ا الله
COPY.
Translation.
No.z
Enclosure to Governor's Despatch No. 245 of the 8th.
May, 1903.
213
Telegram from Wong Chou Governor of Kwong Si to the
Governor of Hongkong.
While at Tsam Chou I received a telegram from
Consul Fox informing me that in consequence of the famine in the
various districts in Wuchou, Tsam Chou and Yung Chou in Kwang Si,
Your Excelency had despatched Mr. Clementi to proceed thither to make
investigations and distribute rice amongst my people without distinc- tion of race or creed. In this Your Excellency shows unbounded kindness
and on behalf of the millions of starving people it is my bounden
duty to thank Your Excellency. Mr. Clementi had personally interviewed me at Isam Chou and shortly afterwards he arrived at Yung Chou.
#ith regard to the relief rice which you have
already sent, I have despatched a steam launch to tow it up to Tsem Chou, and I have also ordered all the officials along the route to afford all the necessary protection and assistance, and I have further given instructions to all likin stations to totally exempt the rice from all likin charges. This has already been put on record.
But I have read from Hongkong Newspapers
statements asserting that in this Province we were not willing to waive likin charges. These statements are without foundation and are
wellknown
charitable utterly unreasonable. As Your Excellency, moved by your feeling for those in distress, has come forward to save the lives of the famine-stricken people, 1 feel truly and deeply grateful to you. Is it reasonable that I should still tax this rice ? I trust Your Excellency will not believe such lies; and beside thanking you in a written despatch, I send this telegram in the first instance to thank
you.