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doubt informed you, has had the desired effect. Procrastination would most certainly have increased the trouble and caused much bloodshed. The G.O.C. reports that his expedition met no resistance. This was due to the defeat of the Chinese at Sheung Tsun on the 18th inst. The Chinese state 2600 Chinese took part in that fight, the majority of them being from districts North of Sham Chun. This defeat has filled the Chinese with terror. The Viceroy should have taken steps to prevent this rabble coming into our territory and should be held responsible for not having done so. I strongly recommend that the Government of China be called upon to remove the present Viceroy and to appoint a successor, who should always have by him a British Adviser, in view of our present interests on the South of China and of the necessity of order being maintained in the Provinces of Kwang Tung and Kwang Sai. I am of opinion that without a British Adviser order will never be maintained by a Chinese Viceroy in those Provinces.
(Sd.) J.H.STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary.
P.S. Captain Berger, Lieut. Barrett and the men of the HKong Regiment have done splendidly and if it had not been for their rapid movement, the disturbance would have increased.
(Init.) J.H.S.L.