CO129-295 - Public Offices - 1899 — Page 560

Mr. Bax-Ironside to the Marquess of Salisbury.-(Received September 3.)

(No. 210.)

Peking, July 15, 1899. My Lord,

WITH reference to my despatch No. 192 of the 4th instant, I have the honour, to forward herewith to your Lordship copy of a despatch, together with its inclosures, which

ران

I have received from his Excellency the Governor of Hong Kong, relating to serious losses 21 SEP 39 sustained through piracy by certain Hong Kong merchants.

As your Lordship is aware, the question of piracy in the Hong Kong and Canton waters and on the West River has become a very serious one, and, although the matter- has been, over and over again, brought to the notice of the Canton Viceroy by Her Majesty's Consul at Canton, and to the notice of the Tsung-li Yamên by Her Majesty's Legation, no steps whatever have been taken by the former to remedy the present state of affairs so legitimately complained of.

I am awaiting a Report from Her Majesty's Consul at Canton before addressing a further note to the Tsung-li Yamên on this subject.

I have, &c.

(Signed) H. O. BAX-IRONSIDE

556

Sir,

Inclosure 1 in No. 2.

Governor Sir H. Blake to Mr. Bax-Ironside.

Government House, Hong Kong, June 30, 1899.

I HAVE the honour to transmit to you the inclosed copy of a Petition addressed to me by certain Hong Kong merchants, relating to serious losses sustained through piracy, together with a copy of a letter written by my direction to Her Britannic Majesty's Consul at Canton relative thereto.

I have, &c.

(Signed) HENRY A. BLAKE,

Sir,

Inclosure 2 in No. 2.

Mr. Buckle to Consul Playfair.

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hong Kong, June 29, 1899.

I AM directed to transmit to you the inclosed copy of a Petition addressed to his Excellency the Governor by certain merchants, relating to serious losses sustained through piracy, and to request you to lay the matter before the Viceroy, impressing upon him the great gravity of the situation, affecting as it does the trade of Hong Kong so seriously that if redress be not given for these losses, and some ssurance that trade shall be protected in the future, it will be necessary to invoke the aid of Her Majesty's Government in the matter.

I have, &c. (For Colonial Secretary),

(Signed)

J. G. T. BUCKLE.

Inclosure 3 in No. 2.

Petition.

To his Excellency Sir Henry Arthur Blake, G.C.M.G., Governor and Commander-in- Chief of the Colony of Hong Kong and its Dependencies and Vice-Admiral of

the same.

The humble Petition of the undersigned British and Foreign merchants and

Chinese cotton-yarn dealers, carrying on business at Victoria, Hong Kong. Showeth :

1. YOUR Petitioners are British and foreign merchants and Chinese cotton--

garn dealers, residing and carrying on business at Victoria, Hong Kong.

2. In carrying on such business they have, for some twenty years past, been argely engaged in exporting cotton-yarn from Hong Kong to the Yunnan and Kuai- Show Provinces.