CO.
15079
special inducement.
兆
I have the honour to be,
Joe Most Obedient
Humble Servant
Hanny asslabs
Governor.
Copy.
Enclosure No 1.
Sir,
Police Office,
10th May 1899.
131
For some days past there have been rumours in town that the Tung Kun men were contemplating another incursion into the leased territory.
Today an informer sent by me to Sha T'an to watch them has returned and reports that on the 6th instant, over 140 fighting men from Man King Sha in the Tung Kun District arrived at Sha T'au and, feeling their strength not sufficient, sent back 60 of their number to collect more men to be hired.
The fighting men are said to be members of the Ming Lan Tong, a Literary Club situated inside the walled City of Tung Kun.
The members of this Club are the gentry of the District, and the Chairman and Secretaries are members of the Tang Clan, which is so numerous in and around Ping-Shan and Un Long, and which furnished the ring-leaders in the recent revolt against this Government.
The fighting men apparently are meant to form a nucleus round which the villagers of Sha Tau and neighbourhood will gather for an incursion into our territory.
The informer states that the greatest secrecy is observed at Sha Tau and neighbourhood, and that it is very difficult to get information.
In