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Enclosure
351
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Hon. Colonial Secretary,
On my recent visit to call on the Tutu in Canton
I mentioned this matter. The Minister for the Interior (r. Ch'ien) said and the Tutu confirmed, that not only was the meeting to elect electors not instigated by the Government of Kwangtung but that the various Chinese Societies in Hongkong were not eligible for the nomination of electors and that therefore any steps they may have taken in that be- -half were futile.
I do not think Mr. Ch'ien who asnwered my questions and interpreted them to the Tutu was speaking the truth. His manner and facial expression induced me to believe that he was throwing dust in my eyes.
I explained how I read the regulations. Ir. Ch'ien said my reading was correct. I said that while representation in the Chinese National Assembly of Chinese resident in a British Colony was anomalous and wholly different from the representation under the French Constitution of French Colonies (from which the idea had no doubt been borrowed) still if the Chinese Government desired such representation and approached this Government on the subject stating clearly and cate- -gorically what it is that they desire I would lay the matter before my Government and obtain their instructions in the matter. But I point- --ed out the irregularity of independent action on the part of Chinese whether with or without the cognizance of the Kwangtung Government and I said that such action was sure to lead to misunderstanding and fric- -tion.
r. Ch'ien said that he was not in favour of re- -presentation of Chinese resident abroad in the Chinese National Council -Xý and I understood that both he and the Tutu concurred in my remarks.
I would like to see the two M.L.Cs. and Mr. Lou Chu-pak and Mr. Un Kam-wa on this matter tomorrow afternoon at 2.30 p.in. at C.S.0. Mr. Hallifax should be there as well as yourself.
28th. January 1913.
(Sd.) F. H. May.
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