CO129-294 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [10-12] — Page 321

CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案 All AI Reviewed

Confidential.

No 42.

M. Cumb.
Canty.
3:800
Colonial Secretary's Office
20/10/98.

318

Sir,

I have the honour by direction of the Officer Administering the Government to transmit to you the enclosed copy of a translation of certain questions & answers put to & furnished by two Chinese from vicinity of Sha Tau, Deep Bay, & three Chinese from Pun Yu (or Pan Tin) in the Tung Kun district.

These five gentlemen have approached this Government to seek protection, which of course cannot at present be afforded.

It was evident from this step & from their general bearing that they apprehended imminent action by the Triad society, not only outside the proposed boundaries of the newly leased territory, but also within such limits.

As the Officer administering the Government is unable to ascertain how far the fears of a rising & a raid are justifiable, I am instructed to invite you to draw the attention of his Excellency the Viceroy to the rumours that are current & to ascertain from the Yamen whether any signs of disturbance are manifest & if they are what steps it is proposed to take to forestall an outbreak which will probably affect the lives & property of inhabitants of the territory about to be taken over by Great Britain.

I have &c,

(sgd)
J. Sercombe-Smith, A. C. S.

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Confidential. No 42. M. Cumb. Canty. 3:800 Colonial Secretary's Office 20/10/98. 318 Sir, I have the honour by direction of the Officer Administering the Government to transmit to you the enclosed copy of a translation of certain questions & answers put to & furnished by two Chinese from vicinity of Sha Tau, Deep Bay, & three Chinese from Pun Yu (or Pan Tin) in the Tung Kun district. These five gentlemen have approached this Government to seek protection, which of course cannot at present be afforded. It was evident from this step & from their general bearing that they apprehended imminent action by the Triad society, not only outside the proposed boundaries of the newly leased territory, but also within such limits. As the Officer administering the Government is unable to ascertain how far the fears of a rising & a raid are justifiable, I am instructed to invite you to draw the attention of his Excellency the Viceroy to the rumours that are current & to ascertain from the Yamen whether any signs of disturbance are manifest & if they are what steps it is proposed to take to forestall an outbreak which will probably affect the lives & property of inhabitants of the territory about to be taken over by Great Britain. I have &c, (sgd) J. Sercombe-Smith, A. C. S.

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> Copy Confidential. No 42. ∙M. Cumb. Canty. 3:800 Colonial Secretary's Office 20/10/98. 318 Sir, I have the honour by direction of the Officer Administering the Government to transmit to you the enclosed copy of a translation of certain questions & answers put to & furnished by two Chinese from vicinity of Sha Tau, Deep Bay, & three Chinese from Pan Teen in the Tung Kun district. These five gentlemen have approached this Govrnment to seek protection, which of course can- not at present be afforded. It was evident from this step & from their general bearing that they apprehended imminent action by the Triad society, not only outside the proposed boundaries of the newly leased ter- ritory, but also within such limits. As the Officer administering the Government is unable to ascertain how far the fears of a rising & a raid are justifiable, I am instructed to invite you to draw the attention of his Excellency the Viceroy to the rumours that are current & to ascer- tain from the Yamen whether any signs of disturbance are manifest& if they are what steps it is proposed to take to forestall an outbreak which will probably affect the lives & property of inha- bitants of the territory about to be taken over by Great Britain. I have (sgd) &C 7. Sercombe-Smith, A. C. S.

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Confidential.

No 42.

∙M. Cumb.

Canty.

3:800

Colonial Secretary's Office

20/10/98.

318

Sir,

I have the honour by direction of the

Officer Administering the Government to transmit

to you the enclosed copy of a translation of certain

questions & answers put to & furnished by two

Chinese from vicinity of Sha Tau, Deep Bay, & three

Chinese from Pan Teen in the Tung Kun district.

These five gentlemen have approached this

Govrnment to seek protection, which of course can-

not at present be afforded.

It was evident from this step & from their

general bearing that they apprehended imminent

action by the Triad society, not only outside

the proposed boundaries of the newly leased ter-

ritory, but also within such limits.

As the Officer administering the Government

is unable to ascertain how far the fears of a rising

& a raid are justifiable, I am instructed to invite

you to draw the attention of his Excellency the

Viceroy to the rumours that are current & to ascer-

tain from the Yamen whether any signs of disturbance

are manifest& if they are what steps it is

proposed to take to forestall an outbreak which

will probably affect the lives & property of inha-

bitants of the territory about to be taken over

by Great Britain.

I have

(sgd)

7. Sercombe-Smith, A. C. S.

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