CO129-463 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1920 [10-12] — Page 135

N°

350.

134

62951

REC

REG 24 DEC 20

GOVERNMENT HOUSE.

HONGKONG. 12th November, 1920.

My Lord, Go

40922

With reference to Your Lordship's despatch No.305 of the 7th September, 1920, I have the honour to inform you that there can be no doubt that secret societies operating in Hongkong have in recent years increased both in numbers and in power with a resultant increase in the evils inseparable from them. The present condition of China is such as to encourage the formation of Triad and kindred societies, and Hongkong from its position reflects at once the condition of China in such a matter. Less important organisations have also established themselves, following the Triad example, and even such a comparatively unimportant concern as the "ngau wong tsai" (water rats), cargo pilferers on the water front, has become quite a serious combination and is causing consider- able trouble to the mercantile community and to the

Government.

2.

Certain known and otherwise legal societies have also of late shown signs of using their organisation

for illegal objects more than in the past. Evidence of

this tendency appeared in recent troubles with the Ratten

Workers' Guilds, several murders resulting from the inter-

nal quarrels of the Guilds, and in connection with the

Fitters' strike of last spring.

3.

Another serious aspect of the question is the

readiness to employ revolvers and knives in disputes where

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

VISCOUNT MILNER, G.C.B.,

&c..

ác..

&c.

+