CO129-291 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [5-6] — Page 495

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Rec'd 27 JUN 19

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Translation of Petition No 80

The humble petition of Li Wai In, La Po Chan, Li Man Fan elders of the Nan Yeuk Tung sheweth:-

That your Petitioners yield sincere and joyful submission and pray that they may be mercifully protected. Your Petitioners dwell in a remote part by the sea and are law-abiding; they have always reverenced the Majesty and humanity of Great Britain. When they heard of the Convention leasing the area, all were delighted and only too glad to yield submission. But bad characters from other places gathered together to offer resistance, their object being to incite the people to disturbance. Fortunately, the Imperial troops in imposing array arrived on the scene and, driving back the lawless characters, restored peace to the land. By this means, the villages in your Petitioners' district are enabled to enjoy peace & prosperity, and this great mercy which has been shown to us has given us a new lease of life. Your Petitioners, therefore, on behalf of their fellow villagers who are filled with a deep feeling of gratitude, beg to humbly approach your tribunal in order to convey their heartfelt thanks and to pray that they may be mercifully protected from harm, so that, living in obedience to British law, they may forever enjoy the protection of Great Britain.

And your Petitioners will ever pray.

Here follows a list of 20 villages.

Dated 3rd May 1899.

75

Translated by

(sd) J.H. Stewart Lockhart

6 5 99.