4
& question of dealing with three or four recalcitrant
owners but that there may be the organised hostility
of a crowd to be overcome if, as he recommends, the
owners are proceeded against in the Courts with a
view to their compulsory removal from the walled city.
On the question of the binding nature of the
Order-in-Council of 1899 on the Hong Kong Courts it is
scarcely a matter for the Foreign Office, and, subject
to Mr.Bushe's advice, there would seem to be no risk
Scare to the success of the Govt.'s case
that
But we should carry the Foreign Office with us, as we
have done hitherto, in facing the possible
consequence of any such measures, viz: not only that
there may be minor disturbances in the area concerned
but that this may lead to more important trouble
with the Cantonese Govt. and even with the central
Chinese Govt. at Nanking. In sending copies of 4
and 5 to the Foreign Office I suggest that it would be
as well to say, if Mr.Bushe so advises, that the
Secretary of State is advised that the Governor's
presumption at the end of his telegram No.4 is
correct and that, subject to any observations
Foreign Office may offer, it is proposed to raise no
obation to the Governor's intention to proceed
against the recalcitrant owners by law.
the
You th
es
23
22.7