CO129-505-6 Chinese telegraph office at Hong Kong- transfer to Cantonese control 8-7-1927 - 29-12-1927 — Page 55

Enclosure No.4.

Hon. Colonial Secretary,

54

At about 1030 am. today, Messrs. Deacons rang me

up and said that a new Peking Government nominee had been

authorized to take over the management of the local Chinese

Telegraph's Office. The latter was to be handed over to

him by previous arrangement, at 12 noon. Messrs. Deacons

went on to say that they had heard that there were two armed

watchmen on the premises, and asked if I would send a couple

of Police to see that there was no breach of the peace. A

European and a Chinese detective were accordingly sent to

Messrs. Deacons' Office, with verbal instructions from the

Chief Detective Inspector that they were to keep the peace,

if necessary, and also to verify whether the two watchmen

had permits for their arms. I heard later that the new

nominee arrived at the Chinese Telegraph vffice about 12 noon

and that the present holder, Mr. C. P. Lau, was not there.

After waiting for about an hour for Mr. Lau, the new official

apparently took over charge. At about 5 p.m. under instruct-

ions from you, I went with Mr. McNamara of Messrs. Deacons,

to interview the Secretary for Chinese Affairs. The latter

asked me to go to the King Edward Hotel, find Mr. C. P. Lau

and re-instate him in his office. did so, Un arrival ɛ t

the Chinese Telegraph Company's Office, I found two men

there (in addition to the old staff) who had been brought

in by the new man. Üf one of the two had some of the office

keys. He handed these back to the person he had received them from. He also handed over to Mr. Lau a sum of about

$138, which he had collected in the course of the day; Mr.

Lau gave him a receipt for this. I then told the two new men that they were to leave and not return until the Hong Kong Goverment had consented to a change in the management.

(Sd).

P. P. J. Wodehouse,

1st September, 1927.