No.239.
430
C.0
27018
Government House,
Hong-Kong, 29th June 1901
10/9/92 toppe refer
Sir,
I had the honour to forward the telegrams, of which I enclose copies, on the dates mentioned in the margin.
2. Those telegrams referred to (a) a petition signed by 624 Chinese; (b) a further petition signed by 7,451 Chinese; (c) a representation made by the Unofficial Members of the Legislative Council; and (d) a similar representation by a deputation representing the Chamber of Commerce.
3. The telegrams explain themselves, and I have the honour to enclose copies of the two petitions. I submitted the question as to the obligations of the Colony under the Venice Convention to the Acting Attorney General, who advises that at present this Colony has not joined in that Convention and has no obligations under its provisions.
4. The position at present is that Hong-Kong, in common with Canton and every part of the Southern provinces of China, has been suffering from a serious epidemic of plague. In this respect Hong-Kong has not suffered nearly so heavily as Canton, but this does not prevent the people from flocking to that city and neighbourhood, so that if they die they may be buried
The Right Honourable
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.
Sec
80-1