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- Alternative Title:
- Draft letter to Chinese Ambassador to England concerning the immigration law applied to the Chinese.
- 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.)
- Language:
- chi
- Date Created:
- February 1886
- 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 British Columbia
- Coordinates:
- 48.4359, -123.35155 and 53.99983, -125.0032
- 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, 1.2.03
- 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
- Technical Note:
- 600 dpi TIFF, no colour correction, archived in Cataloguing on DVD, digitized by CDW. Metadata by MH and KD.
- Alternative Title:
- Detailed account of diplomatic protests.
- 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:
- Huang, Zunxian, 1848-1905
- Language:
- chi
- Date Created:
- August 1, 1891?
- 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:
- 4 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia--Victoria, British Columbia, and Commonwealth countries
- Coordinates:
- 48.4359, -123.35155 and 53.99983, -125.0032
- Chronological Coverage:
- 1884/1891?
- 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, 1.2.05
- 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:
- July 2, Dear Directors, I read your letter, knowing that the Parliament of British Columbia passed a new law to increase the rate of head tax on every Chinese, new comers or current residents, merchants or workers. I reported it to the Honorable Minister, who addressed a protesting note to the Foreign Ministry of England last month. Please find attached a copy of this note. It reminds me of the time when I was Consul General in San Francisco in 1884, the Parliament of British Columbia had passed a very harsh discriminating law against Chinese. You sent four representatives to San Francisco to require for help, I instructed you to unite all the Chinese in Victoria, and hire lawyers to bring in a lawsuit. Meanwhile I explained all the matters to the envoy of the Canadian Foreign Ministry, who happened to be in San Francisco on duty. It was fortunate that this law was abolished later, and the interests of Chinese were not inflicted. Anyway I forwarded your case to the Honorable Zeng. He told me that it was difficult to argue in London, because, firstly, there are no terms in Sino-British treaties that Chinese who reside in the British dependencies enjoy rights to most-favored-nation; secondly, unlike the Chinese central government governing the 18 provinces, the British dependencies like Australia, Canada have semi-sovereign rights, the British Government can not abolish their laws. It was, therefore, more effective to argue against it in British Columbia by the Chinese who reside there. I was off my position in 1886 and left San Francisco. The law that forbade Chinese to enter British Columbia was passed and came into force till now. This year there was debate in the Canadian Parliament whether to increase the rate of head tax to $100 on each Chinese. It was not passed fortunately. The Honorable Xie cares a lot of the Chinese in British Columbia, he knows that there are not too many business opportunities except gold mining and fishery, especially after the completion of the railway, many Chinese workers would be jobless, they can not bear the heavy taxes on them. Consequently, he addressed a note to the British Government, in which the Australian case was mentioned as well, intending for the abolition of the bad laws. His Honor particularly instructs me to forward a copy of this note to you for your knowledge. If in future there are more discriminating laws against Chinese, please first hire lawyers to enter a lawsuit, and write to me in details, advising me what really happens. Do remember to attach the original English documents. Please send my best regards to all of you 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.
- Alternative Title:
- Account of the diplomatic protest made by the Chinese Ambassador to England
- Subject:
- Chinese, History, Emigration and immigration, Race discrimination, Poll tax, and Emigration and immigration--Government policy
- Creator:
- 钦差出使英意必国大臣:罗 [罗丰禄？]
- Language:
- chi
- Date Created:
- April 19, 1900
- 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 page
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia and England
- Coordinates:
- 52.16045, -0.70312 and 53.99983, -125.0032
- 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:
- reports
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Acc. No.: 1977-084, 1.2, 1.2.08
- 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
- Technical Note:
- 600 dpi TIFF, no colour correction, archived in Cataloguing on DVD, digitized by CDW. Metadata by MH and KD.
- Alternative Title:
- Personal report from a Chinese outside of Victoria area
- Subject:
- Chinese, History, Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (Victoria, B.C.), Race discrimination, Associations, institutions, etc., and Emigration and immigration--Government policy
- Creator:
- 关颂年 and Guan, Songnian
- Language:
- chi
- Date Created:
- December 12, 1923
- 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 page
- Geographic Coverage:
- Québec and British Columbia--Victoria
- Coordinates:
- 46.81228, -71.21454 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 and reports
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Acc. No.: 1977-084, 1.4, 1.4.04
- 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:
- 2008-01-17
- Technical Note:
- 600 dpi TIFF, no colour correction, archived in Cataloguing on DVD, digitized by CDW. Metadata by MH and KD.
- Alternative Title:
- Request from the Chinese Ambassador to England to the British Foreign Minister
- Subject:
- Chinese, Race discrimination, and Emigration and immigration--Government policy
- Language:
- chi
- Date Created:
- June 25, 1897
- 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:
- 2 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia and Commonwealth countries
- Coordinates:
- 53.99983, -125.0032
- Chronological Coverage:
- 1876/1891
- 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:
- manuscripts (documents) and correspondence
- Archival Item Identifier:
- Acc. No.: 1977-084, 1.2, 1.2.04
- 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:
- June 25，1891 The Honorable Minister, Since the establishment of the Chinese Embassy to England in London in 1876, all of my predecessors lodged protests against discriminating treatment to the Chinese who reside in or travel to the British dependencies. All efforts failed except in one case, which was handled by the Honorable Liu, that the discriminating laws were abolished in British Columbia. The conditions of the Chinese there have not been improved, because in Australia Chinese are not permitted to enter, and in Canada the Central Parliaments have renewed the bad laws that were passed by the British Columbia Parliament, with only minor changes. The Canadian new laws regulate that Chinese are forbidden to enter Canada from 1886 on. The laws state at the beginning that these laws are ordered by the Queen, and approved by the Canadian Parliaments. The Chinese Government is discontented with, and protested against for many times, the discriminating laws that Chinese are not allowed to enter these dependencies, not because these laws are too harsh in imposing restrictions, or too heavy in levying tax, but because these laws are purposely made not to allow Chinese to enter these territories. These laws obviously state that it is not a restriction of number of persons allowed, but a restriction on Chinese. This shows contempt for China, not treating China as a friendly nation. On 24th and 25th February this year, the British Columbia Parliament debated whether Japanese should be treated the same as Chinese not to be allowed to enter their territory, Japanese is eventually not included. This is not because the gentlemen of the Parliament love Japanese more, or it is a better choice to allow Japanese in, but because they are afraid that this will offend the Japanese Government. I really can not understand why the British Columbia Parliament could treat China and Japan differently, and could treat the Chinese, who reside in the British dependencies, differently from other nationalities, who reside there as well. There have been strong business relations between these dependencies and China, and the dependencies get the same treatment as England in accordance with the treaties signed with China. In future if the dependencies want to be treated the same as England, they have to follow the treaties and Law of Nations as England does. It is understandable for the dependencies to make laws to restrict too many immigrants. However, the fact that Australia and Canada make laws that treat Chinese, people from a friendly nation, as the inferior, or as the enemy is not acceptable to the Chinese Government. Concerning this issue my predecessors, for many times, addressed notes to your honor. They lodged protests in accordance with Law of Nations and the treaties signed between our two nations. I am hereby presenting the above-mentioned facts to your honor to forward to the Prime Minister, and I hope the British Government can abolish these bad laws as soon as possible. We, the Chinese Government, hold the view that it is not only contempt to China, but also impediment to the growing friendship between the peoples of our two nations. We can not give free rein to this intention, the Governments of our two nations should try to find a resolution. Yours sincerely
- Technical Note:
- 600 dpi TIFF, no colour correction, archived in Cataloguing on DVD, digitized by CDW. Metadata by MH and KD.
- Alternative Title:
- Letter to Chinese Foreign Minister requesting further diplomatic action.
- 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.)
- Language:
- chi
- Date Created:
- approximately May 1899
- 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:
- 2 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia
- Coordinates:
- 53.99983, -125.0032
- 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, 1.2.09
- 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:
- Report to the Chinese Foreign Office April ,1889 The Honorable Minister, We are Chinese merchants living in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. We report to Your Honor for protection against the discriminating laws. We have been residing in British Columbia as merchants for dozens of years, but we never forget we are Chinese, and we cherish a deep love for our home land. We regard China as our nation, and we worship Confucianism. We dress as Chinese, and we are not naturalized in Canada. If we made some money we send back to China. These are the reasons out of which the local people hate us, treat us harshly, and even forbid Chinese workers to enter their territory. China is very poor, having deficit by million dollars every year. It is overseas Chinese who try to aid relief. There has been famine in the provinces recent years, and overseas Chinese contributed a great deal to help relieve the distress. Now that the overseas Chinese are suffering from the discriminating treatment, the Chinese government should protect and help us. Otherwise we would be left stranded in foreign countries and can not in turn help our home land when there is need. The United States initiated these discriminating laws, and England followed suit. Our living conditions become worse and worse. Same as Chinese, Japanese were previously not allowed to work in coal mines. After the Japanese Consul asked their government to deliver a protest to the British Government, situation changes---Japanese are allowed to work in coal mines, Chinese alone are not allowed. The Japanese Consul advised us that if our government had tried to fight against it, the result would be different. What makes worse is that the rate of head tax is to be increased. Since the United States forbad Chinese to enter, the British Government levied a $50 head tax on every Chinese, women and Children included. Chinese who would leave for some time must return in six months, those overdue have to pay the head tax a second time. The worst thing is that the head tax rate is proposed to be increased to $500, being $1,000 calculated in United States Dollars. If this law enters in force, Chinese in Canada would not be able to do any business, and our lifeline is in danger, and the overseas Chinese would have no ability to help our homeland. We overseas Chinese have been without caring from our government, and we cry in vain for maternal love like abandoned infants. We inquired by telegraph to the Office of the Honorable Luo, the Chinese Ambassador to England, and On 11th last month inquired again to the office of Your Honor. We failed to get reply from both. We are extremely worried: what shall we do next? We look forward to protection from our government, who refuses to hear from us. We are, therefore, forced to turn our back, but how can we cut off the deep love for our homeland? Upon further consideration, we understand that Your Honor have too much to do as not to pay enough attention to our request. It is not that Your Honor really reject us. We know that our request might be minor, but will be put on the agenda. The local people in British Columbia tried to force the parliament to pass the discriminating laws against Chinese. The British Government has no such intention. As the case shows that Japanese is treated differently after the Japanese Government protested to the British Government. Could Your Honor please protest to the British Government, citing the Japanese case, to require for the abolition of the two laws: firstly, Chinese are not allowed to work in coal mines; secondly, the rate of head tax is increased to $500. Your single effort could have saved thousands of lives, a boundless beneficence. We have long heard about Your Honor’s fame of excellent experience in diplomatic affairs. If it could be successfully done, we shall be eternally indebted. Your Honor will win immortal fame for your brilliant achievements to challenge the foreign power at a time when foreign countries ran wild. We assume that Your Honor, being so patriotic, would not reject us as to leave us to the tyranny of a foreign country. We beg Your Honor, the Foreign Minister, to bestow favors The Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Associations in Victoria
- Technical Note:
- 600 dpi TIFF, no colour correction, archived in Cataloguing on DVD, digitized by CDW. Metadata by MH and KD.
- Alternative Title:
- Letter to the Chinese Ambassador to England
- 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.)
- Language:
- chi
- Date Created:
- August 1897
- 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 British Columbia
- Coordinates:
- 53.99983, -125.0032 and 48.4359, -123.35155
- Chronological Coverage:
- 1885/1897
- 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, 1.2.06
- 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:
- Report to the Honorable Zhang, the Chinese Ambassador to England August ,1897 The Honorable Zhang, We are Chinese merchants and Directors of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Associations in Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. We report to Your Honor for protection against the discriminating laws which might be passed any time. Since the trade development between China and Canada, we have been residing in Victoria and other cities of British Columbia. There are now over 20,000 Chinese workers and merchants in this province. The local people had treated us well. However, in 1885 they passed a law that every Chinese entering British Columbia should pay a $50 head tax. In 1892 another new law regulated that Chinese who went back to China had to be back within six months, those overdue had to pay the head tax a second time. Last year they moved that the rate of the head tax be increased to $500. It was then the Chinese Premiere Li went to visit England and took the return route passing Canada. We submitted a report to His Honor, who delivered a diplomatic note to the Governor. The motion was suspended, and the head tax rate remains $50. But we are worried about the frequent changes of the laws. The suspended motion may be revived in the near future. Now there is news that the Parliament would pass a new law to forbid Chinese workers from entering British Columbia. If there are no workers the merchants would have no business to do. The relationship between them is as dependent on each other as the jowls and the jawbone. Our lifeline is then in imminent danger. We have long heard about Your Honor’s fame of great care for the overseas Chinese. We venture to ask for your protection at any time. Whenever we hear of any news about the increase of head tax rate, we shall report, by telegram, to the Chinese Foreign Office, and The Chinese Ambassador to England, Italy and Belgium, to deliver a diplomatic note to the British Government so as to abolish the bad law. Since there are no Chinese consulates in British Columbia, it takes a long time for our report to reach Your Honor. We are worried that before the report reaches Your Honor, the bad law has entered into effect. Therefore we have to take this precaution as to ask Your Honor to prepare for our request for this matter. Whenever Your Honor receive a telegram report concerning the increase of the head tax rate, please just protest to the British Government. We are hereby expressing our great gratitude to Your Honor. We beg Your Honor to bestow favors Yours sincerely The Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Associations in Victoria and Vancouver
- Technical Note:
- 600 dpi TIFF, no colour correction, archived in Cataloguing on DVD, digitized by CDW. Metadata by MH and KD.
- Alternative Title:
- Letter to Chinese government
- 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.)
- Language:
- chi
- Date Created:
- April 1899
- 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:
- 2 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia
- Coordinates:
- 53.99983, -125.0032
- 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, 1.2.07
- 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:
- 2008-01-17
- Transcript:
- April ,1889 Your Excellency, We are Chinese merchants and Directors of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Associations in Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. We report to Your Excellency for protection to fight against the discriminating laws. We have been residing in British Columbia as merchants for dozens of years, but we never forget we are Chinese, and we cherish a deep love for our home land. We regard China as our nation, and we worship Confucianism. We dress as Chinese, and we are not naturalized in Canada. If we made some money we send back to China. These are the reasons out of which the local people hate us, treat us harshly, and even forbid Chinese workers to enter their territory. China is very poor, having deficit by million dollars every year. It is overseas Chinese who try to aid relief. There has been famine in the provinces recent years, and overseas Chinese contributed a great deal to help relieve the distress. Now that the overseas Chinese are suffering from the discriminating treatment, the Chinese government should protect and help us. Otherwise we would be left stranded in foreign countries and can not in turn help our home land when there is need. The United States initiated these discriminating laws, and England followed suit. Our living conditions become worse and worse. Same as Chinese, Japanese were previously not allowed to work in coal mines. After the Japanese Consul asked their government to deliver a protest to the British Government, situation changes---Japanese are allowed to work in coal mines, Chinese alone are not allowed. The Japanese Consul advised us that if our government had tried to fight against it, the result would be different. What makes worse is that the rate of head tax is to be increased. Since the United States forbad Chinese to enter, the British Government levied a $50 head tax on every Chinese, women and Children included. The Chinese who would leave for some time must return in six months, those overdue have to pay the head tax a second time. The worst thing is that the head tax rate is proposed to be increased to $500, being $1,000 calculated in United States Dollars. If this law enters in force, Chinese in Canada would not be able to do any business, and our lifeline is in danger, and the overseas Chinese would have no ability to help our homeland. We overseas Chinese have been without caring from our government, and we cry in vain for maternal love like abandoned infants. On 11th last month we inquired by telegraph to the Office of the Chinese Ambassador to England, and the next day inquired again to the Foreign Office. We failed to get reply from both. We are extremely worried: what shall we do next? We look forward to protection from our government, who refuses to hear from us. We are, therefore, forced to turn our back, but how can we cut off the deep love for our homeland? Upon further consideration, we understand that the offices have too much to do as not to pay enough attention to our request. It is not that they really reject us. We know that our request might be minor, but will be put on the agenda. The local people in British Columbia tried to force the parliament to pass the discriminating laws against Chinese. The British Government has no such intention. As the case shows that Japanese is treated differently after the Japanese Government protested to the British Government. Could Your Excellency please order a commissioner to protest to the British Government, citing the Japanese case, to require for the abolition of the two laws: firstly, Chinese are not allowed to work in coal mines; secondly, the rate of head tax is increased to $500. Your single effort could have saved thousands of lives, a boundless beneficence. We have long heard about Your Excellency’s fame of diligence in managing the country, and of great care for the overseas Chinese. If it could be successfully done, we shall be eternally indebted. Your Excellency will win immortal fame for your brilliant achievements to challenge the foreign power at a time when foreign countries ran wild. We assume that Your Excellency, being so patriotic, would not reject us as to leave us to the tyranny of a foreign country. We beg Your Excellency, the Prime Minister, to bestow favors The Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Associations in Victoria and Vancouver
- Technical Note:
- 600 dpi TIFF, no colour correction, archived in Cataloguing on DVD, digitized by CDW. Metadata by MH and KD.
- 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.
- Alternative Title:
- Draft letter to the Chinese Ambassador to England
- 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.) and Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (Vancouver, B.C.)
- Language:
- chi
- Date Created:
- April 1889
- 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:
- 2 pages
- Geographic Coverage:
- British Columbia
- Coordinates:
- 53.99983, -125.0032
- Chronological Coverage:
- 1889
- 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, 1.2.06
- 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:
- April ,1889 Your Excellency, We are Chinese merchants and Directors of the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Associations in Victoria and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. We report to Your Excellency for protection to fight against the discriminating laws. We have been residing in British Columbia as merchants for dozens of years, but we never forget we are Chinese, and we cherish a deep love for our home land. We regard China as our nation, and we worship Confucianism. We dress as Chinese, and we are not naturalized in Canada. If we made some money we send back to China. These are the reasons out of which the local people hate us, treat us harshly, and even forbid Chinese workers to enter their territory. China is very poor, having deficit by million dollars every year. It is overseas Chinese who try to aid relief. There has been famine in the provinces recent years, and overseas Chinese contributed a great deal to help relieve the distress. Now that the overseas Chinese are suffering from the discriminating treatment, the Chinese government should protect and help us. Otherwise we would be left stranded in foreign countries and can not in turn help our home land when there is need. The United States initiated these discriminating laws, and England followed suit. Our living conditions become worse and worse. Same as Chinese, Japanese were previously not allowed to work in coal mines. After the Japanese Consul asked their government to deliver a protest to the British Government, situation changes---Japanese are allowed to work in coal mines, Chinese alone are not allowed. The Japanese Consul advised us that if our government had tried to fight against it, the result would be different. What makes worse is that the rate of head tax is to be increased. Since the United States forbad Chinese to enter, the British Government levied a $50 head tax on every Chinese, women and Children included. The Chinese who would leave for some time must return in six months, those overdue have to pay the head tax a second time. The worst thing is that the head tax rate is proposed to be increased to $500, being $1,000 calculated in United States Dollars. If this law enters in force, Chinese in Canada would not be able to do any business, and our lifeline is in danger, and the overseas Chinese would have no ability to help our homeland. We overseas Chinese have been without caring from our government, and we cry in vain for maternal love like abandoned infants. On 11th last month we inquired by telegraph to the Office of the Chinese Ambassador to England, and the next day inquired again to the Foreign Office. We failed to get reply from both. We are extremely worried: what shall we do next? We look forward to protection from our government, who refuses to hear from us. We are, therefore, forced to turn our back, but how can we cut off the deep love for our homeland? Upon further consideration, we understand that the offices have too much to do as not to pay enough attention to our request. It is not that they really reject us. We know that our request might be minor, but will be put on the agenda. The local people in British Columbia tried to force the parliament to pass the discriminating laws against Chinese. The British Government has no such intention. As the case shows that Japanese is treated differently after the Japanese Government protested to the British Government. Could Your Excellency please order a commissioner to protest to the British Government, citing the Japanese case, to require for the abolition of the two laws: firstly, Chinese are not allowed to work in coal mines; secondly, the rate of head tax is increased to $500. Your single effort could have saved thousands of lives, a boundless beneficence. We have long heard about Your Excellency’s fame of diligence in managing the country, and of great care for the overseas Chinese. If it could be successfully done, we shall be eternally indebted. Your Excellency will win immortal fame for your brilliant achievements to challenge the foreign power at a time when foreign countries ran wild. We assume that Your Excellency, being so patriotic, would not reject us as to leave us to the tyranny of a foreign country. We beg Your Excellency, the Prime Minister, to bestow favors The Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Associations in Victoria and Vancouver
- Technical Note:
- 600 dpi TIFF, no colour correction, archived in Cataloguing on DVD, digitized by CDW. Metadata by MH and KD.