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- Alternative Title:
- Letter from Chinese Consul-General in San Francisco
- Subject:
- Chinese, History, Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (Victoria, B.C.), Emigration and immigration, Race discrimination, Poll tax, Associations, institutions, etc., and Emigration and immigration--Government policy
- Creator:
- Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (Victoria, B.C.), Huang, Zunxian, and 黄遵宪
- Language:
- chi
- Date Created:
- September 10, 1884
- Rights Statement:
- No Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Only
- License:
- Contact Special Collections and University Archives for access to the original manuscript and for reproduction requests (speccoll@uvic.ca). This material is made available on this site for research and private study only.
- Resource Type:
- Text
- Extent:
- 1 leaf
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Victoria and California--San Francisco
- Coordinates:
- 37.77493, -122.41942 and 48.4359, -123.35155
- Physical Repository:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Collection:
- Chinese Canadian Collection
- Provenance:
- Donor: Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (Victoria, B.C.)
- Provider:
- University of Victoria (B.C.). Library
- Genre:
- correspondence
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Acc. No.: 1977-084, 1.2, 1.2.02
- Fonds Title:
- Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association fonds
- Fonds Identifier:
- AR030
- Is Referenced By:
- Finding aid for archival fonds: https://uvic2.coppul.archivematica.org/chinese-consolidated-benevolent-association-fonds
- Date Digitized:
- 2007-07-30
- Transcript:
- Sept. 3, 1884 Dear Directors, I am glad to know from your letter that the law to compel every Chinese to pay $10 annually is pronounced abolished by the Court. I really rejoice at this good news for all the Chinese in Canada. Regarding another law that a $50 head tax is levied on every Chinese worker entering Canada, in fact it was passed by the Parliament of Canada, and the Canadian Government knows that it is a bad law. They have to do so, however, to appease the local people and protect the interests of the Chinese merchants who are currently living in Canada. Compared to the situation in the United States where no Chinese new comers are permitted to enter, and the interests of the Chinese residing there are inflicted, this is a better choice. Even though it is unfair to Chinese, we could do nothing at the moment. You have gone through all kinds of hardships and difficulties, wishing to live in harmony with the local people, and would not resort to lawsuit. But if Chinese businessmen or workers who have already resided in Canada are out of the country for some time, how could they return to Canada? And if those Chinese come to Canada for the purpose of trading, study, travel and mission, could they be treated like workers to be compelled to pay the head tax? I have not heard of any details concerning these two points. Please carefully study the law and find counter-measures. My late mother’s funeral is approaching, and I was granted to resign my post. I am leaving from San Francisco at 12th August. Yesterday Mr. Liang Ze Zhou forwarded your mail, attached are one 10,000 People Umbrella, and one Virtue Rule Board (In ancient China, if an official’s parents die he has to resign his position to observe a three-year period of mourning. Before his leaving, people within his jurisdiction would send him a 10,000 People Umbrella, a metaphor that he protects his subjects like an umbrella, and a Virtue Rule Board on which praising words are written to eulogize his virtue. Note by translator). Your letter of good wording impresses me so much that I feel I do not deserve it, because Victoria is so far away, and it is always beyond the reach of my power to help you, even though I care for you very much. I really appreciate your kindness and would accept them as encouragement. I heard that the office building of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association in Victoria is to be completed, I wrote an antithetical couplet to convey my congratulations and will send it to you by post. If you think it is acceptable, please display it in the office as if I, thousands of miles away, meet you in person everyday. Two months earlier I reported all of your matters to the Honorable Zheng, his Honor has forwarded your case to the Honorable Zeng. Mr. Ouyang Jing Tang will be the new Consul General in San Francisco, and Mr. Jun Xuan is transferred to the post of Consul General in New York. Please send my best regards to all the Directors and other management members Yours sincerely Huang Zun Xian
- Technical Note:
- 600 dpi TIFF, no colour correction, archived in Cataloguing on DVD, digitized by CDW. Metadata by MH and KD.