Treatment of Chinese.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 January 1923, Page 1

Treatment of Chinese.

A CONSUL’S COMPLAINT. WELLINGTON, January 4. Mr Ti Kwnng Hong, Consul for the Republic of China, writes to the evening paper a well-merited rebuke to some of the hoodlums who make a practice of insulting the Chinese peoplcin their midst. His letter is as follows: I was informed on my arrival in .the Dominion in August, 1921, that New Zealand was a wonderful country, that the climate was mild and salubrious, the scenery grand and the people hospitable. After being in the country for about a year T found my informant’s statement to be almost correct in every particular. The one small exception T found was m regard to the people of this Dominion. Although the majority of the people in this country appear to bo kind and courteous to strangers, yet there are some who, in their behaviour towards the Chinese are anything hut kind. They regard u Chines as a creature without feeling, as one to he played with, and as one to be insulted and ill-used. During rho last year T have heard many complaints from my countrymen regarding the insults they have received from New Zealanders and Tlinve on more than one occasion experienced these insults myself. On the day before, yesterday (January 2nd), T was out at Island Bay with my wife and family, when throe people called out in my hearing the most filthy language. Some of the milder terms used by these people when addressing the Chinese, are: “Chow”. “Yellow belly,” “Chinkie,” "Ohing Cliow.” “Chow Chow”, etc. T myself have had the words thrown at me. ami when I leave my gate in the performance of my duties as Consul tor China, I do so in fear and dread ol the insults which may he cast at me before I return to my home. China was an Ally of tile British Empire in the Great War and did good work by expelling all Germans who were plotting mischief in the Ear East, and I think that it is a floor return to a friendly nation that its subjects cannot appear in public in New Zealand without the risk of being insulted.