CO129-483 - Others & Individuals - 1923 — Page 461

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Of another prominent man in Hong Kong, the Home Office sent us the following extract from a

police report:-

of Hong

"A Chinese subject named Ho Kom Tong Kong the buyer or broker for Messrs. Jardine and Company, Merchants of Hong Kong, &c., is well known at Hong Kong and is alleged to be the financier of boat stewards and others who smuggle prohibited drugs. He is a man of strong financial influence and much feared, so much so that any person in Hong Kong endeavouring to bring him to justice would probably be murdered within a few hours of setting machinery

in motion."

Sir R. E. Stubbs (to whom a copy of this report was sent) replied that he had no doubt that the information is correct, but he added:-).

"I don't see what we can do about Ho Kom Tong: we shall never be able to prove anything. He is a British subject and can't be banished even if it were wise to take such violent action against so prominent

a man."

и

(Note. Ho Kom Tong is reported to be related "per matrem" to Sir Robert Ho Tong and the Honourable Ho Fook who is a Member of the Legislative Council

of the Colony.)

In the same letter Sir R. 3. Stubbs says:- "The fact is that outside Government and Mission- ary circles, nobody in the East sees anything wrong

and even if they in smuggling opium or other drugs did the profit would overcome their scruples."

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ATA) (367078) W1. 20112/26 Gp. 140 80,000 11-22 W & S Ltd.

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