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Colonial Secretary's Office,
Hong Kong, 17th. August, 1905.
Sie,
I have the honour to inform you that your
letter of the 14th. August written by direction of the Chinese Commercial Union and requesting a permit under the Governor's hand authorising public meetings in connection with a movement "for the purpose of the boycotting by Chinese of American goods and products" has been laid before the Governor.
2.
His Excellency is not fully informed of the constitution of the Chinese Commercial Union but understand that It consists of some Merchants, traders and others who are Eritish subjects and of many who are subjects of the Emperor of China and are residing in Hongkong for purposes of trade.
8.
His Excellency is unable to grant the per-
-mission asked for on behalf of these gentlemen as combined action of the nature contemplated could only be regarded as an attack on the commerce of a friendly power and as His Excellency is satisfi- -ed that such action would react unfavourably on the trade of this free trade port and on all classes who have an interest in that trade while its object of inducing" the Government of the United States of America to modify the very stringent laws which they have made in connection with the exclusion of Chinese from the United States of America" is more likely to be attained by other
methods.
I have etc., (da.) 1. Sercombe Smith,
Colonial Secretary.
Mr. Fung Wa Chun.