CO129-221 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [4-6] — Page 215

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these

portion

only a comparatively small are British subjects. The remainder are natives of the neighbouring mainland; who have been attrasted here by the commercial advantages and high wages procurable in time of peace;

but who would return to their

a war,

-, closely

homes in the event of. affecting this Colony, depriving

them

of

such inducements to~-

remain. There would doubtless be

an exodus of at least

one

half of

- the existing Chinese population;

while

C

the non

of the

while most of

- official

European residents and their

families would retire to one of the neighbouring Treaty Ports. In the opinion of all competent judges, it

would be

easy

in the most

an

improbable contingency of effective blockade, to organize

quickly arrangements for ample

food supplies for the remainder

nmunity.

of this com

It will be

recollected that little beyond fish and rice is required for the

sustenance of the Chinese, and

that