Peak Reservation Ordinance
Encyclopedia
The Hill District Reservation Ordinance, Ordinance No.4 of 1904 (1904–1930) (Traditional Chinese:山頂區保留條例), commonly known as Peak reservation Ordinance, was a racially-based zoning
law passed by the Hong Kong Government that reserved the Victoria Peak
as a place of residence to non-Chinese people except with the consent of the Governor. According to Government record, it was "in order
that a healthy place of residence may be preserved for all those who are accustomed to a temperate climate and to whom life in the tropics presents the disadvantage of an unnatural environment". Contemporary historians' views toward the Ordinance varies, with some attributes the Ordinance to the plague, whereas others attributing it to racial segregation
or social status. The debate on the second reading of the Bill is recorded in the Hansard of 19th April 1904, which shows that the two Chinese members, Dr Ho Kai and Mr Wei Yuk, did not oppose the Bill but a minority of the "leading Chinese" in the community were against it.
of Bubonic plague
spread from China to Hong Kong, causing 100,000 deaths in Canton
alone within two month. Dr. Gomes da Silva, the Principal Medical Officer of Macau
, in recording the sanitary condition of the Cantonese Chinese population, observed that they usually threw house refuse into the street, where it accumulated until such time as the torrential summer rains and the overflow of the Pearl River
cleared it away. A study by City University of Hong Kong
also attributes the spread of plague to the hygiene and sanitary condition among local population at the time. Governor of Hong Kong
Sir William Robinson reported to the British Government that "the filthy habits of life amongst the 210,000 Chinese who reside here have rendered Hong Kong liable to the invasion and development of the germ of the bubonic plague.".
In the late 1890s, Europeans who resided in City of Victoria gradually moved to places of higher altitude to evade such living conditions. But as the Chinese population continued to increase in the city, and the Europeans were reaching Victoria Peak
thus could not move any higher, the Hong Kong Government decided to reserve the Peak for Europeans and other non-Chinese. The 1904 Government Gazette explained that such reservation of the district was to address such concerns over the health of European people.
Between 1894-1929, the plague caused 24000 case of infection in Hong Kong, of which 90% were fatal. In 1929, the plague was eradicated and the law was repealed in 1930.
at certain hours of the day. From 8 to 10am, the tram service was for top officials, first class passengers only. They would be guaranteed good commute time for such top officials and first class passengers. The front seat of the tram was always reserved for the governor, who further accorded its desirable social status by building a summer retreat, the Mountain Lodge
. The Peak at the time was referred to by the British as "Little England". Many of the upper-middle class household members would have a dozen to 20 Chinese servants.
Other historical zoning law in Hong Kong.
Madame Chiang Kai-shek
.; and Eurasian
millionaire Sir Robert Ho-Tung
and his family.
Zoning
Zoning is a device of land use planning used by local governments in most developed countries. The word is derived from the practice of designating permitted uses of land based on mapped zones which separate one set of land uses from another...
law passed by the Hong Kong Government that reserved the Victoria Peak
Victoria Peak
Victoria Peak is a mountain in Hong Kong. It is also known as Mount Austin, and locally as The Peak. The mountain is located in the western half of Hong Kong Island...
as a place of residence to non-Chinese people except with the consent of the Governor. According to Government record, it was "in order
that a healthy place of residence may be preserved for all those who are accustomed to a temperate climate and to whom life in the tropics presents the disadvantage of an unnatural environment". Contemporary historians' views toward the Ordinance varies, with some attributes the Ordinance to the plague, whereas others attributing it to racial segregation
Racial segregation
Racial segregation is the separation of humans into racial groups in daily life. It may apply to activities such as eating in a restaurant, drinking from a water fountain, using a public toilet, attending school, going to the movies, or in the rental or purchase of a home...
or social status. The debate on the second reading of the Bill is recorded in the Hansard of 19th April 1904, which shows that the two Chinese members, Dr Ho Kai and Mr Wei Yuk, did not oppose the Bill but a minority of the "leading Chinese" in the community were against it.
Segregation by health
In 1894, the deadly Third PandemicThird Pandemic
Third Pandemic is the designation of a major Bubonic plague pandemic that began in the Yunnan province in China in 1855. This episode of bubonic plague spread to all inhabited continents, and ultimately killed more than 12 million people in India and China alone...
of Bubonic plague
Bubonic plague
Plague is a deadly infectious disease that is caused by the enterobacteria Yersinia pestis, named after the French-Swiss bacteriologist Alexandre Yersin. Primarily carried by rodents and spread to humans via fleas, the disease is notorious throughout history, due to the unrivaled scale of death...
spread from China to Hong Kong, causing 100,000 deaths in Canton
Guangdong
Guangdong is a province on the South China Sea coast of the People's Republic of China. The province was previously often written with the alternative English name Kwangtung Province...
alone within two month. Dr. Gomes da Silva, the Principal Medical Officer of Macau
Macau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
, in recording the sanitary condition of the Cantonese Chinese population, observed that they usually threw house refuse into the street, where it accumulated until such time as the torrential summer rains and the overflow of the Pearl River
Pearl River (China)
The Pearl River or less commonly, the "Guangdong River" or "Canton River" etc., , is an extensive river system in southern China. The name Pearl River is usually used as a catchment term to refer to the watersheds of the Xi Jiang , the Bei Jiang , and the Dong Jiang...
cleared it away. A study by City University of Hong Kong
City University of Hong Kong
City University of Hong Kong is a comprehensive research university in Hong Kong. It was founded in 1984 as City Polytechnic of Hong Kong and became a fully accredited university in 1994. It has achieved fast growth in recent years and received international recognition for its academic achievements...
also attributes the spread of plague to the hygiene and sanitary condition among local population at the time. Governor of Hong Kong
Governor of Hong Kong
The Governor of Hong Kong was the head of the government of Hong Kong during British rule from 1843 to 1997. The governor's roles were defined in the Hong Kong Letters Patent and Royal Instructions...
Sir William Robinson reported to the British Government that "the filthy habits of life amongst the 210,000 Chinese who reside here have rendered Hong Kong liable to the invasion and development of the germ of the bubonic plague.".
In the late 1890s, Europeans who resided in City of Victoria gradually moved to places of higher altitude to evade such living conditions. But as the Chinese population continued to increase in the city, and the Europeans were reaching Victoria Peak
Victoria Peak
Victoria Peak is a mountain in Hong Kong. It is also known as Mount Austin, and locally as The Peak. The mountain is located in the western half of Hong Kong Island...
thus could not move any higher, the Hong Kong Government decided to reserve the Peak for Europeans and other non-Chinese. The 1904 Government Gazette explained that such reservation of the district was to address such concerns over the health of European people.
Between 1894-1929, the plague caused 24000 case of infection in Hong Kong, of which 90% were fatal. In 1929, the plague was eradicated and the law was repealed in 1930.
Segregation by race and social status
Some historians believe the Peak Reservation Ordinance is a law based on social segregation as its goal. At the time one's social status was measured by the altitude of one's residence. One incidental benefit that came with the law included the reservation of the Peak TramPeak Tram
The Peak Tramway is a funicular railway in Hong Kong, which carries both tourists and residents to the upper levels of Hong Kong Island. Running from Central district to Victoria Peak via the Mid-Levels, it provides the most direct route and offers good views over the harbour and skyscrapers of...
at certain hours of the day. From 8 to 10am, the tram service was for top officials, first class passengers only. They would be guaranteed good commute time for such top officials and first class passengers. The front seat of the tram was always reserved for the governor, who further accorded its desirable social status by building a summer retreat, the Mountain Lodge
Mountain Lodge
Mountain Lodge was the former summer residence of the Governor of Hong Kong on Victoria Peak on the Hong Kong Island in Hong Kong. The second building was a two storey Renaissance style home and was demolished in 1946...
. The Peak at the time was referred to by the British as "Little England". Many of the upper-middle class household members would have a dozen to 20 Chinese servants.
Similar Ordinances
Other historical racially-based zoning law in Hong Kong.- Light and Pass Ordinance, (22 December 1895) The law exclusively required Chinese citizens to carry a lampLanternA lantern is a portable lighting device or mounted light fixture used to illuminate broad areas. Lanterns may also be used for signaling, as 'torches', or as general light sources outdoors . Low light level varieties are used for decoration. The term "lantern" is also used more generically to...
when passing at night. The law was believed originally established under the assumption that all Chinese residents of the colony were potential criminals. - The Peak District (Residence) Ordinance, Ordinance of No.8 of May 1918, repealed in 1946.
- The Cheung Chau (Residence) Ordinance, Ordinance of No. 14 of August 1919, repealed in 1946.
Other historical zoning law in Hong Kong.
- European District Reservation Ordinance, (April 1888) It applied to parts of the Victoria that already had European style Single-family detached houses. It was classified as a Town Planning and Rent Control law under Governor Des VœuxWilliam Des VœuxSir George William Des Vœux, GCMG was a British colonial governor who served as Governor of Fiji , Newfoundland , and Hong Kong .-Early life:...
's administration, it required buildings in certain area in Hong Kong to comply with the Single-family detached home model, rather than the native, extremely crowded, Chinese model that land owners usually offered, which maximized profits. There was no exclusion by race, only by the type of buildings that could be built and a limit on the number of occupants.
Exemption
The ordinance stated that “It shall be lawful for the Governor-in-Council to exempt any Chinese from the operation of this Ordinance on such terms as the Governor-in-Council shall think fit.” Such exemptions were invoked for such personalities as First Lady of the Republic of ChinaRepublic of China
The Republic of China , commonly known as Taiwan , is a unitary sovereign state located in East Asia. Originally based in mainland China, the Republic of China currently governs the island of Taiwan , which forms over 99% of its current territory, as well as Penghu, Kinmen, Matsu and other minor...
Madame Chiang Kai-shek
Soong May-ling
Soong May-ling or Soong Mei-ling, also known as Madame Chiang Kai-shek or Madame Chiang was a First Lady of the Republic of China , the wife of Generalissimo and President Chiang Kai-shek. She was a politician and painter...
.; and Eurasian
Eurasian (mixed ancestry)
The word Eurasian refers to people of mixed Asian and European ancestry. It was originally coined in 19th-century British India to refer to Anglo-Indians of mixed British and Indian descent....
millionaire Sir Robert Ho-Tung
Robert Hotung
Sir Robert Ho Tung Bosman, KBE , better known as Sir Robert Hotung, was an influential Eurasian businessman and philanthropist in British Hong Kong. It has often been claimed that he was the "first Chinese person to be allowed to live on Victoria Peak" in 1906, two years after the enactment of the...
and his family.