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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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territory, and I will at once commence the work of arranging the districts, information regarding which I have been collecting during my recent tour.

The man who was murdered was sent on behalf of the Hong Kong Government, and I informed Your Excellency at the time that great difficulty had been experienced in finding persons willing to distribute Your Excellency's Chinese proclamation.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART.

YOUR EXCELLENCY,

Enclosure 26 in No. 171.

Ping Shan, April 24, 1899. WHEN We visited the Meeting House at Un Long on the 22nd instant, I carefully searched the house for documents, being aided in the search by Mr. Tsoi. We found several documents, which I have translated. I forward the translation herewith. also forward statements made by Ng Ki Cheung, one of the gentry of the Un Long dis- trict, and by Tang Lo Pan, one of the gentry of Kam Tin.

-I

These documents and statements show clearly that there was a combined movement among the various districts in the. territory, for the purpose of offering resistance to the British, The movement seems to have started at Ping Shan, where we now are, and to have been taken up by the Ha Tsun district, in which resided Tang I Shek, Tang Tsung Sz, and Tang Chik Tung, who seem to have been chiefly instrumental in inducing the gentry and elders of other districts to join the movement. The villagers do not seem to have shown any desire to resist, but, having been incited by their gentry and elders, it was impossible to restrain them.

I attach a list of the gentry and elders whose names appear in the documents found at Un Long, and in the statements of Ng Ki Cheung and Tang Lo Pan. Nearly all the persons mentioned in the list have fled. Not having yet visited Fan Ling and neigh- bourhood, I do not know whether the persons from that district whose names are mentioned have fled, but all the persons in the list from this neighbourhood have fled, with the exception of Tang Tsing Wan, Ng Ki Cheung, and Tang Lo Pan, who are here at present. I propose to make them find security that they will appear or be produced whenever called upon.

A regulation should be passed by the Governor in Council at once, giving the Colonial Secretary power to summon people before him, and to fine those who do not appear when summoned, and another regulation should also be passed without delay, conferring upon the Colonial Secretary power to make people find security when called upon to do 80. It is important that there should be no delay in having these regulations made forthwith. I have been compelled, in the absence of the necessary legal power, to act on my own responsibility.

The leaders in the movement should be dealt with severely. Any leniency shown would be misunderstood. Their property should be confiscated, and the proceeds ap plied to public purposes. As Ng Ki Cheung, Tang Lo Pan, and Tang Tsing Wan have not run away, but remained behind and given us important assistance, I think it would be sufficient in this case if they are made to find security for their future good behaviour. I have already obtained bonds (which are not legal) for the production of Tang Lo Pan and Ng Ki Cheung whenever demanded.

From Ng Ki Cheung's statement that men from the following places in Chinese territory took part in the resistance :--

Sha Fau, at the head of Deep Bay.

Sham Chun.

Wai Tak

Ngan Fui (

Tung Kun District.

It is difficult to ascertain exactly how many men came from those places, but I have every reason to believe that there must have been over 1,000 men. It is quite im- possible for the officers of the Chinese Government not to have known of the movements of so many men into our territory, and I trust the Viceroy will be brought to book. His attitude of hostility in the matter of the Customs and his failure to give any warning of the movement in the territory under his jurisdiction should not be allowed to pass unpunished.

Among the documents found in the Un Long meeting house is a letter addressed by one of the underlings of Major Fong to Ng Ki Cheung (No. IX.). I would especi- ally call attention to the following sentence in that letter: "All other particulars you will know fully when you see Major Fong, who will not in any way use force, but will freely allow all the villages to carry out their own settled plans."

Ng Ki Cheung informs me that by the sentence underlined be understood that the villages could do what they liked. He says he never saw Major Fong, but that Tang I

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Shek went to see him at Sham Chun. Tang I Shek has been one of the ringleaders in the movement, and Ng Ki Cheung informs me that Tang I Shek left this territory for Nam Tau on the 14th April; on the same day went to Sham Chun to see Major Fong; next day he went to Canton to petition the Viceroy and Governor. If he did present a petition, it would be interesting to obtain a copy of that document, which no doubt could be secured by the Consul.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART.

A.

Translations of Petitions presented by Inhabitants of (1) Kam Tin, (2) Shap Pat Heung, Ha Tsun, and Castle Peak, (3) Pat Heung, (4) Ping Shan, (5) Lam Tsun. The humble petition of Tang

and others, showing that rowdies from other districts have incited and misled the people into the folly of offering armed re- sistance, and praying that Your Excellency may be mercifully pleased to pardon the ignorant country people, and allow them to carry on their avocations in peace. Your petitioners have always observed the law, and were fully aware of the condition in the Convention that Chinese will be well treated, which is a matter of great rejoicing to all. But unfortunately rowdies from other places spread false rumours, saying that the laws and customs of the British and Chinese are different, which would result in endless trouble and difficulty, and they made use of this pretext to incite and mislead the people. They first coerced the elders and gentry, and then offered armed resistance to the British troops. By this time, having gained over to their side, your petitioners were coerced into joining them. Tang Tsing Sz then let it be known that rewards would be issued for information regarding and the arresting of traitors to their cause.

Now that the Imperial troops have come to restore order in the territory, your petitioners offer their submission with true feelings of gladness. But as the people have wandered from their homes, a spectacle which causes great pain, your petitioners are constrained to humbly approach your tribunal, praying that you will be graciously pleased to authorise the withdrawal of the troops, and that hereafter such sites as it may please the Government to select may be used for the erection of public offices, police stations, or other buildings, for which kindness all our villages would be for ever grateful.

Dated 21st April, 1899.

(Translated by J. H. Stewart Lockhart.)

(Translation.)

B.

LIST of the GENTRY and ELDERS whose names appear in the documents and statements. Un Long Division.

Ping Shan:-

Tang Chiu I. Tang Fong Hing. Tang Tsing Wan. Tang Kwan Shan. Tang Lai Shang. Tang A Lam.

Ha Tsun:-

Tang I Shek. Tang Tsing Sz. Tang Kwok Lam. Tang Chik Ting. Tang Hung Tsoi. Tang Un Tso.

Pat Heung:

Tse Heung Po. Lai A Chun. Li A Pong. Tang A Tung.

Kam Tin:-

Tang Chuk Sam. Tang Lo Pan. Tang Yat Hin.

Tang Ki Yau. Tang Sam Wai.