No. 245.
Hongkong.
207
C.0. 20005
Government Housed 6 JIN C3)
Hongkong, 8th. May, 1903.
sir.
I have the honour to report for your
information that strong representations having been made that
a state of famine existed in the province of Kwang Si, I invited
representatives of every section of the Community to meet me
on the 23rd. ultimo when I laid before them the facts so far
as I know them, and the meeting was addressed by the Reverend
Mr. Hess of the Alliance Mission who had just arrived from
the town of Wuchou. The result of the meeting was the
formation of a Committee to collect subscriptions over which
at the request of the Committee I consented to preside. Con-
flicting rumours as to the distress having been in circulation
Mr. Clementi kindly volunteered to proceed at his own expense
losure !
29 the Cheil
to Kwang 31 and examine into the true state of affairs. His
letters, copies of which I attach, show the painful state to
which the people in certain districts have been reduced. Mir.
Clementi on his arrival at Wuchou placed himself in communica-
tion with the Consul, Mr. Fox, and waited upon the Governor of
the Province who received with gratitude the offers of as-
sistance and gave him all the infomation in his power as to
the famine stricken districts, to which a quantity of rice has
already
THE RIGHT HONOURABLE
JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.,
&:C...