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himself we knew to be hostile to the Canton Government,
in that he was master of a portion of the coast line, which incidentally included Bias Bay, but we could not on that account refuse sanctuary to his family.
Chen Kwing Ming on the other hand was regarded as a spent political force, and there was no evidence that he
Still less was engaged in any activities against Canton.
Hence the
was there any evidence that either of these gentlemen
were in any way connected with piracies. discussion carried us no further, and matters remain as
they were.
The Governor now goes into the whole policy
of allowing political refugees to seek sanctuary in
Hong Kong. He adheres strongly to the sanctuary
principle laid down by Sir R.E. Stubbs in 1922 which
his,
really amounts to this that the hospitality of the
Colony may be given to any political refugees so long
as they give no overt cause for complaint, and so long
as no evidence is available that they are engaging in
political activities. This seems eminently reasonable,
and indeed accords with the views expressed by Sir M.
Lampson himself. We may suppose, therefore, that the
criticism previously directed against Hong Kong was
due to misapprehension of the Colony's position, and to
the somewhat hasty consumption of Cantonese propaganda.
The latter has now virtually ceased, doubtless for the
reason that successive Cantonese Ministers including
Mr. Fu Ping-ch'ang himself continue to avail themselves
gladly of the hospitable shelter of Hong Kong. The
question, therefore, is in no sense a live one, but
it is just as well that Sir C. Clementi has written this
despatch in order that we may get Foreign Office
agreement to the sanctuary principle, and so avoid
future criticism.
+
"Though, I think that
Le wi! have been wiser
hot kimply that a condition fits emporcement Wo. be that the Cantonen SLS. Themselves expel auti. British agitatos.
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