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ARAPHRASE
TELEGRAM.
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37 26
519
The Governor of Hong Kong to the Secretary
of State for the Colonies,
(Received, Colonial Office, 9.40 p.m., 28th June,1917.).
мо 20732
With reference to your telegram 12th May, Representative Committee of shipping men including Chinese and Naval representatives appointed by me to
advise on question what are vital requirements of
Hong Kong emphasize fact that as Hong Kong is only a
?great trading port and distributing centre for Scuth China it subsists practically on shipping alone upon which with its connected avocations the native popula- tion of Victoria Kowloon numbering about 400,000 per sons
depend for their livelihood. They urge that it is
impossible to define the vital requirements of Hong
Kong in mere tons of foodstuffs and of the comparatively
small supplies required to carry on the few local industries, and I agree with them. Committee point out that already almost (all the) fifty per cent of
shipping in far Eastern waters which use Hong Kong has been requisitioned and that Hong Kong trade has already suffered severely as a result. They agree however
that at present six more ships can be spared; but
they urge strongly that no further ships should be
requisitioned from Far Eastern waters without first
reviewing situation and indicating service for which
vessels are required. They also urge that it is
essential to keep alive a nucleus of the British
shipping services trading with Hong Kong which it has
taken