CO129-403 - Governor Sir May Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1913 [8-10] — Page 474

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Sir,

Government House,

Hongkong, 20th. October, 1913

I have the honour to inform you that the Secretary to

Commodore R. H. Anstruther yesterday sent to my Aide-de-Camp the

cards of Rear-Admiral P. Y. Lin, Captain T.K.Tong and Captain H.K. Tu. Captain Tong is commanding the Chinese Cruiser "Hai Chi" in

which Rear-Admiral Lin is hoisting his flag, while Captain Tu is

commanding the "Hai Yung".

2. It appears that these two ships anchored in the waters

of the Colony in Kowloon Bay on Thursday the 16th. of October and

that Rear-Admiral Lin went to Canton on Friday morning and return- -ed at noon on Saturday. He exchanged official visits with the Commodore later in the day and the "Hai Chi sailed in the evening.

3. Rear-Admiral Lin asked the Commodore to present his compliments to me and expressed his regrets that time did not admit of his calling as he had to go on to Foochow.

4.

I consider that Rear-Admiral Lin should have found an

opportunity of calling on me although I do not know the urgency

of the service he had to perform at Foochow. I could have received him at the sortest notice and would have returned his call immediately. In the present circumstances of the recognition by His Majesty's Government of the Chinese Republic his omission to call is especially regrettable, and I should be obliged if you would bring it to the notice of the Chinese Government.

I have etc.,

Beilby Alston, Esq., C.B., M.V.O.,

H. B. M.'s Chargé d'Affaires,

Peking.

(88.) Claud Severn,

Officer Administering the Government.