:
6.0
This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's,
C. O.
61
CHINA TRADE.
CONFIDENTIAL.
1545
[December 15.]
JAL. 03 SECTION 2:
[44883]
No. 1.
Question asked in the House of Commons, December 15, 1908.
Mr. Theodore C. Taylor,-To ask the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he can inform the House as to whether the recent riots in Hong Kong are now completely over; whether he is aware that many of the Chinese there are afraid to form anti-opium societies for fear of offending the Colonial Government; and whether he will give instructions that the Colonial Government shall encourago and aid in the formation of such societies by every reasonable means.
Answered by Colonel Seely, for Sir Edward Grey.
As regards the first part of my hon. friend's question, I have no information of any very recent rioting, though the situation still has to be carefully watched. As regards the remainder of his question, I would refer him to the answer which I on the 19th October to a question put by my hon. friend in very similar terms.
gave
Mr. Theodore C. Taylor: In view of the anxiety of the people to establish these societies, will the Government send out instructions to the officials on the spot to encourage the movement?
them.
Colonel Seely: The local Government is fully seized of our views and appreciates
Mr. Theodore C. Taylor: But will it give effect to those views?
Colonel Seely: Of course it will.
[2050 p-2]