15.
That for the sake of tho Chinoso in Hongkong they woro willing for an early settlement. They would not dream of returning to Hongkong until all their domands had boon sottled. As the strike vas novor directed against the Chinoso, it was unthinkablo for the strikers to negotiate with roprosentativos of Chinese merchants; they wanted no money from tho Chinoso; the Hongkong dologatos must appoint dologates to discuss all the terms with thom. As the strike was not for economic but purely political roosons, it uns impossible for thom to discuss tho so-called economic terms with the Hongkong merchenta, nd ho invited the Hongkong morchants to assist the to attain their objects.
A few other speakers spoko in tho smo strain. Mr. Choy Siu Woon and I both spoko in cxplanation, to the c.foot that we understood the strikers were willing to soparato tho torms into two classes, and that it was bocnoo of that, it was folt by the Chinoso in Hongkong that, that being the position Chinese dologationm without the ncccssity of any interpreter, could bost and most spoodily nogotinto the cconomic terms, and so wo consontod to come up. I said irrospective of succoss or failure of our mission I wol comod the opportunity of mooting them and of rencing old acquaintancos, reminding them of the professional services which I had rendered to some of them in the past and expressing the hope that merchants and labourers would cooperate and discuss any question that might arise in the interest of both in the future.
Altogether about six strikers made speeches includ- ing Mr. So Siu Ching who made a lon, speech towards the end. They all expressed appreciation of our motives for coming up, nd sincere thanks for our trouble, and a few of them spoke highly of the services I had rendered