Losure
mclosure 5.
1
closure 6.
199
Government (one a British subject). The first definite informe- -tion however reached me on Friday 17th. when I learnt from the Registrar-General that a strong Committee had been formed in Hongkong ostensibly for the revival of trade of which the Chairman was a Chinese holding an official posicion on the Sanitary Board. This afforded me an occasion for summoning the leading Chinese and on Sunday afternoon 19th. I had a conversa- -tion with them of which I attach a précis. I am informed that this meeting had an excellent effect, and that the Chinese of whatever shade of opinion are now all agreed that their best course is to consult me in every matter. As a first result the
(on the 20th. instant] brought me the
Registrer-General
attached telegram addressed to the Directors of the Tung Wa
Hospital, which they desired should be laid before me at once for my advice. They said they considered it to be a trap to catch them. If they replied in the affirmative to the question asked they would be held to be responsible for the loan, if in the negative they would be considered as unfriendly to the Revolution -ary movement. I drafted the reply attached, which was welcomed by them as an excellent solution.
(district offer N.T.)
A
On the 17th. instant Mr. D. W. Tratuan
reported that the Police Launch in Hirs Bay had that day been collecting licences from fishing boats whose owners were domiciled in Chinese Terri.ory but plying in Briish waters. Most of the boats had paid their fees, but some 3 or 4 had driven off the launch saying they had already paid $5 to the Revolutionaries and would pay no more and threatening to throw dynamite if the launch approached. I regretted that the present moment had been chosen to collect licences from Chinese living in China, and in a district proverbially turbulent, and I instructed the District Officer not to collect any more. I addressed a letter (attached) to the Consul-General, and in order to prevent the occurrence of any further regrettable incidents, and to Shew the people that we were at any moment
in a position to enforce our demands I requested the
Commodore