Confidential.
No 42.
M. Cumb.
Canty.
3:800
Colonial Secretary's Office
20/10/98.
318
Sir,
I have the honour by direction of the Officer Administering the Government to transmit to you the enclosed copy of a translation of certain questions & answers put to & furnished by two Chinese from vicinity of Sha Tau, Deep Bay, & three Chinese from Pun Yu (or Pan Tin) in the Tung Kun district.
These five gentlemen have approached this Government to seek protection, which of course cannot at present be afforded.
It was evident from this step & from their general bearing that they apprehended imminent action by the Triad society, not only outside the proposed boundaries of the newly leased territory, but also within such limits.
As the Officer administering the Government is unable to ascertain how far the fears of a rising & a raid are justifiable, I am instructed to invite you to draw the attention of his Excellency the Viceroy to the rumours that are current & to ascertain from the Yamen whether any signs of disturbance are manifest & if they are what steps it is proposed to take to forestall an outbreak which will probably affect the lives & property of inhabitants of the territory about to be taken over by Great Britain.
I have &c,
(sgd)
J. Sercombe-Smith, A. C. S.