217
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
THC.O.882/11
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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Authorities, of ships technically entitled to the flag, but to which I shall address protection has been refused by the Consul-General. you further on this subject in a separate despatch.
10. The disturbances in Kwang-tung, actual and threatened, con- tinue to increase the population of this Colony. The number of tene- ment houses in the poorer portions of the Kowloon Peninsula reported wholly vacant (for rating purposes) has dropped from 196 in April, to 83 in August, and 78 in September, and there must have been a During the corresponding filling up of vacant floors and cubicles. two weeks ending 20th September the through trains of the Kowloon- Canton Railway brought down 11,475 passengers, as against 8,980 taken out.
11. I enclose the following translations from the Chinese Press :-
(a) From the Kwok Mau San Man, Canton, of 15th September,* containing a notice issued by the Anti-British Boycott Commis- sion. Its high patriotic tone forms a curious contrast to the programme mentioned in paragraph 4 of this despatch.
(b) From the Fin Tseung Po, Canton, of 16th September,† setting out the plans of the Canton Government for paying off the In this connection reference is so-called "Hong Kong Strikers." invited to the statement of Mr. Fêng Tso-wan regarding this organisation reported in the memorandum enclosed in my special despatch of 20th September.‡
12. The Chinese characters for the names in this despatch are given on a separate sheet. §
I have, &c.,
ENCLOSURE 1 IN No. 23.
C. CLEMENTI,
Governor, &c.
(Extract from YIN TSEUNG Po, Canton, 16th September, 1927.) Letter from the Foreign Office, advising that all Anti-British Associations should be warned to be careful of their actions.
(Translation.)
On the 15th inst., the Foreign Office of the Nationalist Govern- ment sent a letter to the Municipal Kuomintang Department in Canton, asking them to warn the various Anti-British Associations that they should keep strictly secret, and be careful and peaceful in all their movements, so that the British may have no excuse for com- plaint. The letter reads as follows:-
the
In the forenoon of the 14th September, the Acting Consul-General in Canton came to our office and stated that he had received repeated urgent telegrams from his Government at London, the British Minister in Peking, and the British Admiral on Yangtsze asking about the date on which the anti-British boycott
* Enclosure 4. + Enclosure 5. 0.30001/27 E. [No, 2]: not printed. § Not printed.
was to commence.
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He said he had been told that it had been declared that the anti-British boycott should be carried into effect in this city from the 16th instant, and demanded informa- tion so that he could make a reply.
In reply our office has informed him that, as of late the British Government has repeatedly infringed the sovereignty of China and massacred our people, the latter, out of enthusiasm to save their country, might have spontaneously resorted to the policy of boy- cott, but that nothing has been heard as to the definite date on The British Consul-General which the boycott will commence.
appears to be particularly attentive to the matter, and we find it necessary to send you this letter hoping that you will warn all the Anti-British Associations that they should keep strictly secret and be careful, peaceful, and sincere in all their movements. They should by no means do anything agitative, cruel and outrageous, so that the British will have no excuse by which they can charge us with any anti-British movement, interfere with us and cause international trouble. In this way we shall not fall into the wicked trap of the Imperialists.
[No. 339.]
SIR,
ENCLOSURE 2A IN No. 23.
Government House, Hong Kong, 21st September, 1927. With reference to the Assistant Colonial Secretary's memorandum No. 13 of 14th February, 1927, I have the honour to forward copies of two reports by the Assistant Superintendent of Police, New Territories, concerning the violation of British territory in the Shataukok (Chinese characters) district by the Nung Man (Chinese Wa (Chinese characters) under the command of Wong Ch'un characters).
2. These incidents are typical of the provocative attitude consistently or later, if they are not checked by adopted by Wong, and sooner the Chinese Authorities, an actual fracas will occur, with results of a most serious and far-reaching nature.
3. It is reported that this (Po On-Chinese characters-ex San On- Chinese characters) district is now occupied by a battalion of General Li Fuk-Lam's (Chinese characters) troops and having regard to the friendly attitude which this General has always evinced towards this Colony and to the caution issued by the Canton Authorities on the proposed revival of anti-British picketing, I venture to suggest that it might be possible to secure the removal of Wong Ch'un Wa and his men from Chinese Shata ukok and their replacement by a reasonable garrison.
His Britannic Majesty's Consul-General,
Canton.
more
I have, etc.
C. CLEMENTI,
Governor, dr.