A
PY
734
Translations of petitions presented by inhabitants of (1) Kam Tin, (2) Shap Pat Heung, Ha Tsun and Castle Peak (3) Pat Heung, (4) Ping Shan, (5) Lam Tsun.
The humble petition of Tang and others shewing that rowdies from other districts have incited and misled the people into the folly of offering armed resistance and praying that Your Excellency may be mercifully pleased to pardon the ignorant country people and allow them to carry on their avocations in peace. Your petitioners have always observed the law and were fully aware of the condition in the convention that Chinese will be well treated which is a matter of great rejoicing to all. But unfortunately rowdies from other places spread false rumours saying that the laws and customs of the British and Chinese are different which would result in endless trouble and difficulty and they made use of this pretext to incite and mislead the people. They first coerced the elders and gentry and then offered armed resistance to the British troops. By this time having gained others to their side, your petitioners were coerced into joining them. Tang Tsing Sz then let it be known that rewards would be issued for information regarding and the arresting of traitors to their cause.
Now that the Imperial troops have come to restore order in the territory your petitioners offer their submission with true feelings of gladness. But as the people have wandered from their homes a spectacle which causes great pain your petitioners are constrained to humbly approach your tribunal.