PARAPHRASE TELEGRAM from the Governor of Hong Kong
58043
650
to the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
Dated 24th December, 1925, (Received Colonial Office 3.40 p.m., 24th December,1925).
Secret.
REOP (REGE 28 DEC 25
Canton Situation. Fletcher returned yesterday from Canton having had several interviews with members of de facto Government including Wong Tsing Wai,
Sung Tazman, C.C.Wu, and Fu Ping Sheung. He also saw His Majesty's Consul General, From these discussions it is clear that while the Canton Government is sincerely
anxious to resume friendly intercourse with Hong Kong and to bring the boycott to an end, it is neither willing nor able to take measures against the Strike Committee with a view to its suppression. The payment to the latter Committee of a lump sum down is in the opinion of the Canton Government the only measure by which the boycott can be ended, and they consider that the amount of such sum should be settled by bargaining in Chinese fashion between the Chinese merchants of Hong Kong, the Canton merchants and the Strike Committee. A settlement these lines commends itself to His Majesty's Consul General. It was unanimously agreed today after full discussion in Executive Council at which Chow Shou-son and Kotowall were present that there would be no justification for the Hong Kong Goverment obstructing a settlement on the lines indicated below. As a first step Chow and Kotewall to
here of suitable representatives arrange for the election by prominent Chinese merchants from
among their number. Chow and Kotewall would of course not be eligible for election, These representatives when elected to proceed to Canton with a view to bargaining with Canton merchants and the Strike Committee as to the amount to be paid in settlement. When the figure has been agreed by this process the Chinese and European merchants in
Hong Kong
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.