CHINESE INSULTED

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11410, 5 January 1923, Page 5

CHINESE INSULTED

COMPLAINT FROM CONSUL FILTHY LANGUAGE AND MANY EPITHETS. ’‘IN FEAR AND DREAD.” The Editor of the ‘‘New Zealand Times” has received the following letter from the Chinese Consul: ‘‘Sir, —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, I found my informant’s statement |to be almost correct in every particular. . “The one small exception I found 1 was in regard to the people of this Dominion. Although the majority of the people in this country appear to be kind and courteous to strangers, yet there are some who, in their behaviour towards the Chinese, are anything but kind. They regard a Chinese as a creature without feeling,, aa one to be played with, and as one to be insulted and ill-used. ‘‘During the last year, I have heard many complaints from my countrymen regarding the insults they have received from New Zealandersand I have on more than one occasion experienced these insults myself. Only the day before yesterday (January 2nd) I was out at Island Bay with my wife and family when three people called out in my hearing the most tnthy language. Some of thsr' milder terms used by these people when, addressing the Chinese are “Chow,” “Yellowbelly,” “Yellow guts,” “Chinkee,” “Cfciing chow,” “Chow chow,” etc. L . “I myself have had words thrown at me/ and when I leave my gate in the performance of my duties as Consul for China, I do so in fear and dread of insults which may be cast at me before I return to my home. “China was an ally of the British Empire in the Great War, and . did good work by expelling all Germans who were plotting mischief in the East, and I think that it is a poor return to a friendly nation that its subjects cannot appear in public in New Zealand without the risk of being insulted.—‘Yours, eto.,,_ LI KWANG HENG. Consul for the Republic of China.

CONSUL’S OPINION

CONFINED TO CERTAIN CLASS. ANGLO-CHTNESB RELATIONS. To a “New Zealand Times” representative last ■ evening, Mr Kwang Bong • said that he did not wish to add anything to his letter. Twice he himself had been insulted publicly while members c-f his family had also suffered similarly. He wished to promote the best feelings between the Chinese and English races, and was sure that he could do so. England and China had been allies in the cause of freedom, and there was no reasbn why their amicable relations should be impaired. He had taken no action in the matter beyond his letter, and did not intend to do so; but had received complaints many times from his countrymen that they had been the objects of similar abusive language. To a query he answered that he was certain thdt this conduct was confined to a certain class of the community, but wished to point out to those people that they were not giving ordinary fair play to his countrymen, and to assure them that the relations between their race and his own could he of a most friendly nature.