II.
746
Statement of Tang Kok Lam Graduate of the 3rd degree, elder of Kam Tin district.
On the 17th of the 2nd moon (27th March) Mr. May wished to erect a police station on the hill behind Ping Shan, the inhabitants of which became excited & appeared to be dissatisfied.
On the 18th (28th March) in the morning, a meeting was held in the ancestral temple. After the morning meal, the gentry went to Ha Tsun to meet & discuss the matter.
On the 19th (29th March) a meeting was held in the meeting house at Un Long, at which the elders from the 5 districts were present. A very heated discussion took place, but the writer & Ng Ki Cheung never said a word.
On the 21st (31st March) the gentry of Sheung U division went to Un Long and agreed to join the general movement.
On the 22nd (1st April) in the early morning, the writer went home. All the gentry deliberated until the afternoon but without having arrived at any definite decision.
Unfortunately, the incident of the burning of the matshed at Taipo by some drunken men occurred. Man Chan Chun wrote applying for help. Ha Tsun alone replied to the call.
Tang Tsing Sa went in person to my house. On the one hand, he moved me by appealing to justice, and on the other hand, he worked on with fears by dwelling upon the calamities.