400
1101s Document is the Property of Her Britannic Majesty's Government,
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
C. O.
4871
RECO
[January 30.]
REGO 14 FEB 00
SECTION 1.
No. 1.
Memorandum communicated to Senhor de Soveral, January 30, 1900.
FOR some time past a state of lawlessness, which shows no signs of abating, bas existed in the Chinese provinces of Kwantung and Kwangsi.
Depredations are constantly committed by armed bands both on land and on the Canton River, and native and foreign commercial interests are seriously affected by the general insecurity.
The Chinese authoritics appear powerless to effect any improvement in this condition of things. One of the chief reasons for their failure to put an end to the existing lawlessness is that the perpetrators of the outrages are better armed and more numerous than any force which the provincial anthoritics are in a position to bring to bear against them.
In view of this state of things, every effort is being made by the Government of Hong Kong to prevent the illicit importation of arms and ammunition into China, and an Ordinance is being introduced with the object of giving the Government of the Colony a closer supervision over the trade in arms. Permission is not given for the exportation of arms or ammunition to China except on application from the Yamên of the Viceroy of Canton.
The Governor of Hong Kong has, however, represented that no efforts on the part of his Government to prevent the smuggling of arms into the disturbed districts can be of practical use so long as arms can be procured easily from Macao. His Excellency has not felt justified in refusing permits for the exportation of arms to that Colony when application for them is made by the Governor, but he calls attention to the very large quantity of arms and ammunition imported into Macao from Loug Kong, which must far exceed what is required for the use of the Colony.
A list, furnished by the Governor of Hong Kong, of the arms, ammunition, &c., exported from Hong Kong to Macao last year is annexed.
Her Majesty's Government feel confident that, as soon as the Portuguese Govern- ment are made aware of the existing state of things, they will cause effective measures to be taken to prevent arms and ammunition from reaching the disturbed districts from Macao.
FRANCIS BERTIE.
Foreign Office, January 30, 1900.
(Signed)
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