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wait the return of their comrades from abroad before commencing operations. What is their present behaviour? At U Shik Ngam & Lung Wa Hu they have robbed the people of cattle & swine & pillaged the neighbouring villages. They have sent demands to the rich people of the surrounding villages for money to defray expenses. All the wealthy & well-to-do folks of Sham Chun have been forced to join them. $40000 have been demanded of Pantin (or Ngantin) but as the villagers are not willing to pay, their place has been surrounded & the three above mentioned Tangs had to make their escape by being disguised as beggars. On the 27th of the 8th moon they demanded from Cheng Wan Shek, of Tai Chung in the Nan Tau district the sum of $4000. The rebels have issued proclamations on red paper.
What steps have the villagers of Pantin taken for their self defence? The people of Pantin &c have borrowed some old arms from various places & collected stores to make a resistance.
What is the probable date of their commencement of operations? It is rumoured that on the 1st of the 10th moon when the autumn crops are about gathered in they will commence operations. Their intention is to plunder the villages of the grain for their own stores. They will then capture & rob Hong-Kong in order to get funds for their future operations. After stripping Hong-Kong of all her wealth they will desert her as they think she will be difficult
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