Friday, October 29, 2021

《鱿鱼游戏》和《弥留之国的爱丽丝》(Squid Game and Alice in Borderland)

最近哈韩哈日,在Netflix 观赏两部风靡全球的连续剧:2021年韩剧《鱿鱼游戏》(Squid game),2020年日剧《弥留之国的爱丽丝》(Alice in borderland)。

最近疯传《鱿鱼游戏》,连印尼雅加达的咖啡馆都将游戏搬到店里,带动新冠疫情后生意复苏。

Netflix亦已宣布将播放第二季的《弥留之国的爱丽丝》,敬请期待。

 

《鱿鱼游戏》- 在游戏中人人都得到平等机会(?

《鱿鱼游戏》的创建人冠冕堂皇地表示,在现实世界中,受邀参与游戏的都是失败者。他们自愿参与游戏,因此应该获得现实中所无法实现的人人平等的机会,违反游戏规则的玩家都被马上击毙。

游戏中的现实是,被枪毙的玩家不只是违反公平纪律的人,而是456名参赛者当中,只有唯一的生存者。适者生存,玩游戏也一样,这就是残酷的现实。

参与死亡游戏的志愿者都在现实生活中负债累累、对人生已没有希望。他们是失败者, loser。六个游戏都是韩国的经典儿童游戏,简单的规则变成杀人场,胜出者独吞巨额奖金。于是众人没有永恒的关系,时而盟友,时而对立,进入为了生存而置对方于死地的局面。当然也出现对生命已没有留恋,自愿成人之美的剧情。陷入绝境的时候,也是暴露人性的时刻。

主角是编号456的成奇勋,他几乎没什么长处,只是胡混地过日子,唯一拥有的就是善良。为了争取到对女儿的抚养权,以及治疗病重的母亲,他将信将疑地参与死亡游戏,犹豫不决地一路走来,靠运气和品性才撑到拿着刀子拼命的最后一关。

《鱿鱼游戏》。图片来源:互联网

剧情中吸引我的四个亮点:

1. 主宰游戏的幕后大老板吴一男,这位表现得最令人同情的老头子,以一无所有的身份来参与游戏。现实中的他患上脑瘤,是众人最不想跟他组队的最年长者。老头子认为生命是短暂的、冒险的,与其被生存游戏所吓倒,不如尽心投入。当众人投票决定是否继续玩下去的时候,他手持最后那张关键票,所投的竟然是不玩。他比任何人都清楚,他们在现实生活中走投无路的时候,将会亲自选择回到游戏场上,结果肯定比之前不知情的情况下参与更加残酷。

2. 成奇勋跟老头子玩对决游戏,他那点善良亦在老头假装听不清的情况下,选择自保而蒙混过关。老头弥留之际,洞察世情地说:这个世界上已经没有善良的人了,连你都在为了自己的性命而不断地欺骗。

3. 手脚轻快,当扒手偷成奇勋钱财的脱北者姜晓,陪弟弟离开朝鲜后将他独自留在孤儿院,希望能把脱北失败的母亲带到韩国团圆,因此将所有的赌注都押在死亡游戏上。进入两人对决的游戏,她的对手智英常被父亲家暴和性侵,放学回家时见到父亲杀死母亲,于是将父亲杀了。已家破人亡的智英,对生活没有任何希望,为了成全姜晓而牺牲自己。

4. 为幕后大老板代理组织的,是警察黄俊昊的哥哥,他是某届游戏冠军,成为游戏的负责人。黄俊昊在寻找失踪哥哥的过程中,在哥哥的屋子里偶然发现一张死亡游戏的名片,使他决定潜入组织调查哥哥的下落。哥哥摘下面罩后,开枪射伤弟弟的眼神令人难忘。  

 

《弥留之国的爱丽丝》- 进入众人消失的平行世界

《弥留之国的爱丽丝》是部悬疑科幻剧,游戏的玩法比《鱿鱼游戏》庞大复杂得多,进入游戏之后没得选择,不可以退出,只能一个接着一个地玩下去。主办方同时安排自己人参与游戏,自己人也会因失败而死亡,紧张刺激、充满悬疑之余,还可以和剧中人物一起动脑筋。

沉迷于电子游戏的年轻无业游民有栖,与另外两名落魄的朋友在涩谷的街头相会,为了躲避警察,三人藏在地铁站的洗手间。突然间,洗手间灯灭了,街上空无一人,变成一座死城。晚上巨大的显示屏上写着游戏开始,他们就这样加入死亡游戏。

进入奇幻的世界之前,有一扇分隔两个世界的,这道关卡与规则设定相当复杂,游戏又分成体力类、智慧类、团体合作类、心理类,还有签证来延长多几天寿命,众人陷入闯关保命的世界。

有栖玩惯网络游戏,他凭着老经验,冷静勇敢地率领众人通关。现实中他是个一无是处的失败者,但在游戏中找到自我,虽然身边的人一个个地死去并不是他想看到的结局。

柚叶的父亲超爱爬山,以无氧独自攀登珠穆朗玛峰而闻名,但是有人造谣说他不是全无氧。父亲为了证明自己,再次独自前行,这回柚叶没等到父亲回来。柚叶是个在困境中探索生存意义的坚强少女,继承父亲野外生存的本领,成为游戏通关的技能。有栖失去朋友后悲痛欲绝,放弃生存的欲望,柚叶以一碗饭让有栖重燃求生的意志,两人结伴继续玩下去。

剧中的亮点是通过游戏展现人性光辉的一面,游戏不全然是你死我亡的对决,而是可以通过互助来脱离困境,甚至在绝境中自我忏悔,舍身成仁。

《弥留之国的爱丽丝》。图片来源:Netflix

 

边缘人的困境

两部剧都以 边缘人来发挥,他们为了寻求解脱而走入死亡游戏中。《弥留之国的爱丽丝》吸引人之处是游戏,《鱿鱼游戏》刻画的是人。相较之下,网络游戏的张力大,拓展发挥的空间相应提高,这是投资拍摄第二季的考量。

两部剧都同样把走投无路的现实和人性紧扣,传达类似的信息:处于生死边缘,人与人之间是否还存在着感情与信任?如果处于边缘地带的人是你,你会怎么做?


Friday, October 22, 2021

My personal experience with the Small Claims Tribunals

The ultimate purpose for me to post this article is to inform freelancers in Singapore that you do not always have to be at the losing end. At its minimum, the Singapore legal system provides a safety net and will help you to restore justice if you are bullied.


I filed a lawsuit against Peck San Theng (PST)  in the Small Claims Tribunals in June 2021. It drew the attention of some PST people and media friends. From the onset, they knew that PST was guilty of wrong doing by evading from contractual payment of completed services. They only worried that PST as a 50 million dollar organisation, has exceptional wealth to engage lawyers to back them. On the contrary, I was acting as a lonely temporary “lawyer” representing myself. It is like smashing eggs against rocks.

The lawsuit is over now. All the perjured evidence and false accusations submitted by PST to the Tribunals are completely crushed by the honourable judge. The court ruled that PST is 100% in the wrong. The public can access the case (Claim No. SCT/13777/2021) from the state court website.

Looking back, I embarked on the freelancer journey with PST in 2016. I helped PST researched into its history and set up the PST heritage gallery with a grand opening two years later. On PST’s requests, I helped them edited the book PST’s heritage and artefacts, provided docent training, conducted many seminars, academic exchanges and guided tours. Our relationship was stable. As time goes by,  there were a few persons felt eyesore about those achievements credited to their predecessors who had worked with me.  They tried to take advantage on me by thinking that I was just a freelancer and did not have strong backing. They only learnt that I am a streetfighter after they lost the court case miserably.

The ultimate purpose for me to post this article is to inform freelancers in Singapore that you do not always have to be at the losing end. At its minimum, the Singapore legal system provides a safety net and will help you to restore justice.

 

I am at peace with the outcome from the tribunals

I am at peace with clear conscience from the court’s ruling. Having said that, I also feel sad that PST is moving into dark ages.

Generally speaking, the management system of PST is extremely backward. The 16 clan associations which formed PST assume the respective constitutional roles once every two years on rotation basis and not based on merit. It was unfortunate that the rotation landed on someone who were short-sighted and narrow minded two years ago.

The management committee as a whole is dominated by old folks in their 70s of whom many of them are absentminded, illogical and non-professional. Although there is a youth group formed by constitution, it is inactive because the youths can not accept the ways PST management behaved.  

The management committee does not have any accountability. A person with thick skin will get away easily from all the wrong saying and wrong doing. Although there are some righteous people in PST, their voices are too soft and overwhelmed by the opposition. Eventually a handful of cockroaches spoiled the whole pot of porridge.

 

Background of the lawsuit

Due to the coronavirus pandemic which crashed with the two peak worshipping seasons during Lunar New Year and Qing Ming Festival, PST asked me to provide online booking software and services to control the crowds. PST agreed to the terms and conditions of the contract in black and white.

My temporary technical staff thought that the service fee charging at 6 to 8 times less than the market rate was far too low. It is as if doing charity for a profit-making body. I had to ask them to treat it as a service for my father. My father, who is 91 years old, had served PST more than 60 years ago when many of its current committee members were still running around naked. He has deep sentiment for the local community. Please sacrifice a little of yourselves for the sake of the old man.

And the outcome? My staff handled over 90% of the crowds for PST during this period. According to PST, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and Ministry of Law (MINLAW) praised PST as the best organisation of its kind during the Qing Ming season. Instead of being grateful to my team, PST turned the bowl upside down and did not pay my staff. I tried to contact PST several times but they just beating around the bush and eventually simply ignored.

To respond to such arrogant and rogue behaviour, I had no choice but to let the court deal with it.  I am faithful that the Singapore’s court system will uphold those essential values such as justice and righteousness, among others.

 

Going to court

The Court Registrar of the Tribunals was particularly kind to PST and held three pre-trial conferences in June and July 2021 at the request of Mr Cheang, the PST representative. However, from the first pre-trial conference, the Registrar had already clearly told Cheang that the contract was a valid one and PST should settle it out of court in order not to waste everyone’s time. For those happenings within PST as cited by Cheang, they were irrelevant to the case. PST maintained its position at all the three conferences.

The case was officially trial on 5 August 2021. Only during that two-hour trial, Cheang began to realise that the situation was unfavourable to him. He kept putting forward "new evidences" that were not presented as court documents beforehand.  The judge refuted one by one and only sought my clarification in one or two occasions. Before conclusion, Cheang attacked me with strong but baseless words as a last resort to salvage his pride. The judge warned him sternly that such groundless behaviour was not tolerable in court. Cheang requested to reschedule the trial so that he could gather fresh evidence but the judge decided otherwise.

PST listed Mr Loo, the just rotated-out chairman of the management committee, as a witness. As Loo’s written statement was only stating his executive power but not presenting any actual testimony relevant to the case, Loo was not call in but only sat outside the courtroom throughout.

It is also “interesting” to note that the day before the trial, PST violated another court procedures by hastily uploaded an Irish case to “strengthen” its argument. As a person with sensible mind, you could imagine the outcome of such unrelated submission.

 

Highlights of the judgment

The key points of the oral judgment are as follows:

1. The contract between PST and I is valid and there is no doubt that PST was using the software and services provided by me. Moreover, Cheang who was responsible for publishing the Qing Ming Festival notices in the local Chinese and English newspapers on 24 March, had been asking the public to make reservations online right at the beginning of the notices.

2. It is reasonable for the General Secretary, a member of PST management committee of whom Cheang also targeted with, to make the decision to provide online reservation. It is deemed in line with the government's pandemic control policy to manage the worshipping crowd during peak periods.

3. The so-called "evidences" presented by Cheang have nothing to do with the contract.

The court ruled that PST had to pay 100% of all the outstanding amount within the specific deadline. I can apply for court enforcement equivalent to an order of a District Court if PST failed to pay up.

Eventually, PST made the payment by courier on the last day’s evening.

 

Small Claims Tribunals provide decent protection for freelancers

Freelance workers are on a growing trend in recent years especially during the coronavirus pandemic. However, the current Singapore statutory  policies are not adequate enough to provide effective protection for freelancers. Some unprincipled "employers" would take advantage of the legal loopholes to bully freelancers and default payments.

I believe that even if the pandemic turns into epidemic, the number of freelancers will likely increase. They may not know who to turn to when face with irrational opponents.

After going through the PST case personally, I have speedily mastered the small claim tribunals proceedings and I can testify that the tribunals are objective, reasonable and impartial. The tribunals are here to provide a quick and inexpensive platform for the resolution of small claims and are of great help to freelancers.

If you are bullied and do not get pay for your services, you can deal with them quickly through the Small Claims Tribunals without spending too much on legal fee. You will self-learn how to provide objective evidence within legal framework.

If you need further help, I will be happy to provide you with free consultancy, and to share with you the processes and key considerations based on my recent experience.

Friday, October 15, 2021

毕麒麟:新加坡第一任华民护卫司司长 William Pickering

原文刊登于 The News Lens 关键评论2021914

 

谁是毕麒麟

毕麒麟(William Alexander Pickering1840-1907)于19世纪的新马史上拥有一席之地。他在霹雳州化解帮派恩怨,促成日后马来亚成为英国殖民地;出任新加坡的华人事务官职时,对私会党、新客和弱势妇女的影响深远。

毕麒麟原籍英国,人生的黄金年华都在远东度过。他16岁那年成为一名水手,到过缅甸、暹罗、马来群岛和中国,22岁(1862年)时抵达福州。他对神秘的东方以及中国各地的语言充满好奇,决定留在福州大清皇家海关总税务司吃皇家饭

福州闽江金山寺:福州大清皇家海关总税务司设于福州闽江金山寺岛上,英国人称为Pagoda Island. c.1870sCredit: Media.Getty.edu

 

那时候中国刚于第二次鸦片战争打败仗,签订的中英《北京条约》容许外商招聘廉价华工出洋,掀起日后华南地区的大移民潮。至于海关则由清朝付钱,欧洲人监督管理。毕麒麟喜欢新挑战,在福州一年后便跟着上司前往台湾,跟台湾原住民和各阶层华人建立人脉。他在台湾的遇险记成为《历险福尔摩沙》回忆录的题材。

台湾府英国领事馆19世纪Credit: Pickering W.A., Pioneering in Formosa

1870年,毕麒麟回到伦敦,接受时任英国驻新加坡总督哈里·圣乔治·渥(Sir Harry St George Ord,新加坡河的渥桥以他命名)的聘请,于1872年出任华人翻译官。

多掌握一种语言,就打开多一扇窗户。毕麒麟是当时唯一通晓中文,并能讲各籍贯方言的英国官员,因此得到新加坡华人的普遍信任。他对于新加坡华人称呼警察为大狗,洋人为红毛鬼,法官为魔鬼等感到十分诧异,了解到原来不是空穴来风,而是存在着中英的文化差异以及一些官员胡作非为之后,除了确保官方对中文的解读与双向翻译正确无误,同时将接受私会党贿赂的法庭翻译员解雇。

1877年,毕麒麟出任华民护卫司(Chinese Protectorate)司长,同时受委任为控制私会党活动的社团注册官(Registrar of Societies),1890年退休。

新加坡第一任华民护卫司的司长毕麒麟。摄于新加坡国家博物馆

 

拉律暴动与太平

毕麒麟初到南洋便展现出跟华社沟通的实力,所处理的棘手事件包括斡旋海山派和义兴派两大私会党,化“拉律”为“太平”。

 发生在马来亚霹雳州的拉律暴动共三轮  186118651872),头尾历时12年,直到1874年才划下句点。

19世纪初的拉律是个名不见经传之地,据说只住了三名华人。华工前往拉律开采锡矿后,人口才逐渐增加,第三次拉律暴动时有约三万人。

第一次暴乱的起因是矿场争夺水源。第二次暴乱是因赌博起争执,海山扣留14名义兴党员,最后只留下一个活口;义兴党员纠众反击,40名海山党员遇难。

第三次暴乱,义兴党魁李亚坤跟海山党魁郑景贵的近亲通奸,结果奸夫淫妇被浸猪笼。义兴心有不甘党魁遇害,由新领袖陈亚炎率领人马,将海山逐出拉律。海山拟定复仇计划,假意邀请义兴首领讨论委任华人甲必丹事宜,暗地里派重兵袭击留在拉律的义兴党员,死了整千人。

霹雳苏丹无法平息这场冲突,只好向英国人求救,海峡殖民地总督安德鲁·克拉(Andrew Clarke,新加坡河的克拉码头以他命名)委派毕麒麟为和谈铺路。两党于1874120日达成和解,连同其他20多名华社领袖签订历史性的《邦咯协约》。日后陈亚炎与郑景贵和亲,成为郑景贵四子郑大平的干爹,腥风血雨拉下帷幕。

经历过连串事件后,当地华人感悟到身在异地应该以和为贵,而不是自相残杀,于是将拉律易名太平” Taiping),希望从此以后永远太平。

马来西亚霹雳州太平湖:拉律易名为太平后,希望从此永远太平

 

或许毕麒麟并没想到他成功调解帮会间的恩怨情仇,竟然使到马来亚于日后成为英国囊中物。当时除了由新加坡、马六甲和槟城三州府组成的海峡殖民地外,1884年成立马来联邦(霹雳,雪兰莪,森美兰,彭亨),1909年成立马来属邦(柔佛,吉兰丹,吉打,丁加奴,玻璃市),马来半岛完全落入英国手中。

 

新加坡的私会党

熟悉华人事务的毕麒麟立功后官运亨通,受提拔为1877年成立的华民护卫司(Chinese Protectorate)第一任司长,兼任社团注册官(Registrar of Societies)。

设立华民护卫司的推动力来自中国清朝。当时清朝国运式微,必须借用海外华人的资源来振兴中国,在新加坡设立中国领事馆的初衷就是向富裕的海外侨民靠拢。英政府当然不愿意看到外人在英国领地插手管理侨民事务,直到设立华民护卫司后,才批准清政府成立领事馆。

管控华人私会党是毕麒麟的主要使命之一。私会党出自英国人针对华人帮会所发明的新词“secret society”,那个时代的私会党以帮会与公司的形式存在,如天地会、关帝会、义兴公司、义福公司等。为了进一步了解这些秘密组织,毕麒麟甚至参加天地会(福建义兴),见证入会仪式。

帮权斗争下的新加坡并不太平,小冲突经常发生,大械斗亦层出不穷。举些例子:

1846年,义兴的头目去世,出殡游行时被关帝会众袭击。这是新加坡史上第一起严重的帮会冲突事件,起因是种植园地短缺,因地界不清而引起混战。

1851年,义兴因信奉天主教的潮州种植园者没有缴交保护费,趁着教会主持请假时,袭击20多个种植园,并以新加坡北部陈厝港(靠近新柔长堤的旧关卡一带)为据地跟警方驳火。

1854年,反清的小刀会潮州会众逃到新加坡避难,福建米商故意抬高价格,双方从口角演变成义福(福建帮)与义兴(潮州帮)的十日械斗,500人死亡。殖民地政府要求福建帮领导陈金声,潮州帮领导佘有进以及义兴首领蔡茂春出面调解,总算化解一场危机。

1876年,华人和殖民地政府因邮政局事件而正面交锋。当时新加坡有5万多名华人,一年内寄回家乡的汇款约7万西班牙银元,估计数额将逐年增加。政府以保护侨民的钱财为由,成立邮政局来处理书信汇款。有些华商认为政府的目的是垄断汇兑市场,抢走他们的饭碗,于是怂恿私会党员将邮政局给拆了,甚至威胁邮政局职员的性命,政府迅速出动警察稳定局面。

回顾这些事迹,最早期的新加坡华人帮会是反清复明志士的避难所,随着时日的演变,反清意识已逐渐模糊,取而代之的是培植势力来保护自己的码头,争取更大的经济利益,一些变质的帮会成为制造动乱的源头。

毕麒麟就是在这样的大环境中走马上任的,他意识到并非所有帮会都为非作歹,一些组织向来奉公守法,为新客提供基本生活的援助。他在华人私会党Chinese Secret Societies)的报告中指出:在海峡殖民地,私会党其实是友善的组织,且不带有政治意图。但如果从整个华人社会的本质来看,私会党内部本来就存在着一大群无法无天之徒。因此在某种程度上,私会党是危险的。

毕麒麟采取双管齐下的对策:

1   制定控制贩卖猪仔的措施,监督新客与雇主间的契约,新客入境前先由华民护卫司面试,接受劝导别加入私会党,不过实际效果不大;

2   实行以黑制黑,在私会党聚居的地方划分地界,每个区域由一名私会党老大负责调解帮派争端,一旦发生严重事故,老大第一个被遣送回中国。这招有明显的阻吓作用,单是1879年就和平地解决两千多起争端。

华民护卫司成立三年后,无孔不入的私会党已招募近半的华人入党。英国人意识到继续发展下去,可能跟清朝严禁的天地会一样,随时制造动乱,甚至通过武力来反政府。1882年危险社团法令生效后,政府宣布海山公司为非法组织,必须马上解散。

华民护卫司进一步加强赌博管制,私会党的收入受到严重冲击。1887718日上午1115分,义福党员蔡亚惜带着斧头走入华民护卫司办公室,挥斧击中毕麒麟的额头。

根据调查委员会的报告,蔡亚惜只是个普通的木匠,蓄意行刺长官必有匪党串合,预设奸谋。蔡亚惜在法庭供证时表示因流连赌馆而欠头家10元,头家告诉他若愿意行刺毕麒麟,事成之后赏金500元,结果恶向胆边生。

结合印尼和本地的情报,涉嫌报复毕麒麟的,除了义福公司的领袖,还有柔佛的义兴第二号人物兼港主林亚相。林亚相在新加坡经营赌馆,收入因毕麒麟的监管而首当其冲。由于控方证据不足,法庭命令将他们驱逐出境,警卫却误会为无罪释放,众人逃之夭夭。林亚相后来在新山经营鸦片烟馆、赌馆、木材等生意。

时任总督史密斯 Sir Cecil Clementi Smith,大坡的丝丝街和史密斯街以他命名)于1890年推出新的社团法令,解散所有私会党,所有社团必须重新登记后才能公开活动。与此同时,政府成立由各方言群代表组成的咨询委员会来管理华社。

毕麒麟不认同总督镇压私会党的做法,认为这将迫使私会党转入地下,敌暗我明下更难管控。总督坚持正邪不能共存,不采纳毕麒麟的意见。直至上世纪70年代末,新加坡的私会党才受到全面控制,此乃后话。

 

1887718日,潮州木匠蔡亚惜行刺毕麒麟的告示。摄于新加坡国家博物馆

 

保护妇女与女童

毕麒麟对良家妇女和妓女伸出援手,不让他们落入人肉贩子手中。需知妓院都受到私会党的渗透,毕麒麟的做法等同跟私会党宣战,酿成暗流汹涌的局面。

对于海峡殖民地的槟城保良局和新加坡保良局,大家或许比较陌生。毕麒麟是推动成立新加坡保良局的幕后功臣。1887年,殖民地政府通过妇女与女童保护法令,当局可以随时检查妓院,给予妓女人身保护令等:

1      华民护卫司有权将受到欺凌的女子带到安全的地方;

2      华民护卫司有权将那些小于16岁,被安排从事非道德职业的未成年少女带到安全的地方;

3      华民护卫司有权搜查船只、房屋、建筑物或任何其他地方,将那些被诱拐贩卖的女子带到安全的地方。在政府机构逃走的女子或窝藏这些女子的人士将会受到法律的制裁。

所谓安全的地方,就是后来的保良局。保良局发展成为被遗弃、被虐待的女孩,或从富裕家庭逃出来的妹仔(奴婢)的安身之所。1931年,国际联盟(联合国的前身)到新加坡考察时,认为保良局是最出色的同类型慈善机构(thefinest institution of its kind)。保良局的原址乃现在的欧南中学所在地。

约克山欧南中学坐落在19世纪末创建的保良局的原址上

 

1884年毕麒麟在任期间,新加坡有6万名男性华工,但只有6000名华籍女子,估计其中至少有三分之一是妓女,形成头家靠苦力,苦力要女人的局面。

清朝官员李钟珏《新加坡风土记》亦提到牛车水一带,妓馆节比,闻注籍于护卫司之妓女,共有三千数百人,而此外之私娼女伶,尚不计其数。皆广州府人,或自幼卖出洋,或在坡生长者。

殖民地政府并没有阻止卖淫活动的意图,也没有意思限制外人入境新加坡从事卖淫工作。政府认为卖淫是中国的传统文化,连皇帝都逛妓院,因此打击卖淫是不实际的做法。当时亦考虑到已经有人肉贩子将海南的小男生拐带到新加坡当娈童,一旦阻止娼妓,可能引发更严重的变态性交易。

根据毕麒麟的研究,以性交易为生的华族女子源自四个渠道:

1)来自香港和广东,多数是自愿性质;

2)被不良分子欺骗到南洋来当妓女;

3)因为家贫而被卖给妓院;

4)妓女的孩子。她们长期住在妓院,跟着母亲从事相同的行业。

毕麒麟认为这群年轻女子中,有八成是在不情愿的情况下当妓女的,妇女与女童保护法令主要是打击这类强迫性,逼良为娼的非法行为。

法令开始实行时,引起妓院业者极大反弹。鸨母穿着木屐,大摇大摆地来到华民护卫司发飙,狠狠蹬地发出咯咯巨响,将牌照掷在官员脸上等景象司空见惯。

虽然1880年代末才通过保护妇幼的法令,但在该年代初新加坡已经有临时收容所的安排。女性抵岸时先接受华民护卫司的面试,如果被怀疑是在非自愿性质下入境,就会送入临时收容所,安排遣返回国。

反正你有你的张良计,我有我的过墙梯,别说殖民地时代,21世纪20年代的今天,好与坏、正义与罪恶还是在社会中共存的。

 

毕麒麟的遗迹

毕麒麟于18906月退休返回英国,1896年发表《海峡殖民地早期历史》(Early History of Straits Settlement),1898年完成回忆录《历险福尔摩沙》(Pioneering in Formosa)。

《历险福尔摩沙》书中写道,华人是海峡殖民地、马来亚、缅甸和香港的骨干,估计有75万名成年的华人离乡背井,只身到这些英国殖民地打拼。英国在这些地方是为了商贸而非领土,如果英国没治理好这些地方,法国、德国与俄罗斯将会在北京兴风作浪,殖民地的华人为了保护家人或误信谗言,将会跟英国人对抗,殖民地的经济必定受损。虽然攻陷中国清朝易如反掌,但中国很难管理,单是两三个省份就够头痛了。为了维护殖民地的长远利益,英国更有必要跟北京建立良好的关系。

毕麒麟是名尽忠职守的公务员,他在新马、福州和台湾吃皇家饭,最终目的是维护帝国的版图。不过无可否认的,他在新加坡的十多年间,为照顾在地华人,保护被边缘化的弱势妇女,维持社会治安等贡献良多。

新加坡有两处纪念毕麒麟的遗址,大坡的毕麒麟街(Pickering Street,俗称单边街)就是以毕麒麟命名的。这条衔接合洛路(Havelock Road)与漆街(Church Street)的马路就在芳林公园旁,俗称跳楼街。原来一个甲子前这里的九层楼组屋落成后,国人跳楼自杀事件频繁。

毕麒麟街俗名跳楼街,一个甲子前这些九层楼组屋成为跳楼热点而得名。图片来源:明信片

 

坐落于合洛路的前劳工部大厦已列为国家古迹,它的前身就是毕麒麟办公的华民护卫司。这座充满古典气息的建筑于约百年前重建,如今成为由家事法庭、少年法庭,以及高庭的家事部门合并组成的家事司法法院。

合洛路家事司法法院的前身就是毕麒麟办公的华民护卫司。这座典雅的建筑于上世纪20年代重建,已列为国家古迹。

  

主要参考资料

Irene Lim, William A. Pickering, singaporeinfopedia, https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_1345_2008-12-03.html accessed 8 September 2021.

Pickering W.A., “Chinese Secret Societies and Their Origin”, JSBRAS No. 1 (July, 1878), pp. 63-84, Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society.

Pickering W. A., Pioneering in Formosa, London Hurst and Blakett, Limited, 1898.

何乃强,“1851年暴动不是反天主教,《联合早报》2 September 2021

李国樑,《大眼鸡 越洋人》,ISBN 978 981 11 5328 0

林志强,林亚相与毕麒麟遇袭案,《尘封轶事 从武吉布朗追溯新华两百年》,ISBN 978 981 14 0617 1


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