CO129-300 - Administrator Major Gen Gascoigne Governor Sir Blake - 1900 [7-9] — Page 71

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in the future to confirm the facts & actual crimes or

crime committed by the criminal or criminals & not as usual

in Chinese criminal cases bring up false charges also which if

proved untrue would weaken if not ruin the case in question

in the eye of British law, Political refugees, I added,

should not be meddled with as long as they are under foreign

protection.

He said that he is now buying up arms from the

different arm dealers in Homgkong. He adopted this plan

because he found it impossible to prevent their being

smuggled into Chinese territory. I myself believe that his

buying up of arms has a deeper meaning than the mere preven-

tion of arms going into the hands of the pirates & robbers.

He is purchasing them so as to prepare himself for any emergency When troubles arise he will not be caught napping but will

have plenty of good weapons to protect the provinces under

his sway.

He asked which city has more bad characters, Hongkong

or Macao. I told him that Macao certainly has more bad

characters than Hongkong. Macao is a gambling center, It is

in closer touch with the Bearl & West rivers. It has a

smaller police forse & fewer launches to look after the

peace of the Colony. Her authorities are slack & her public

servants corrupt. Hongkong is not afraid to expose any

crime committed by her officials or servants. Macao covers then

up to save face.

He asked how the inhabitants of the New Territory

liked British rule. I told him that they were at first timid & suspicious but they are now gradually settling down & seem

to feel safe & contented. He said, "Yes, when they see that they are being dealt with fairly they will be very law-abiding. The Haw, Poltting Cuany,

I Lan

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GL. M

(84) Ton Yeuta than