CO129-412 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [7-8] — Page 32

85

*

Me she

IVED 100

OITUI OZTA

RECEIVED

3 SEP.1914

OFFICE

Enclosure &

Hongkong Daily Press" of the

7th July, 1914.

29

!

to

SİNUTOS edit to Marled no Itamjɔ) Biris JaT

odt dalw yddsqmya Jaoqoob adi aaoïqxs of asılɛoh unoxanol ±now oft mi aboolt gjortenalb Jassen and yɗ arerettwa 000,024 to mura a tent how[oney Toddwut at ti bratoviЯ Tot ynofob and to sunevek feronot oft mort bestuɗath ed .82entaib ni era orfw eaorst to teller ort

WEST RIVER FLOODS.

HIS EXCELLENCY-Gentlemen, I asked you to come here to-day in order that we night move the resolution which appears on the orders of the day. You all know, of course, that there have been very disastrous floods on the West River, and although I cannot give you full parti culers of the distress occasioned thereby This is an it is no doubt widespread. extract from a despatch from the Tutuh' responsible for the Province to the Consul- General, whom I asked to make inquiries on the subject. It says:--

for

The Bloods this year have been more disastrous than any that have been known In the districts of many years. Kwangchow and Shaoch'ing a clean sweep has been made of all the dykes, the worst destruction having been caused at the Lo Ko. Ting An, and Sang Yuen dykes in the Namboi District, and at the Yeng Lo dyke in the San Hui District. The victims of the floods are scattered all over the country and their state is indeed pitiful to look upon. In connection with the local charitable societies and institutions, I am doing my utmost to provide the relief that is required, and in response to your telephone message I have the honour to send you this brief description of the state of things with the request that you will be good enough to convey it to His Excellency the Governor of Hongkong." In order to gain further particulars I sent out Mr. A. E. Wood, the first Assistant Secretary for Chinese Affairs, and he has just returned from Canton, and says most excellent work is being done by the Government and by the charitable society there known as the Kau Teoi Kung Sho, who have already sent vast quantities: of rice to the starving people right up as far as Nanning. The Tung Wah Hospital in this Colony has already sent food to the value of $20,000 to the Kau Tsoi Kung Sho for distribution, while the proposal now is, if you vote the money which appears on the orders of the day, to make that the nucleus of a public subscription, and that subscription would be raised by a committee which I propose to appoint of all nationalities here in the Colony- Chinese, British, and other European aud Americans. Then, in order to assist the Chinese Charitable Society and the Chinese Authorities themselves in the I organisation for the distribution, propose, with their concurrenc, which they have already given, that Mr. Wood shall proceed to the Shin Hing District and there aasist in the organisa tion of the distribution of food, and subsequently in such other relief work as there may be funds for. The Tutuh has very kindly offered to place a gunboat at his disposal, which will be moored at Shiu Hing for Mr. Wood's accommodation, and.

Mr. Wood will act there in conjunction with a local official on the spot who already has a very good grip of the situation. I think that these arrange- ments will be practically under Govern- ment auspices, and Mr. Wood at Shiu Hing will be the agent of the Government and of the subscribers to the fund. and he will communicate with us from time to time of the progress made and as to the necessity of funds. I hope that these arrangements meet with your approval, and if they do I shall proceed, after the vote has been taken, to appoint a com- mittee the names

of which will be published in due course. I can only say I have not the slightest doubt that I echo the views of all the members of the Council and the community in general when I say that we deeply sympathise with the population in the district in the neigh- bouring province which has been visited by this terrible disaster.

Hon. Mr. War YK-I beg to second your Excellency's resolution,

The resolution, which was as under, was then read by his Excellency, put to the meeting, and carried unanimously:

That this Council on behalf of the com munity of Hongkong desires to express the deepest sympathy with the sufferers by the recent disastrous floods in the West River, and it is further resolved that a sum of $50.000 be disbursed from the General Revenue of the Colony for the relief of those who are in distress.

HIS EXORLLENCY-There is no further business, gentlemen. Thank you for your attendance.

J