PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :--
mwmmtm.C.O. 885
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGR!
„NOT TO
24 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE
BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
19.
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HONG KONG.
In accordance with the instructions contained in your telegram of the 7th instant I informed the German Consul that he must leave the Colony, and I made arrangements for his staff of four clerks to leave also.
20. Only one German vessel remained in port at the outbreak of war. She has been detained.
21. The action laid down in the Defence Scheme for Heads of Departments was promptly taken. I wish specially to commend the services of the Colonial Secretary, the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, and Commander Beckwith, acting as Harbour Master in the absence of Captain Basil Taylor on vacation leave. Prac- tically the only divergence from standing instructions has been in not taking up the Peak Hotel as a hospital. Such action would have involved the large European population which, owing to the inadequate number of private houses to be leased, make it their permanent residence, in great difficulties; nor did there seem to be necessity for so drastic a measure.
22. The British and Chinese community have shown a commendable public spirit in this crisis. Early in June I embarked on a personal campaign of can- vassing for Volunteers and Volunteer Reserves. At the time the Volunteers num- bered 299, and the Volunteer Reserves 134. As the result of personal appeals made to bodies of Englishmen at different centres I obtained 40 recruits for the Hong Kong Volunteers and 47 for the Hong Kong Volunteer Reserves.
Immediately war became imminent practically the entire British male com- munity volunteered and the Hong Kong Volunteers now number 393 and the Hong Kong Volunteer Reserves 318. Owing to the impossibility of dealing with the enrolling, arming, equipping and training of more men, many candidates were refused admittance to either corps. These have been utilized principally as Special Constables, of whom 450 have been sworn in to replace the 150 Indian Police who have been seconded for military service. The shorter hours of duty Special Constables can work, compared with regular Police, renders larger numbers of the former necessary.
23. Some confusion and unnecessary loss of time to men who had volunteered for the Hong Kong Volunteers and Hong Kong Volunteer Reserves was caused by the rush for enrolment. This led to much jealousy, owing to British subjects being detained for a couple of days from their work while German members of the mer- cantile community were free to take advantage of the temporary absence of many of their rivals. The sin of unpreparedness, which I have made the subject of many a homily during the past two years, has thus been brought home to very many. But, useful though the lesson may prove, I regret that it has had such regrettable present consequences.
24. Up to the time of writing the peace has not been broken or threatened in any form.
The only cause of anxiety was caused by a rush on the part of the Chinese population to withdraw deposits from Chinese and foreign banks. Appeal was made by some of the Chinese banks to Government for assistance. This I could not give, and a crisis was averted by the exertions in pacifying the public mind of the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, backed by the whole-hearted and in- valuable support of the leading members of the Chinese community.
25. Representatives of this community waited on the Secretary for Chinese Affairs on the 8th instant, and offered (a) to enrol Special Constables and a Volun- teer Corps from those among it who are British subjects; and (b) to subscribe to a fund in aid of the war chest. Mr. Hallifax told them that this was the most splendid message he or any of his predecessors had ever been asked to convey to a Governor of Hong Kong. I replied that I appreciated deeply their offers and I said I would lose no time in reporting them to you. In the meantime, while accepting a few candidates as Special Constables, I expressed the opinion that the best service the remainder could render would be to pacify the public mind and prevent the dis- semination of wild rumours.
Of these latter there have been many, with the result that some 40,000 to 50,000 Chinese have already left the Colony. They are, however, for the most part women and children or persons whose presence does not make much difference to the com- mercial interests of the Port.
26. Yesterday Mr. Ho Tung offered, in the event of a shortage of rice, to charter ships to convey rice from Bangkok at his own cost and to sell it here at cost
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HONG KONG.
price. I have thanked Mr. Ho Yung warmly for this splendid offer, of which I am glad to say it is not necessary to take advantage at present.
27. I have received many other offers of assistance. The Roman Catholic Bishop placed all his clergy at my disposal. The Superioress of the Italian Convent offered assistance in nursing at the Naval and Military Hospitals. The Trusteese of the Matilda Hospital offered to place the hospital at the disposal of the Govern- ment. It is a charitable hospital of some 30 beds situated at the Peak. Many individuals offered assistance in various ways, and I am glad that I have been able to utilize some as Interpreters or Assistant Censors.
38438/8
(Secret.)
SIR,
No. 59.
I have, &c..
F. H. MAY,
Governor, &c.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 6th October, 1914.)
Government House, Hong Kong, 25th August, 1914. In continuation of my despatch of the 12th instant, on the subject of the Anglo-German war, I have the honour to transmit the enclosed paraphrasest of the cipher telegrams received from you and addressed to you by me on the subject of the war with Austria-Hungary which has now ensued.
2. Your telegram of the 13th instant announcing the declaration of war with Austria-Hungary was received by me on the same day, and the Proclamation, enclosure 3t, was accordingly published.
3. On receipt of your telegram of the 14th instant I issued a notification, copy enclosed, t extending to the Anglo-Austrian war the application of all Proclama- tions which had been published relative to the war with Germany, and enforcing against Austrian shipping the provisions of the Shipping Order in Council, altered in accordance with your directions. On receipt of your subsequent telegram of the 18th instant I issued the notification, enclosure 5.†
4. The Austro-Hungarian Consul received orders to leave, and the Austrian subjects domiciled in the Colony were allowed to remain on the same conditions as German residents. I enclose a list of the Austrian reservistst detained in the Prisoners-of-War Camp at Stonecutter's Island. Certain further measures taken by the Government affecting both belligerents equally are referred to in my despatcht of even date [ 26th instant], on the Anglo-German war.
5. In conclusion, I may add that the outbreak of hostilities with Austria- Hungary has not affected the situation in the Colony to any appreciable extent. Austrian commercial interests in Hong Kong are negligible, and Austrian ship- ping is likewise unimportant. The number of Austrian subjects domiciled in this Colony does not, I understand, exceed seven or eight in all.
I have, &c.,
38439/8
(Secret.)
SIR,
No. 60.
F. H. MAY,
Governor.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 6th October, 1914.)
Government House, Hong Kong, 26th August, 1914.
In continuation of my Secret despatch of the 12th August, I have the honour to transmit the enclosed paraphrases and translations† of cipher and code telegrams received from you in connexion with the Anglo-German war, and paraphrases and translationst of cipher and code telegrams which I addressed to you on the same subject.
* No. 58. ↑ Not printed. * No. 60.
M