PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
EPER C.O.882/11
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
|ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
ix.
40. Governor Secret
C.
1926 Clementi, Nov. 5
(Received Dec. 10)
41. Governor
C.
Secret
Clementi, Nov. 16
(Received Dec. 23)
42. Governor C.
Clementi,
Secret
43. Governor
C.
Secret
Nov. 17 (Received Dec. 23)
Clementi, Nov. 20
(Received Dec. 23)
1927
Reports upon the negotiations between the Hongkong, Canton and Macao Steam- boat Company, Limited, and the Canton Govern- ment regarding return of strikers, and the constitu- tion of three organisations (the Anti-British Economic Severance Extension Com- mittee, the Unequal Treaty Cancellation Committee and the Cargo-boat Trans- portation Guild) formed for the furtherance of the boy-
cott...
PAGE
314
Encloses a press extract des- cribing the reorganisation and future policy of the Canton Government and reports preparations being made for removal of the Seat of the Nationalist Government to Hankow... 318 Encloses a press extract re- porting on a second meeting of Chinese merchants at Canton for the extension of the boycott, and of rules made thereat for suppres- sion of the sale and pur- chase of certain goods and the circulation of the notes of a certain country Reports that, as the result of the negotiations referred to in No. 40 no agreement was reached. Indicates the views held by prominent local business men regard- ing improvement in the trade situation and states
that, so long as recognition of the Canton Government is refused, we are prolonging our own troubles...
44. Governor C. Clementi, December 3, Reports continuance of in-
Secret
Secret
1926 (Received January 6, 1927)
1926 Received January 24, 1927)
formal negotiations be- tween the Hongkong and Macao Steamboat Company and the Seamen's Union, the continued high-handed actions of Labour in Canton, and generally on the ten- dency towards increase of trade
45. Governor C. Clementi, December 24, Reports upon the surrender of the British river- steamers Companies and the Hongkong and Macao Steamboat Company to the Seamen's Union, and the withdrawal of Government
322
324
326
support of the Companies concerned
328
.53914/25.
3
HONGKONG.
Strike and Boycott.
No. 1.
The Governor of Hongkong to the Secretary of State for the
Confidential.
SIR,
Colonies.
(Received 1st December, 1925.)
Government House, Hongkong, 30th October, 1925.
In a series of despatches ending with my confidential despatch of the 16th October* I have informed you of the progress of events in connection with the strike and boycott, and I have now Confused the honour to submit my final report before leaving the Colony.
2. The situation generally remains unchanged. fighting is reported to be in progress on all sides of Canton, and the anti-Red forces appear to be holding their ground rather more successfully than was anticipated. One of the Chinese cruisers recently seized ten strikers" launches in the neighbourhood of Macao, and a number of the strikers, including seven of the leaders, were shot. In the same locality the peasantry, in cxasperation at the extortion of the strikers' pickets, seized a number of men, secured them in pig baskets, and threw them into
the sea.
3. Certain overtures have recently been made by merchants in Canton which may eventually lead to more formal negotiations, but there is still no evidence that those in authority have any desire to put an end to the boycott. There is little doubt that they hope by means of successful military operations so to dominate the whole of South China as to be in a position to dictate their own terms for the resumption of trade relations with Hongkong.
4. It remains for me to place on record my appreciation of the services which have been rendered by individual members of the community in connection with the crisis. I may mention in the It is im- first place Mr. Chow Shou-son and Mr. R. H. Kotewall, who represent the Chinese upon the Legislative Council. possible to speak too highly of the work which they have done. In the first panic, when the Chinese might have been likened to a herd of frightened sheep, they immediately came forward and shamed and compelled their fellow-countrymen into at least a semblance of courage. Anonymous letters threatening violence and murder were received by them daily, a reward for their heads was posted in Canton, and still they worked incessantly, gather ing at first a few of the more venturesome spirits, who in their turn brought in others, till in a short time the whole Chinese Community had forgotten its fears. Later on, when generals and politicians began to gather in Hongkong from different parts of China, they rendered most useful service in explaining the policy 518698; not printed.
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A