CO129-290 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [1-4] — Page 731

reached Sheung Shui.

Petitions have been presented by

1. San Tin (including Tso T'au and Lok Ma (hau)

713

This is one of the largest villages in the territory

and has a population of over 2,000 people.

2. Wo Sheung Hsung

3. Sheung Shui

4. Kam Ts'in and In Kong

5. Pan Ting (including Go Kou Po and Ying Tau Sun)

Tin, Sheung Shui, and Tan Ling are the largest villages

in this part of the territory. The inhabitants of the two

latter were very insolent to Mr May when he visited them

last month to select a site for a Police Station.

All the Petitioners are couched in terms exactly

identical with those presented at Ping Shan, translations

of which have been already forwarded.

I have informed the Petitioners that they should

carry on their various occupations as usual and inform

the villagers, as I have already done, that well-behaved

people will be protected and disturbers of the peace

punished. I have also told them that the Government expects the gentry, elders, and villagers to cooperate in the maintenance of peace and good order.

I handed to the Petitioners copies of Your Excellency's Chinese proclamation and Chinese translations

of the Local Communities Ordinance with the request that

they would take steps to explain the contents of the

latter to the inhabitants within this District.

I also called upon the Petitioners to surrender all arms in their possession and they have just gone off to bring them. I am afraid they will not be back before Major Koe, who came here last night, has to leave for Tai Po to catch the launch which will take him to Hong Kong.

I