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exportation of coin, bullion and notes was a melsule of or insary financial prudence for the protection of the currency and financial system of the Colony. Thus, purely defensive measures, imposed on. Hong Kong by the strike, are twisted into an attack on Canton. In fact, the statement of the Chinese delegation on this point seems to us to be a desperate attempt to find an excuse and an explanation for the institution and maintenance of the boycott against Hong Kon, a comunity which had not been concerned in any way with the incidents previously described.
Finally, we take this opportunity to enter an indignant protest against the attempt, which has been made by means of unscrupulous propaganda through out the curse of this unhappy trouble, to throw the blame on Hongkong and on the British nation. In truth, the malory of which the Chinese deletion speak is an internal one and will not be cured by attackin
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the Britian people, who, of all others, are most desirous of seeing a hajgy, prosperous and independent China with whom they can conduct their trade:
We fully appreciate the fact that the whole outlook of large sections of the Chinese people has cuanged in recent years, and we sincerely sympathise with the ambition of the Chinese nation to take that great place in the world to which its genius entitles it. The Goverment of Hong Kong, in particular, is prepared to assist in the development of those provinces with which the Colony is brought into immédiate contact, in any way which may be of mutual benefit, and it is in this direction that we hope a solution of the present difficulties may be found.
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