CO129-433 - Governor Sir May - 1916 [5-6] — Page 581

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574

Enclosure

made by fang Iu Kinng to Hr. T. H. King.

Mr. Tang Iu Kwong called at the Police Office this morn- ing. He spoke of his recent visit to Pekin and commented on the present situation in the South. Some of the chief points

he mentioned were:-

1.

2.

3.

The great uncertainty in Pekin itself as to the development of political events.

Interference by the Japanese Consul in Tientsin in seeking and obtaining the removal to Tai kin of a political faction that arrived from Pekin,

His om difficulty in obtaining a declaration of policy from Eung Chai Kwong just before he declared

the independence of Kwong Tung. Tang lu Kwong em- phasised the pressure brought to bear by the Japanese

Consul in Canton upon Lung Chai Kwong at this time. The Japanese Consul urged the declaration on account

of the trend of opinion in other parts of China, the

stagnation of business and the bankruptcy of the local government.

4.

Lung's realisation that the declaration of independ-

ence was a mistake. Lung had requested him (Tang)

to return and take up office but he was unwilling

to do so. There was so much distrust among the Canton

officials that he would not return.

5.

With the sanction and approval of the Japanese Consul

in Canton, there were Japanese at Shiu Hing advising

and assisting Shan Taun Hun. There were many Japanese agents all over China,

6.

Shan Taun Hun at Shiu Hing is powerless owing to lack

of money, supplies and munitions. For this reason

Leung Kai Chiu, who is now in Shanghai, will not re- turn to Shan.

1