Council very much in the manner in which I have set them out in this despatch, it was unanimously agreed that the Hongkong Government would not be justified in obstructing a settlement on the following lines.
The Chinese Members of the Legislative Council Mr. Chow Shou-son and Mr. Kotewall-- will arrange that the prominent Chinese merchants of Hongkong should elect from among their number delegates (other than Mr. Chow and Mr. Kotewall) to visit Canton and bargain with representatives of the Strike Committee and of the Cantonese merchants as to the sum of money to be paid to end the boycott. The delegates from Hongkong will then return and report both to the Chinese and the European merchants of Hongkong the sum agreed upon as the result of their bargaining. The merchants will then decide whether the payment should be made.
9.
I have made it clear that the Hongkong Government cannot be a party to negotiations such as
these and that the Trade Loan cannot be made available
for such a payment to the Strike Committee.
10.
This afternoon Mr. Chow Shou-son and Mr.
Kotowall met all the Chinese Justices of the Peace, the Executive Committee of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce,
representatives of the 24 mercantile guilds, the
members of the District Watch Committee, the senior
members of the Tung Wa Hospital Committee, bankers and
other responsible merchants, who decided unanimously that the boycott should be settled as soon as possible,
that the Chinese merchants should elect five to nine.
representatives to go to Canton to find out the sum to
be paid and to reduce it if possible, and that a
meeting of all important institutions, trade guilds,
33
etc.
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etc., should be held at 10.30 a.m. on 26th "ecember to elect representatives to go to Canton.
11.
This despatch confirms and amplifies the
telegraphic message which I sent to you to-day on
this subject.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient humble servant,
Governor,&c.
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34
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