中华会馆收到会费的陈述及询问上次所问之事的进展情况; (驻旧金山领事）黄遵宪回复维多利亚中华会馆关于在加华人被抽人头税的信

Public

A letter from Huang Zunxian, the Chinese Consul-General in San Francisco, concerning diplomatic protest against the restrictiveness of the immigration policy in Victoria and British Columbia. 10 September 1884（[光绪十年]七月二十一日）

In Collection:
Creator Subject Language Date created Resource type Rights statement Extent
  • 1 leaf
Alternative title
  • Letter from Chinese Consul-General in San Francisco
Geographic coverage Coordinates
  • 37.77493, -122.41942
  • 48.4359, -123.35155
Physical repository Collection
  • Chinese Canadian Collection
Provenance
  • Donor: Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (Victoria, B.C.)
Provider Genre Archival item identifier
  • Acc. No.: 1977-084, 1.2, 1.2.02
Fonds title Fonds identifier Is referenced by Date digitized
  • July 30, 2007
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.
Rights
  • 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.
DOI

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