CO129-495 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [11-12] — Page 78

COPY.

ENCLOSURE NO. 3.

TELEGRAM

75

From

H.M. Consul, Swatow.

To

Governor, Hong Kong.

Dated

10th November, 1926.

Addressed to Paking as No.33, repeated to Hong Kong and Canton. My telegram No.32. The situation is not now so satisfactory. The staffs and coolies of Chinese con- signees refuse to discharge cargo brought in British vessels and have telegraphed in that sense to Shanghai and else- where, resulting in the cancellation of sailings. Success- ful efforts have also been made to prevent the loading of

export cargo on British vessels. Two British emigrant

ships have sailed for Singapore and Bangkok respectively

with satisfactory passenger lists, but no cargo.

Native dealers in piece goods and kerosine are very

nervous, and the unions have taken lists of all who have

received stocks, and are threatening penalties etc., The

piece goods trade which was being resumed satisfactorily

has now stopped. The kerosine business makes no progress.

The avowed intention of the agitators to maintain the boy-

cott is now apparently being put into effect, and up to the present the government shows no sign of taking action, though I have made repeated verbal and written representa-

tions to the Commissioner for Foreign Affairs.

The

The new tax office was opened on November 8th. Commissioner of Customs was requested to allot one room in the customs house for the use of the new organization, and to permit copiesto be made of all duty memoranda. This he refused. I have verbally drawn the attention of the Commissioner for Foreign Affairs to the protest of the Powers against the new taxes.

At present there are no signs of the formation of inspection corps as at Canton.