100 years of any one who did not obey the Boycott rules of the Society produced a wide spread terror, and it was evident that the Chinese were vying with each other in their protestations of support of the Boycott.
5
The issue of the Banishment Orders against prominent leaders and not against their mere tools had an effect not less pronounced than the action of the Self-Government Society had had. None of the leading Chinese merchants (other than British subjects) felt themselves safe. One came forward and declared his intention of selling Japanese goods, another voluntarily repudiated connection with the Boycott by an advertisement in the Press, the trade in Japanese "Marine Delicacies" and other goods at once increased notably. The Registrar-General reported that all acts of intimidation had entirely ceased and I think that I am justified in assuming that the attempt of the Self-Government Society of Canton to dictate to the Chinese of Hongkong and to terrorise them into subservience was entirely frustrated. The Canton Vernacular Press naturally fulminated, and the action of Government was subjected to much hostile criticism in the English local Press by writers who were ignorant of the real issues involved.
6.