CO129-301 - Governor Sir Blake - 1900 [9-12] — Page 58

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sent

situation.. I shall be glad if Her Majesty's Govern-

ment can consider the question when our troops have been

released from active service in South Africa.

:

4. But I see no grounds for uneas-

ineas as to the attitude of the Chinese population. An

immense amount of money has been invested in HongKong by

Chinese, who own at least three fourths of the house pro

perty in Victoria, and who have at least a million dol-

lara deposited in the banks. With their means of knowing

everything that goes on, it is incredible that any seri-

qua” movement, could be matured withoub their knowledge, and

equally improbable that the Government would be left in

ignorance of any conspiracy endangering their property.

But apart from these personal considerations I have ever-

y confidence in the: loyalty and good feeling of the great

majority of the Chinese subjects of Great Britain.

5. During the past year there have

been a considerable number. of Armed Robberies, some with

violence. This has been the normal state of affairs pre-

'vious to the taking over of the territory. But of the 53

robberies within the past twelve months the perpetrators

have been made amenable in 49, and 47 persons are now un- dergoing sentences of penal servitude for terms ranging from: 2 to 10 years, while two men have suffered the ex- treme penalty of the Law. The result has been a satis-

and in other factory diminution of this class of crime, respects the New Territory is so far as I can learn qui- et and contented, the Elders showing anxiety to give in- formation or any apprehended movement in the Chinese ter- ritory to the North that might possibly affect the peace

of the neighbourhood.

Enclosure 1.

19th September,

1900.

I enclose a cutting from the "China

Mail"