COPY.
C.E. Dept.
Naval Yard,
Hong Kong.
11.4.38.
64
Dear Captain Plugge,
Sir,
I must ask your pardon for presuming so much
upon your time, especially after your splendid effort on
behalf of our wage anomalies
G
but as you will see this
matter is so vital and urgent that it brooks no delay and
on the advice of my Chief I am writing to acquaint you
with the following. The trouble is that Europeans, their
wives and families, are threatened with eviction from
their homes to make room for Chinese Generals, rich Canton
and Shanghai merchants, who are settling in Hong Kong.
We have already suffered a rent increase of in some cases
50% and now these ex-bandits etc. with their huge sums of
money can buy the Chinese landlords out, purchase whole
blocks of flats, and throw the occupants into the street.
They are not british subjects and owe no allegiance to the
Crown but are using the assured safety and protection of
the British Fleet and Services in Hong Kong to safeguard
their gains (in some cases ill-gotten) also their numerous
staffs, wives and concubines. The flat mentioned in the
enclosed copy of my eviction notice is required for the
tenth