The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1898-03-08
Has a Grievance Against the
British Government.
THE RIGHTS OF A REFUGEE
Wants Protection Only of Any Po-
litical Exile-A Newspaper Makes
Argument In Suns Behalf.

DR.. Sun Yat Sen, the Honolulu born
and educated Chinese is the most pro-
minent figure in the movement for a
new political order in the Chinese En-
pire. A brief note on his case was pub
lished yesterday. DR.. Sun Vat Sen
from a retreat which will not be named
mails to the Advertiser the following
newspaper clipping, with some ex-
pressions to an old friend here:
plucky little Chinaman Sun-Yat-Sen,
who was kidnapped by the Chinese
Embassy in London with view of
his consignment to the tender mercies
of the Pekin Government, and was
released upon the peremptory demand
of Lord Salisbury. 1t was rumored
lately that Sun" had been arrested
by the Governor OF Hong Kong and
surrendered to the Chinese authorities.
Upon inquiries by a correspondent,
however, this report was found to be
inaccurate. The true facts are as fol-
lows, and they seem to call for very
serious consideration.
1t appears that after Suns release
DR.. Camille, his tutor and rescuer, ad-
vised ''Sun" to go and practice his pro-
fession in the Sandwich Islands, where
many of his relatives reside. "Sun"
refused, however, and proceeded in
stead to, with the ultimate pur-
pose of settling down in Formosa, an
island yielded by China to Japan after
the war.
Whilst still in -, he wrote to
the Governor of Hong Kong informing
him of his intention to visit the colony.
In reply there came verbose and, it
may be added, impertinent letter
warning him that if he dared to set
foot in Hong Kong he would be i'm
mediately arrested for Matching plots
against a friendly Government under
an ordinance giving the Governor pow
er to Danish Cinnamon without as
signing any reason.
Poor 'fSun" was greatly cast down at
this announcement, and wrote home to
his friends in England:
| think you will be surprised to hear
that the Hong Kong Government have
banished me from the colony and
Government whenever | land there.
Much astonishment was expressed at
the receipt of this letter. Hong Kong
is a Crown colony, and as integral a
part Of the British Empire as London
or Liverpool, yet, while Sun-Yet-Sen
was at liberty to come and go as he
pleased in England, his liberty and life
were threatened if ever he set foot in
Hong Kong.
The matter was taken in hand by the
Friends of CHINA society COM
posed of influential Englishmen, and
formed with the purpose of taking
care that if an insurrection broke out
in China the British Government
should not take the side of the Man
| darins, as it practically did during the
| Taeping revolt Mr. the honor
ary secretary of this society, gave it as
| his opinion that the Governor has been
! Influenced in his action by his coun-
| Gil, composed of rich merchants anx-
ious to conciliate the authorities at
| Pekin, and fearful lest their trade with
China should be interfered with by the
outbreak of internal disturbances. If
such an ordinance as is quoted ever
did exist it is out of date-a rusty
weapon refurbished.
However, the opinion of eminent
Eastern lawyers has been taken, and
they have declared the action of the
Governor to be "a gross outrage on
1.-THE British Constitution" Meanwhile
the affair will be brought to the notice
of Parliament as soon as it meets, and
Sun -Yet-Sen will put the matter to &
practical test by landing in Hong
Kong.
1T remains to be seen whether Sil
William Robinson will carry out hi!
threat, and so lay sacrilegious hand!
on the most sacred of all British tradi
tions-the right Of every political ex
lie to absolute liberty on British sol
so long as he observes British law.