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Hon. Colonial Secretary,
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The Chinese Government did take or permit certain steps for the election of representatives of Chinese overseas: no doubt individuals in Hongkong were interested: but there was no sign of any organisation here to deal with the matter. It was even said at one time that Hongkong residents had been nominated in Peking for the Assembly: and perhaps this was true, but if so it was the work of wire- -pullers and not of the community.
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It was never even clear what these proposed overseas representatives were to Bo: that they should in any way interfere with the Governments of the places from which they came did not seem part of the intention. There were many Chinese abroad; they were largely rich: they had engineered the first Revolution and had an interest in China: and should therefore be represented. The Hea hardly went beyond this.
(sd.) I. R. Hallifax,
8. C.A.
22nd. May, 1917.
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