Territory.
Confidential
From
209657
25095
Real 18 SEP 09
The General Officer Commanding.
58
in China and Hongkong.
To
The Under Secretary of State for
War
Head Quarter Office, Hongkong,
18th August 1909
Sir,
I have just returned from a stay of some days at Camp Cheung Po in the close neighbourhood of Sham Chun.
I had heard of the great difficulties attendant on the administration of law and order in this neighbourhood, and was anxious to judge for myself.
It will be remembered that Sham Chun was occupied on May 16th 1899 by an overwhelming force. The suddenness of our arrival and the strength of the Force employed, not only precluded all thought of active opposition, but over-awed the inhabitants, so that they not only gave in their submission, but in a short time, on finding that liberal payment was made for all purchases, and that money was freely circulated, they showed signs of being actually glad of our presence. This was in the belief that our occupation was to be permanent.
But after a time it leaked out in the public press (no one knows how) that it was the intention of Her Majesty's Government to withdraw from the district, if certain conditions laid down were accepted by the Chinese
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