CO129-439 - Others - 1916 — Page 594

Gov/40483/12

Gov/40743/12.

Gov/685/12/13

635/12/13.

4203/13

Gov/8860

Sir C.Fiddes,

¡REC

63481

REG 7 NOV 16

589

In November 1912 the Hong Kong Government, with a view to checking the depreciation of Hong Kon subsidiary coin persuaded the Low Level Tramway Com- pany (amongst others) to refuse to accept Chinese subsidiary coin which also circulated in Hong Kong, though not legal tender. The result was that the Chinese organised a boycott of the Tramway.

On the 26th December the Governor reported by despatch that the boycott continued, that the principal supporters of it were the "Young China Party" locally represented by the 'Sz Yap Association' which had gained considerable influence by intimida- tion in Canton and Hong Kong, The Governor proposed to legislate against the boycott and as a matter of fact passed the Ordinance through Council on the 19th December. The chief point of the Ordinance was that it gave the Governor in Council power to declare "boycotting areas" and thereon to levy a special rate on that area from which to compensate sufferers from a boycott.

Mr.Harcourt held strongly that this Ordinance should not be allowed to remain in force and the Governor was informed by telegram on the 2nd February 1913 to that effect: he was also instructed that any steps taken to enforce a special rate must be terminated at once. The Governor replied on the 4th February that it had not been necessary to enforce a special rate and that the Ordinance had been suspended as the boycott had ceased. He

promised a further despatch, which arrived on the 15th March, urging strongly that the Ordinance should

remain