CO129-432 - Governor Sir May - 1916 [3-5] — Page 381

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No

127.

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22799

REC

377

F

Sir,

REGE 15 MAY 161

GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

HONGKONG. 4th. April, 1916.

Jov

772

2-

In continuation of my Despatch ilo. 44 of the

25th of January, I have the honour to inform you that the situation

in the Kwangtung Province has been much complicated by the declara- -tion of independence of the Central Goverment by the Province of Kwangsi, by the towns of Shiu Hine; on the West River and of Lim

Chau and Yam Chau in the South West of Province and by the district

of Chiu-chow-fu in which Swatow is situated.

2.

the

These secessions have imperilled the preserva- -tion of order in Canton City, with the result that the opinion of

the Chinese in this Colony, which was at first against the monarchic' -al movement and subsequently veered in its favour on the outbreak of disturbances in Kwangtung, has now again changed to favour General Lung, the Military Governor of the Province, throwing in hiɛ lot with the rebels in order to secure the immunity of the Province from invasion by the rebel forces. But the rebel party want more then this. They demand that Lung who is very unpopular among them should retire from his post as Military Governor. This he is

unwilling to do.

The situation at Caton hos thus become very

difficult, and each side is busy trying to buy over the other. The opinion of Chinese in this Colony however is that serious fighting can scarcely be avoided. A large exodus of Chinese from Canton to

Hongkong

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

ANDRET BONAR LAW, M.P.,

20..

&c.,

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