CO129-429 - Public Offices & Others - 1915 — Page 165

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(Copy) C.33849.

Copy of letter from the

leadquarters offices,

China Command,

21st June, 1915.

166

1401

T **dards

107 si shart

sir,

I have the honour to inform you that, from a conversation overheard in the prisoners of war camp, there is a very strong feeling on the part of the Germans that, after the war, Hong Kong should be boycotted as a trade centre, "here are two ideas among the local merchante in the camp, these being (1) that Whampoa on the Delta should be made into a German trade centre to which place sea going ships would be able to come (2) to remove all their Offices from Hong Kong and transfer them to canton. This latter I have seen in letters from senior merchants now in the camp.

I send you the above information trusting that, may be of use to your Chamber of Commerce,

I have the honour be,

Sir,

Your obedient servant,

sd.) C.Lawder,

-7:

! ajor.

rrovost larshall.

The Hon.Mr.F.A.Hewett,C.R.G.,

President,

Hong Kong Chamber of commerce.