CO129-353 - Public Offices - 1908 — Page 683

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வழங்க

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[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]

AFFAIRS OF CHINA.

CONFIDENTIAL.

679

December 1.]

SECTION 1. C. O

47047

REC?

[42125]

No. 1.

Memorandum communicated by the Japanese Chargé d'Affaires, December 19083 DEC 08

THE latest aspect of the boycott at Hong Kong is that, as a result of the authorities having taken provisional measures to meet the case, the number of those who are committing threatening acts in a public manner appears to be somewhat decreasing. At the same time, they are still continuing the boycott privately and by various methods.

Such, however, not the intention of Chinese merchants, and there is reason to believe that the latter are disposed to put an end to the boycott, but they are reluctantly compelled to adhere to it from fear of violence and the threats of those who are at the head of the movement.

Amongst the ringleaders are the Jichi (?) Society of Canton and the Kwansi (?) Society of Hong Kong, whose members follow no regular occupation and whose very lives are political movements-not a few of them having an understanding with the revolutionists. Their attitude as regards the boycott seems to indicate that they are making it a pretext for supplying materials for attacking the present Government, for bringing their partisans under the same banner, to raise the necessary funds, and thereby obtaining a firmer foundation for their Association.

Should, therefore, a free hand be given to their movements it would constitute a great danger, in view especially of the present situation. The Viceroy of Canton, under instructions of the Government at Peking, is effecting a strict control over the

movement.

You will therefore invite the attention of the British Government to the foregoing matter, to the end that the movements of the Jichi (?) and Kwansi (?) Societies may be closely watched, and that telegraphic instructions may be issued to the Governor at Hong Kong to urge a more rigid control of the boycott.

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