They shouted them down in the most reckless fashion, whereupon the popular ire was aroused. Thus the first turning of the matshed was due to Mr. Way's hastiness, and had nothing to do with the Chinese Military officials.
On the 14th April, they again went to put up a matshed. At the time Major Fang's soldiers were at Shek Chuan, and Colonel Sheng's at Kowloon, Mr. May should have let them know beforehand, so that they might have sent soldiers to accompany him, instead of which he never gave any intimation to the military officers, cut matters straight off with his workmen and Police to do the work, the result being that the workmen were driven away. The Chinese military officials, being three or four miles away from the place, could not know the British Officials were going there to put up a matshed, so how could they afford protection? Thus the occurrence of the 14th instant was no concern of the Chinese military officials, Wong Taotai, who was in Hongkong, informed Url bookbart in detail of the above occurrences, at the time, the Governor of Hongkong refrained from any criticism.
As the British flag had not yet been hoisted, the territory was still Chinese, and if Mr. May and his party were at any time desirous to proceed into the interior, the Chinese...