houses, was then sentenced to 2 years' imprisonment and deportation.
On the 5th ultimo, he was accord! sent with several other prisoners to his native place, Ningpo, and a special request was addressed' to the Mixed Court. Magistrate and to the Authorities at Ningpo that caro should there be taken to prevent his returning to Shanghai. In spite of these precautions ho was identified in the Set-loment on the 22nd of the same month and is now sctving a sentence since by the French Mixed Court for larceny With a view to the better protection of the community, I have therefore the honour to ask that t y form the Tonsular Body to the Chinese Authorities and that the latter be requested to make such arrangements as will in future render the sentence of deportation effective. At the same time the Council would suggest, of a matter for the consideration of the For-Consular Assessors, that such sentence should in future only be serious cases and when it is a the public interest that incorrigible offend ders or dangerous characters should not remain in the Settlement. It is reasonable to suppose that if the numbers of deported prisoners were considerably duced, the Chinese Authorities concerned might exercise over them more effective supervision and control.
As regards the financial aspect of the question, it is evident that under existing conditions the expenditure on deport tation of prisoners is a waste of the public funds and that, unless some better system and results can be obtained, such expenditure should properly be discontinued. The Mixed Court Mavistrate is primarily responsible for the effective carrying out of the sentence of deportation pronounced by his Court and the procedure followed for many years by the Municipal Police in regard thereto is simply due to the failure of the Chinese Authorities to make any satisfactory arrangements in the matter. The attitude of the present Magistrate appears to render it advisable that the Chinese Authorities be reminded of the fact that the Court receives a very considerable revenue from fines, a fact which should carry with it some measure of responsibility as regards the enforcement of its judgments, Ihave the honour to be, Sir, Your obedient servant, W. G. Baysa, Charman. and Senior-Consul,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.