742
the writer & recapitulated his previous plans (of resistance) (The writer) Ng Ki Cheung informed him of recent political events. The writer said the natural defences of the Un Long and Sheung U divisions are not equal to those of Formosa; our generalship is not equal to that of Lau Wing Fuk (the Chinese General who was defeated by the Japanese in Formosa. Our resources are not like those of Lam Wai Un (the millionaire of Northern Formosa who contributed over a $1,000,000 towards the defence of Formosa against Japan, translator's note); we have no outside supporter like Chang Chih Tung) (Viceroy of Nankin during the China-Japan war, translator's note) yet the Chinese were beaten by the Japanese, how much less are our chances against a rich country like Great Britain with strong forces, powerful ships & effective weapons."
Tang Tsing and the others then falsely accused the writer of having been bribed by the company & having been granted a spirit monopoly.
On the first day the Tai Ping Kung Kuk (lit. Great-Peace-Public-Council Hall) was established. The intention of those who established it being to create a scare by empty bluster but pretence became reality (i.e. at first they did not intend to offer active resistance but only to pretend to do so).
On the 3rd, (12th April) (Col) Fong Un arrived in a gunboat. The people at Castle Peak stubbornly resisted him with force. The inhabitants of the Shap Pat Heung district refused to send out men. The three large villages (i.e. Kam Tin, Ha Tsun & Ping Shan) inhabited by the Tang clan used coercion saying