Camp Cheung Po
30.5.99.
659
The Hon. J.H. Stewart Lockhart C.M.G.
Colonial Secretary.
I received your letters of yesterday and today, but owing to my not having an Interpreter here I found the greatest difficulty in taking any material action on the information. I applied officially for an Interpreter last Wednesday, and twice yesterday I sent telephone messages representing my difficulties in attempting to carry on my duties without the assistance of an efficient Interpreter, but as yet my appeals seem to have not received much notice. Captain Long informed me that repeated applications to the Civil Government had been made for one but without avail. This certainly is not giving me the aid that I have a right to expect.
(2) I went to the village of Cheung Po this morning with the men who were beaten (Cheng Chui Ching and Cheng Tin Nam): They took me to the houses of the culprits. In some cases the doors were locked, in others doors were open but houses empty. The people all declared that the owners had bolted to Canton: the elders seeing me with a Cook-house Coolie as Interpreter very naturally did not render me much assistance or place much reliance on my authority or power.
I send you a copy of a letter that I have just now received from the Rev. Mr. Schaub: as you know, his home is far beyond my proposed boundary, and therefore I am unable to render him assistance without authority from Hongkong.
I have sent a copy of the letter to the G.O.C. who will no doubt...