CO129-381 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [11-12] — Page 205

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Inclosure

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proceedings against Ng Hon-chi, publisher of the Chung: Kvok Yat Po newspaper under Ordinance No. 15 of 1907 for publishing seditious literature. The Chief Justice sentenced him to 2 years

hard labour on the 18th. of last May.

Canton was reported to be in a state of

great tension and to be full of rebels, but nothing further

occurred until the 13th. August when a bomb was thrown at

Admiral Li Chun which killed a number of his attendants and

wounded himself. The new Tartar General arrived in Canton on

25th. October and was assassinated on his way to his Yauen by a

bomb of enormous power which killed a great number of his escort

&c., and shattered the adjoining houses.

When the news of the rising at Hankow on the

13th. October was received here it was expected that there would

be a similar outbreak in Canton, but none took place and it was

not till November 6th. that ay direct action by this Government

fully

was invoked. On that day as I have described in a Despatch of

the 21st. November I received a request from the Viceroy to sus-

-pend the through railway service to Canton from the 7th. to the 12th. instant with which I complied. The Chinese Section has not

yet been able to re-open.

On the same day (November 6th.) news which

later proved untrue was received by the Chinese press that

Feking had fallen, and that the lanchus had fled. This was the

occasion of the most amazing outburst which has ever been seen

and heard in the history of this Colony. I enclose a press

account of the occurrence. The entire Chinese population appeared

to become temporarily demented with joy. The din of crackers (the usual method of signifying rejoicing) was deafening and

accompanied by perpetual cheering and flag-raving a method of

madness most unusual to the Chinese. The cracker-firing was

contrary to law but was so spontaneous and absolutely ubiquitous throughout the Colony that it would have been impossible to

check