CO129-318 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [7-10] — Page 262

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COPY.

Confidential.

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Enclosure 2.

260 C. O.

35304

RECU JPG 28 SEP

Memorandum of two interviews with Yang Taotai, Secretary to the Viceroy of the Liang Kuang, in connection with the reported

murder in, or kidnapping from, Hongkong of Hung Tsan Fuk, the leader in the China New Year Flot against the Canton Officials.

On the 13th. instant, the Colonial Secreta-

ry of Hongkong called upon me and handed me for perusal various reports obtained by the Hongkong Police in connection with the above matter. After careful consideration, I arrived at the con- clusion that a body had evidently been removed from Hongkong, but

that there was nothing to show that it was that of Hung Tsan Fuk.

Further, the impression left on my mind was that the whole ar-

rangement had been entered into by subordinate officials of the

Canton Government with a view to obtaining from the High Authori-

ties the reward set upon Hung's capture. This surmise has proved

correct, as on the 14th. instant, the Colonial Secretary informed

me by private letter that Hung was alive on March 31st. four days

after his supposed murder.

It was well known in Canton that the offici

-als thought themselves in possession of Hung's body; and the

situation was now such that 1 felt myself in a position to

enquire by what means they had obtained this body, believing, as

I did, that they could only have done so by resorting to improper

proceedings in Hongkong, Hung having never left the Colony. For this purpose I should, had the matter been an ordinary one, have called personally upon the Viceroy; but, bearing in mind the publicity of such interviews, I requested Yang Taotai, Gis Excel- lency's Chief Secretary, to pay me a private and confidential visit. On the 16th. instant, Mr. Yang called upon me, and 1 al- luded to the reports which had appeared in the native press on the