CO129-432 - Governor Sir May - 1916 [3-5] — Page 643

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26420

REG 5 JUN16

GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

HONGKONG. 29th. April, 1916.

639

I have the honour to report that consequent upor the declaration of independence of Kwangtung Province on the 6th. instant, the Chinese Telegraph Administration at Peking notified through the International Office at Berne the suspension, under Article VIII of the International Convention, of international telegraphic correspondence with Kwangtung except as regards foreig Government telegrams, at senders' risk, and Chinese Government telegrams; and the cable companies here were notified accordingly by the Chinese Administration at Peking.

2.

These restrictions seriously prejudice the trade

of this Port, which has need of constant international telegraphic communication with Canton. In addition, the local office of the

Chinese Administration which is, as you are aware, situated in the cable company's offices, was directed by the Chinese Telegraph Administration at Peking, to suspend local traffic with Canton. Such suspension would have been very prejudicial to the trade of this port, and since this local Chinese Office is under my control at present owing to the state of war, I gave directions that it must continue to exchange local traffic with Canton as usual, subject to the censorship which has been instituted in the interests of law and order in the province, and which after the declaration of in- -dependence by Kwangtung I formulated for the guidance of the censorate

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

ANDREW BONAR LAW,

&c.,

M.P.. &C..

&c...