기리
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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Tang I Shek took with him 60 taels, and has not returned since.
On the 5th (14th April), when the matshed was burnt at Taipo, the men presaut were from Fan Ling and Lam Taun. The men from Kam Tin and Pat Heung arrived after the shed had been burnt.
On the 6th (15th April), when resistance was offered to the police at Taipo, the men present were from Lam Tsun, Sheung U, and Pat Heung and Kam Tin divisions.
On the 8th (17th April) those who offered resistance were from Kam Tin, Shap Pat Heung, and Pat Heung.
On the 9th (18th April) those present were from Ping Shan, Ha Tsun, Castle Peak, Nang Chau, and the following places outside (the territory):-Sham Chun, Sha Tau, and Wai Tak, and Ngan Tin, in the Tung Kun district. Many were killed and
wounded.
On the 4th (13th April) Ping Shan supplied pigs (for the fighters). On the 6th (15th April) Ha Tsun.
On the 7th (18th April) Nang Chau.
This is a true account of the whole matter from beginning to end.
With regard to Tang Cheung Tsai having gone to Hong Kong to present a petition, Tang Tsing Sz and Tang A Nin, of the Ha Tsun district, pointed them out as traitors, and issued a reward for their arrest. They also said that Tang Cheung Tsai had taken the iron armour belonging to this district to Hong Kong, and that they would not rest until he had been killed. They took the card of Tang Kwok Lam to Ping Shan, and applied for some able-bodied men to search Cheung Tsai's house, but Tang Po Wan, being a near relation of Cheung Tsai, flared up at once, so they desisted.
On the 8th (17th April) he was arrested at Kap Shui Mun, and brought back to the meeting house at Un Long.
The gentry of the Ha Tsun said, "Cheung Tsai belongs to the Ha Tsun district; let Ha Tsun deal with the matter." All the other villages raised no objection.
Tang Tsing Sz and Tang Chik Ting took many of those who came to fight from Ngan Tin, and went to Un Long to get back Cheung Tsai. This was after the defeat, and every one had fled, and there was no one in the meeting nouse. As to what order Tang Tsing Sz gave regarding the murder of Tang Cheung Tsai, (the writer) really does not know the facts.
II.
Statement of Tang Kok Lam, Graduate of the 3rd degree, Elder of Kam Tim District. On the 17th of the 2nd moon (27th March) Mr. May wished to erect a police station on the hill behind Ping Shan, the inhabitants of which became excited, and appeared to be dissatisfied.
On the 18th (28th March), in the morning a meeting was held in the ancestral temple. After the morning meal the gentry went to Ha Tsun to meet and discuss the
matter.
On the 19th (29th March) a meeting was held in the meeting house at Un Long, at which the elders from the five districts were present. A very heated discussion took place, but the writer and Ng Ki Cheung never said a word,
On the 21st (31st March) the gentry of Sheung U division went to Un Long, and agreed to join in the general movement.
On the 22nd (1st April) in the early morning the writer went home. All the gentry deliberated until the afternoon, but without having arrived at any definite decision.
Unfortunately the incident of the burning of the matshed at Taipo by some drunken men occurred. Man Chan Chun wrote applying for help; Ha Tsun alone replied to the call.
Tang Tsing Sz went in person to my house. On the one hand he moved me by ap- pealing to justice, and on the other hand he worked on my fears by dwelling upon the calamities that would overtake me hereafter. My ancestors having been occupiers of the soil for generations, how could I bear this change. Moreover, I was afraid that the laws and customs of the West and China not being the same, many difficulties would arise, and false reports were also spread that cattle and swine would be taxed, that The women would be violated, that fishing and wood cutting would be prohibited writer was misled by these rumours, which he believed.
Another deliberation was held, and the matter was finally settled. Tang A Tong, of Wang Toi Shan, of the Pat Heung district, proposed that a reward should be issued for the arrest of traitors. But I strenuously tried to prevent this, but I was not present at the meeting.
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I have always avoided trouble and looked after my own affairs.
But having seen what I thought was the right course to adopt, I boldly followed it, and many followed my example.
Further, being a graduate of many years standing, my name appears in the cor- respondence which has taken place, though the matter in question did not pass through, my hands.
The trouble having once begun, it was impossible to stop it, and being coerced by the majority, the gentry became powerless. Fighting began, and ended in a disastrous defeat on the 8th (17th April).
On the 9th (18th April) I came to the camp at Sheung Tsun to yield submission, when I was treated with clemency far beyond my deserts.
Unfortunately the men from the Ping Shan and Ha Tsun districts again made resistance (18th April). I did all I could to dissuade them, but not only did they refuse to follow my advice, but they abused me and called me a traitor.
This is a true statement of the facts from beginning to end.
III. (A),
Letter handed over by Ng Ki Cheung.
Now that the English barbarians are about to cross our borders and take possession
of our territory, the inhabitants of the various districts are filled with public indigna- tion, and are anxious to find a means of defending themselves.
We would therefore trouble you to prepare a place to-morrow for receiving our friends and relations from the different villages, so that we may discuss matters with a view to our future security. Please do not delay. We are waiting with anxiety.
Hoping you are well.
To our dear friend, Shing Chi (another name for Ng Ki Cheung). Dated 2nd Moon, 18th day.
(Seal of Tang Chak Shin.)
III. (B).
Letter handed over by Ng Ki Cheung.
TANG I YAU.
Tang Chak SHIN. TANG FONG HING. TANG CHIK TING.
To-day I and my alansmen of Ha Tsun met and decided to have a general meeting tomorrow, with the object of devising means for our protection. I have already sent a letter to inform you, which no doubt you have received. I therefore now specially request you and the others to be good enough to select and prepare a place for the meeting, so as to facilitate the discussion of matters by the elders and gentry of the various villages.
Thanking you in anticipation,
To our dear friend, Shing Chi (i.e., Ng Ki Cheung).
III. (c).
Letter handed over by Ng Ki Cheung.
TANG FONG HING.
With regard to your boastful utterances at the two meetings respecting the wealth and power of the British, by which big talk you tried to scare people, everybody is full of wrath, which cannot be allayed. All said that you have been bribed by the com- pany, and have received a licence from the British Government. But we said that in dealing with the affair you are acting with that caution which the sage Confucius re- commended. But we have not said that we have repeatedly asked you to come and you have strenuously refused. Can it be that you will have nothing to do with the matter? The majority have said that if your district does not join the moyement, they will attack you with their combined force. You are a man of intelligence, and we request you to come to an early decision.
TANG LO PAN. TANG THING SZ.
To our dear friend, Shing Chi (i.e., Ng Ki Cheung).
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A 2