CO129-316 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [1-4] — Page 505

No./02.

Hongkong.

sir,

losed separate.

bag.

egypt March, 1903.

C.O.

Government House,

use16012

491

482

Hongkong, 31st. March, 1903,

7 VAY

I have the honour to transmit as requested

a Petition forwarded to my Private Secretary on the 30th.

instant, which was the first authentic information that I had

of its existence. I enclose copies of the covering letter to

my Secretary with his reply.

2.

The expression of good will and confidence

on the part of the Chinese inhabitants is of course gratifying

to me, but I feel it my duty to point out that the Petition

is from the Chinese inhabitants exclusively, and I have no

reason to assume that its prayer would represent the wishes

of any section of the European Community. In the answer to

Dr. Ho Kai attention has been called to the salutary rule by

which the duration of a Governor's administration is deter-

mined.

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P..

8cc..

&C...

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient

Humble servant,

Governor, &c..