CO129-493 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [6-8] — Page 24

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Hong Kong Government?* "It cannot affect the Canton

and Hong Kong Strike to any extent", replied So. "We are at present pursuing a blocade policy, so as to stop the goods traffic of the Colony." Malone then said, "The Hong Kong Press says that the Strike Committee have never sincerely wanted a settlement: since by seizure of enemy

goods, they get a large revenue. Is this a fact?" "No!."

answered So. "It is only a groundless libel by the

Imperialists against the Strike Committee." To prove

this, he referred him to the existence of the Workmen and

Merchants' Examination Office and the just and reasonable

manner in which enemy goods were seized. Malone then

proceeded to ask, "Should we say that the Hong Kong

Government in showing no sincere wish for a settlement,

hopes that the reactionaries such as Chan wing Ming,

Wu Pei-fu, &c. will overcome Kong Tung and defeat the

revolutionaries, so that the Canton and Hong Kong Strike

can be brought to an end unconditionally?" So replied,

"As regards this, some time ago, the Hong Kong Government

did send four delegates to Canton. But the delegation

was not official, and could give no definite reply to

our economic demands. As for intrigues aimed at breaking

the Strike, I can quote a number of authentic instances: Hong Kong's complicity in the revolt of the bandits of Southern Kwongtung, their encouragement to Chan Kwing Hing

to break the Strike at Swatow, their spreading of rumours

that 100,000 soldiers would be sent to attack China, closing

of the Customs by Bell without reason, and the murder of

Minister Liu by a bought assassin. All these and many

other facts go to prove the anxiety of the Hong Kong

Government