CO129-394 - Governor Sir May & Public Offices - 1912 [12] — Page 88

86

with suspicion and dislike by most of the leading merchants, who

would be glad to be rid of its influence in llongkong, where it

aspires to a predominant share in the management of internal

affairs. It is feared principally on account of its power in Canton and therefore finds it easy to intimidate a timid people

like the Chinese.

-

The boycott appears to have attracted little

genuine public attention in Canton: though the attitude of the

Government there may be inferred from the repeated publication of

violent articles fostering the boycott in the "Chung Kwok Yat Po",

which is held to be a semi-official Covernment organ. The present

Governor-General Wu Hon Man was the editor of this paper before

the Revolution; and there can be little doubt that the articles

which take the form of notes from Hongkong are contributed by

the Sz Yap Association. It is worth noticing here that in Canton

Chinese 10 cent pieces are practically not current, for the popula- -tion prefer the Hongkong ten cent pieces and refuse to accept

those of the Canton Mint which are lighter and which comprise a far larger percentage of spurious imitations.

2.

There have been no further breaches of the

peace and although rumours of intimidation have reached me, the

Police have not had any complaints made to them of it nor have

any cases come under observation. Nevertheless intimidation must

be secretly exerted for there is no doubt that many would travel

by the Tramways if they were not afraid to do so.

3.

In these circumstances I have decided to issue

a Proclamation under the Peace Preservation Ordinance No. 10 of

1886. This will strengthen the hands of the Government. In addit-

-ion, in order to recoup the Tramway Company in the heavy loss

entailed upon it by the unreasonable and wanton action of mischief

makers, I propose to introduce an Ordinance on the lines of the

draft enclosed, which will confer on the Government the power to

levy a special rate from which to indemnify the Company. I trust

that this measure will have your full approval. Armed with such

power the Government can wear the boycott down and make ridiculous

eign