[ { "id": 371012, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-290 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [1-4]", "page_number": 613, "title": "CO129-290 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [1-4]", "content_text": "Sir Edward Wingfield\n\nHr. Henderson, I am sorry\n\ndoes not\n\nwish to be considered\n\nI attach his letter\n\nI am also sounded out Commander Hemetion\n\nCertificates\n\nfrom his\n\ncommendations.\n\npersonal qualifications\n\nno doubt are the best.\n\nQuite\n\napart\n\nfrom the list, I\n\nmay\n\ndraw attention to the fact that he is the\n\nson-in-law of the late Rt Honble Thomas Taylour M.P.\n\nI feel\n\nthat this is most\n\nA rare St Helena, but\n\nwhich\n\nhis heart is\n\nset\n\non the Falkland Islands\n\nwith\n\nalacrity\n\nWe have however Royal Office\n\na long list of excellent candidates for this\n\nkind of post, and I propose, after writing\n\nnot to wash & be troubled with\n\ntheir\n\npaper, Am. Chamber have\n\nI submit one of\n\ntheir names\n\nfor approval\n\nIf you please\n\nrelieve them & me.\n\n23/6\n\nLord Ampthill -\n\nI do not wish to press my recommendation\n\nto Dr. Chamberlain\n\n24\n\nThere is\n\none\n\nin the Colonial Service\n\nwhich\n\nis quite\n\nsuitable\n\nand have a\n\nbut you\n\nhave a candidate\n\nfor\n\nthis kind\n\nof post\n\nand\n\nlong best\n\nChem\n\nI think that the best for particular appointment in B. is Basil.\n\nB. A. Taylor, late Lieutenant R.N.\n\nDr. Taylor\n\nagain\n\nhas a good\n\nrecord\n\nand\n\n27\n\npoint of\n\nview\n\nand\n\nhas\n\nit\n\nthe most suitable man\n\n36-2000-1-99\n\n-2000-4-49\n\nformerly a Janin Lord\n\nof\n\nthe Duke of Lancaster,\n\nrecommended\n\nDr. Parson M.P.\n\nMr. Lucas\n\nof the Treasury, thanaller\n\nthat he has been\n\nB. W. Beach In P\n\nAppd\n\n1.6 47/6\n\n26/6\n\nAs this despatch has been some time under consideration, and the next (regular) mail to Hong Kong does not go till Friday week, I submit it to the Colony we can begin negotiations with the Taylrafte it has gone. A.F. 28/6.\n\n2916\n\n[1.0.]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-290 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 390533, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-320 - Governor Sir Blake Acting Governor May - 1903 [11-12]", "page_number": 86, "title": "CO129-320 - Governor Sir Blake Acting Governor May - 1903 [11-12]", "content_text": "## extract from HONG KONG TELEGRAPH of 20th December 1903\n\n## HONG KONG CIVIL SERVANTS' ADDRESS TO H.E. THE GOVERNOR\n\nThe Chief Justice, Sir W. M. Goodman, on behalf of the Civil Servants of Hongkong, attended at Government House this afternoon, and, in the presence of a large gathering of officials and others, presented H.E. Sir H. A. Blake with an illuminated address, signed by the servants in Government offices. There were present, in addition to Sir Henry and Lady Blake, Sir John Keane, A.D.C., and Sir W. M. Goodman, Mr. A. G. Wise, Hon. F. H. May, Hon. J. S. Berkeley, Hon. W. Chatham, Hon. A. W. Brewin, Hon. L. A. M. Johnston, Hon. Basil Taylor, Hon. Dr. Atkinson, Dr. Feasey, Dr. Bainett, Dr. Anderson, Dr. T. Bateson Wright, Messrs. C. McI. Masser, S. B. C. Ross, H. P. Tooker, R. F. Johnson, C. Clementi, G. A. Woodcock, A. Seth, Bruce Shepherd, J. Hanson, H. J. Baker, Jones, and many other Civil Servants, besides a large number of ladies.\n\nSir William Goodman assured H.E. of the sincerity with which they regretted his departure, and said they felt they were not only losing an able Governor, but a wise and sympathetic friend (Applause). He afterwards handed him the address, enclosed in a beautifully carved blackwood case, bearing the following inscription on a silver shield: \"Presented to H.E. Sir Henry Arthur Blake, G.C.M.G., by the Civil Servants of Hongkong, on his departure for Ceylon. November, 1903.\"\n\nH.E., in thanking them for their kind expressions of regret, said he had no hesitation in saying that nobody among public servants in the wide empire of the Crown had done their work more faithfully than those in Hongkong. He personally thanked them for the thoroughness of their work, which had made his task easy and pleasant, and which would, he hoped, bring to them in future a due reward for public services faithfully and efficiently performed. The instinct of hard work was amongst them, and fair criticism ought not to be unwelcomed or disregarded. They had the good fortune of having a press, which he had no hesitation in saying was not alone independent but as fair a press as he had known in any colony. Its standard was high, and it was absolutely free from that scurrility and personality that he had seen now and again elsewhere (Applause). It was a great satisfaction to him to know that in departing from Hongkong he had left some good men amongst them, whose names would be well known in the future. On behalf of Lady Blake and himself, he thanked them most warmly for their kindness, which was most heartily reciprocated. He wished them every prosperity in the future (Applause).\n\n## The following is the text of the address:\n\nTo His Excellency SIR HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, G.C.M.G., Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same.\n\nMay it please Your Excellency,—Before Your Excellency leaves this Colony to take up the important appointment which His Majesty the King has been pleased to confer upon you, it is the desire of those who have served under you in Hongkong to express their regret at the prospect of your early departure, and the high respect and admiration which they have learned to feel for Your Excellency. All sections of the community must be aware that since your arrival in this Colony in 1898, you have never spared yourself in labouring for its welfare, but none can know this so well as those who have had the privilege of working under your direction. The period of your administration has been a momentous one in the history of the Colony, and has had its special difficulties and anxieties. Not only has Hongkong grown steadily in wealth and prosperity, but its area has been largely extended by the occupation of the New Territory. With the advance of the Colony in Imperial and Commercial importance, increased responsibilities and new problems have arisen, demanding from the Governor no small measure of sagacity and administrative skill.\n\nIn our own endeavours conscientiously to perform our humbler part in the increasing labours of the Government, we have all been cheered and encouraged by the knowledge that the highest example of hard work, energy, and enthusiasm has been shown us by Your Excellency; and at the same time, we desire gratefully to acknowledge the courtesy, consideration, and sympathy which you, as head of the Civil Service, have invariably extended to all its members. The Crown has already recognised Your Excellency's administrative abilities by conferring upon you the highest appointments in several of the colonies of the Empire. In your administration of the Bahamas, Newfoundland, and Jamaica, and here again in Hongkong, Your Excellency has proved that the Royal choice could have fallen on none worthier or better fitted to carry on the high traditions of British justice, integrity, impartiality, and earnestness which, no less than in the mother-country, are so proudly cherished in the King's Dominions beyond the Seas. The experience gained by Your Excellency during so long a period and in so many Colonies has added year by year to the value of your services. It was therefore with great satisfaction that we, the Civil Servants in this Colony, learned that His Majesty had selected you to be Governor of the Colony of Ceylon, one of the fairest as it is one of the most important of all His Majesty's possessions.\n\nWe feel confident that Your Excellency's term of administration in Ceylon will be accompanied by the uniform success which has attended your administration of four other Colonies; and the Civil Service of Hongkong, while regretfully taking leave of a Head for whom it has the highest regard, congratulates the sister-service in Ceylon on its acquisition of so capable, just, and considerate a Governor. In conclusion, we desire to express our heartfelt wish that, not only in Ceylon but elsewhere, Good Health, Prosperity, and Happiness may long be granted both to Your Excellency and Lady Blake.\n\nWe have the honour to subscribe ourselves\n\nYour Excellency's\n\nMost obedient humble servants,\n\n[Here follow signatures]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-320 - Governor Sir Blake Acting Governor May - 1903 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 390541, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-320 - Governor Sir Blake Acting Governor May - 1903 [11-12]", "page_number": 94, "title": "CO129-320 - Governor Sir Blake Acting Governor May - 1903 [11-12]", "content_text": "# Extract from Hong Kong Daily Press\n\n## THE DEPARTURE OF SIR HENRY BLAKE\n\n### HONGKONG'S FAREWELL\n\nAfter five years of administration of the government of Hongkong, His Excellency Sir Henry A. Blake, G.C.M.G., departed on Saturday to take up the Governorship of Ceylon. The farewell greeting that he got from the community of the Colony was such as to leave a lasting memory in His Excellency's mind of the feelings of respect and affection with which he is regarded by the people of this Colony. Unfortunately, the weather was not auspicious, for it rained steadily all day long and the streets were ankle-deep in mud. Sir Henry Blake was accompanied by Lady Blake and Sir John Keane, A.L.C. The party left Government House shortly after eleven o'clock, in chairs, and proceeded to the City Hall where a large assembly of the citizens had met to present His Excellency with a farewell address. Afterwards, they proceeded to Blake Pier and went by launch out to the P. & O. s.s. Malta by which they are to journey to Ceylon.\n\n### ADDRESS AT THE CITY HALL\n\nFor the occasion, St. Andrew's Hall had been decorated with palm, ferns, and flowers under the superintendence of Mr. W. J. Tutcher of the Botanical and Afforestation Department. A raised platform was placed at the upper end. The Governor's party rode from Government House to the hall by way of Albert Road, past the Government offices into and down Garden Road, and across Queen's Road. The route was lined by the Indian soldiers of the 110th Mahrattas and 93rd Burmas. On arrival at the hall, His Excellency, accompanied by Lady Blake and Sir John Keane, took up his central position on the dais, the assembly standing up meanwhile. When seats had been resumed, His Honour the Chief Justice, Sir William Goodman, wearing his robes, entered by the side door, accompanied by the unofficial members of the Legislative Council and the committee of the Chamber of Commerce as follows: Sir Paul Chater, Hon. Gershom Stewart, Hon. C. W. Dickson, Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, Hon. Wei Yuk, Messrs. E. A. Hewett, D. R. Law, N. A. Siebs, A. G. Wood, J. R. M. Smith. Among others present in the hall were the Puisne Judge (Mr. A. G. Wise), the Colonial Secretary (Hon. F. H. May, C.M.G.), Hon. L. A. M. Johnston (Acting Colonial Treasurer), Hon. Sir H. S. Berkeley (Attorney-General), Hon. W. Chatham (Director of Public Works), Hon. Basil Taylor (Harbour Master), Hon. A. W. Brewin (Registrar-General), Dr. J. M. Atkinson, Colonel L. F. Brown, Colonel Birdwood, Colonel Wylly, Major Dopping Hepenstall, Messrs. C. A. Tomes, H. W. Looker, H. P. Tooker, A. Ramjohn, M. S. Northcote, H. N. Mody, A. G. Romano, Consul-General for Portugal; T. Liebert, Consul for France; E. Hamman, Consul for Belgium; L. Volpicelli, Consul-General for Italy; E. Mnelle, Consul for Peru, C. Clementi, H. W. Slade, E. H. Sharp, K.C., B. Layton, J. Hastings, H. J. Gedge, K. F. Johnston, Major Radcliff, M. W. Slade, E. A. Hewett, P. W. Sergeant, B. James, Bishop Piazzoli, Rev. Father Beaublat, Procureur des Missions Etrangères; Rev. Fathers Spada, de Maria, and Gabardi, Messrs. Ho Tang, Ho Fook, Ho Kom Tong, Chan Siu Ki, Yong Won Chang, Leung Pia Chi, Taung Shi Kai, Wong Kom Fuk, Lo Koon Ting, Fung Wa Chun, Lo Cheung Shiu, Lam Chi Fung, Chun Law Hung, and Ian Chu Pak; and a good proportion of ladies.\n\nAs the deputation entered the hall, the whole assembly rose to their feet.\n\nSir William Goodman then addressed His Excellency as follows: - Your Excellency,--- We have met here this morning to present to your Excellency an address from the people of this Colony expressing, now that you are about to leave us, their appreciation of your work here as Governor and their hearty good wishes for your success and well-being in the future. I feel it a great honour to have been specially asked to act on this occasion for those who have signed that address, representing, as they do, not only the British residents but also the various nationalities which go to make up the general community of Hongkong;\n\nof 254 November 1987. 5727 \nand in their name, I will ask your Excellency's permission to read that address and then to add a few words by way of personal expression.\n\nSir William then read the following address: -\n\n**To His Excellency Sir Henry Arthur Blake, G.C.M.G., Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies and Vice-Admiral of the same.**\n\nYour Excellency, - We, the undersigned residents of Hongkong, on the eve of your departure to take up the important post His Majesty has been graciously pleased to confer upon you, desire to express our appreciation of the valuable services rendered to this Colony during your Excellency's term of office here. The administration of a Crown Colony at a distance of more than ten thousand miles from the mother country cannot, even in ordinary times, prove an easy task. We realise that the difficulties attendant upon a peaceful and successful government of this Colony were increased during the earlier period of your Excellency's tenure of office by the disastrous outbreak in the neighbouring Empire, and we are glad to think that at this critical period the government of the Colony was in your able hands.\n\nIt is impossible in the brief space afforded us by an address to go into detail as to the various phases of your Excellency's administration, but we would specially refer to a few of the more important.\n\nDuring your term of office, the boundaries of the Colony have been extended from 27 square miles to 400 square miles, an increase which naturally adds largely to the work of administration, and we rejoice to feel that the disturbances and resistance met with in taking over the New Territory were promptly and decisively overcome, and that the population have since maintained a peaceful and contented attitude, indicating the satisfaction they feel with the system of Government it has fallen upon your Excellency to introduce and administer for the last five years.\n\nThe projects for the erection of various urgently needed public buildings, notably the new Post Office, have been accelerated through your Excellency's personal endeavours.\n\nAmong other questions which have engaged your Excellency's attention has been the extending of the road-system of the Colony, and in particular the opening-up of the New Territory by the construction of the main Tai-po Road.\n\nThe proposed Praya East Reclamation Scheme, the immense importance of which your Excellency was prompt to recognise and strongly advocated, has up to the present been found impossible of execution owing to difficulties with certain of the authorities in England, but we trust that your efforts to secure this desired expansion of the city will ultimately be crowned with success.\n\nThe burning question of the site for the Naval Dock Yard has been dealt with so recently that it is unnecessary here to go into details, but the protest made by the Colony against the Admiralty scheme was warmly supported by your Excellency, who fully recognised the injury it would entail upon the City of Victoria. In this connection, we can assure you that the earnest endeavours made by your Excellency to induce the Naval Authorities to reconsider their adverse decision, and thus secure for the city an unbroken sea-front and its legitimate expansion, will be gratefully remembered.\n\nThe last and most important act of your Excellency's administration in this Colony has been the founding of the Hongkong Improvement Trust, which we are convinced will have far-reaching effects and will confer upon the Colony incalculable benefits which will last so long as Hongkong continues to be a centre for trade in the Far East.\n\nIt is, however, when we consider the health of the Colony, on which our prosperity so vitally depends, that the debt of gratitude which we owe to your Excellency becomes most manifest.\n\nThe all-important question of the Colony's water-supply has occupied much of your attention, particularly the most necessary works which you have inaugurated at ...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-320 - Governor Sir Blake Acting Governor May - 1903 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 405885, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-335 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [8-10]", "page_number": 427, "title": "CO129-335 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [8-10]", "content_text": "Confidential\n\nHong Kong,\n\n4th October 1906\n\nGovernment House.\n\nI have the honour to enclose in clear versions of my telegram and of Your Lordship's of the 6th inst; and of subsequent telegrams to and from the Commander in Chief, China Station, on the subject of the appointment of a naval officer, with previous experience of the mercantile marine, to act as Harbour Master at Hongkong during the absence on leave of the Assistant Harbour Master and pending the appointment of a successor to the late Captain A.L. Aaronsen as an officer of Harbour Master.\n\n2. Your Lordship will see that Sir Arthur Moore has proposed for the acting appointment Lieut. Beckwith, Navigating Lieutenant of \"Druid\", and that I have accepted this proposal, and that the officer named will be available after the 19th instant.\n\n3. Lieut. Beckwith has served in his present rank since October 1905 when he joined the Navy under the Order-in-Council of the 20th June 1905 after 4 years' experience in the Mercantile Marine. My reasons for mentioning his name and that of Lieut. Butterworth in my telegram to Sir Arthur Moore were that I knew both, previously to receiving commissions in the Navy, had been in the Merchant service and that I had heard good reports of both from officers under whom they had served in H.M. Ships.\n\n4. To secure the best officer I could for the temporary appointment, which is one of great importance to the Colony, I thought it advisable to offer the full salary attached to the post, viz: at the rate of £780 per annum.\n\n5. The question of filling the permanent appointment presents some difficulty. The present Assistant Harbour Master, Mr. H. Jaglar, who is 45 years of age and served in the Royal Navy from 1878 to 1898 when he resigned his commission, joined the Colonial service in the post he now occupies in September 1899. He has since then on three occasions for periods of 15, 6, and 3 months respectively acted as Harbour Master.\n\n6. On the retirement of Capt. Rumsey, Mr. Basil Taylor applied for the post and in forwarding his application, the then Governor, Sir Henry Blake, stated in his dispatch No. 404, dated the 24th August 1903, as follows: - \"During the period in which Mr. Basil Taylor has discharged the duties of Harbour Master in the absence of Capt. Rumsey, he has given entire satisfaction both to the Government and to the public. I consider him a long way the most suitable officer for the appointment.\" When about a year later, I forwarded in my dispatch No. 652 dated the 29th September 1904, an application from Taylor to be considered for any other similar post which might become vacant, I stated that he was \"capable, zealous, and worthy of promotion\" and that the recent appointment of Capt. Barrie Laurence to be Harbour Master at Singapore made it improbable that there would be any promotion for Mr. Taylor in this Colony for some years to come. About 6 months later, Taylor applied to the Secretary of State for the appointment of Harbour Master at Singapore. In forwarding this application in my despatch No. 72 of the 13th March 1905, I referred to the favourable opinion of Taylor's capacity I had expressed in my previous dispatch, and to the experience he had gained in the Harbour Department of this Colony. A further application from Taylor for the Administrationship of Labuan was forwarded in my despatch No. 251 of the 19th August, in which I confined myself to referring to my previous communication.\n\nPage 353\n\n...\n\nPage 354\n\n \nThe East Dept. Reg.\n\n...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-335 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [8-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 406238, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-336 - Governor Nathan & Public Offices - 1906 [11-12]", "page_number": 243, "title": "CO129-336 - Governor Nathan & Public Offices - 1906 [11-12]", "content_text": "(COPY)\n\nC\n\n1656\n\n12 JAN 07,\n\nHarbour Department,\n\n238\n\nHongkong, 10th December, 1908.\n\nThe Honourable\n\nSir,\n\nHis Excellency the Governor having offered me\n\nthe post of Assistant Harbour Master on Mr. Basil Taylor's\n\nreturn in March next, I have the honour to state that I should\n\nlike 2 months' trial under the Harbour Master before finally\n\naccepting the appointment; and that at the expiration of that\n\nperiod I may be returned to H.M. Navy for passage to England,\n\nso that I may wind up my private affairs and after obtaining\n\nsanction of Admiralty to my retirement as Commander, R.N.,\n\ntake up my appointment as Assistant Harbour Master in January,\n\n1909.\n\nThe Colonial Secretary.\n\nI have, etc.\n\n34.\n\nCharles F. Beckwith,\n\nLieut., R.N.\n\n...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-336 - Governor Nathan & Public Offices - 1906 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 410235, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-341 - Acting Governor May Governor Lugard - 1907 [7-10]", "page_number": 581, "title": "CO129-341 - Acting Governor May Governor Lugard - 1907 [7-10]", "content_text": "PRESENT:- \n\nHIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, SIR FREDERICK JOHN DEALTRY LUGARD, K.C.M.G., C.B., D.S.O.\n\nHis Excellency Major-General R. G. BROADWOOD, C.B., A‚O.D., General Officer Commanding the Troops.\n\nHon. Mr. F. H. MAY, (Colonial Secretary), Hon. Mr. W. REES DAVIES, (Attorney-General)\n\nHon. Mr. A. M. THOMSON, (Colonial Treasurer).\n\nHon. Mr. W. CHATHAM, C.M.G. (Director of Public Works).\n\nHon. Mr. A.W.BREWIN (Registrar-General), Hon. Commander BASIL R. H. TAYLOR, R.N., (Harbour Master).\n\nHon. Dr. Ho Kai, M.B., C.M., C.M.G. Hon. Mr. B. A. HEWETT.\n\nHon. Mr. H. KESWICK,\n\nHon. Mr. WEI YUK.\n\nHon. Mr. E. OSBORNE.\n\nMr. A. G. M. FLETCHER (Clerk of Councils),\n\nMINUTES.\n\nThe minutes of the previous meeting were read, and confirmed.\n\nSTANDING COMMITTEES.\n\nHIS EXCELLENCY-Before proceeding with the business, under the standing orders it is necessary to appoint the standing committees for the year.\n\nFinance Committee-All the members except myself, with the Colonial Secretary as chairman.\n\nLaw Committee-The Attorney-General as chairman and the former members, Hon. Dr. Ho Kai, Hon. Mr. Wei Yuk, Hon. Mr. H. E. Pollock and the Hon. the Harbour Master.\n\nThe Public Works Committee remains without change-The Hon. Director of Public Works, Chairman, the Hon. Colonial Treasurer, Hon. Mr. Osborne and Hon. Mr. Keswick.\n\nFINANCIAL MINUTES.\n\nThe COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor, laid on the table Financial Minutes 48 and 49 and moved that they be referred to the Finance Committee.\n\nThe COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.\n\nFINANCIAL.\n\nThe COLONIAL SECRETARY, by command of H.E. the Governor, laid on the table the report of the Finance Committee No. 9 and moved its adoption.\n\nThe COLONIAL TREASURER seconded, and the motion was agreed to.\n\nTHE COMPANIES ORDINANCE.\n\nThe ATTORNEY-GENERAL-Sir, I move the second reading of the Bill to Amend the Law Relating to Companies. Now Sir, the object of the Bill is set forth in the preamble. Companies registered under the Ordinance of 1865 are required to keep a register of members. Under this Bill the Governor-in-Council is empowered to grant a license relieving a company from keeping its register at the registered office in Hongkong. In such case, the register kept hitherto presumably at the head office of the company is to be regarded as the register kept under the Companies Ordinance 1865. I may say, Sir, that the Bill has received the full consideration of the Chamber of Commerce at Hongkong and also of the authorities representing the various companies in Shanghai which will be primarily interested in the proposal. Representations have been forwarded to the Government from the representatives of the various Shanghai companies, and they approved in general all the proposals contained in the Bill. There were, Sir, two or three amendments proposed by the representatives of the Shanghai companies, and they were submitted for the consideration of the Government, which has approved of all these amendments. Two out of three were incorporated in the Bill and in reference to the third amendment, the Government approved of it in a modified form. The amendments proposed by the representatives of the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce were considered in regard to clause 4 of the Bill, where it is proposed that a fee of four cents for every $100 of the nominal capital of the company should be paid in respect of the license issued under the Ordinance. It was suggested that instead of \"nominal capital\" it should be \"paid up capital.\" We are of the opinion that that was a practical proposal and the Government amended it accordingly. In clause 4, sub-section 3 (b) the question of domicile was raised and in regard to stamp duties, it was suggested in the Bill as originally drafted in clause 4, sub-section 3 (b) the words \"domicile elsewhere than in the Colony,\" should be eliminated. The reasons for this, which I think are unnecessary to recapitulate, appear to be sufficient. The Government eliminated these words. The only other amendment was in clause 6, sub-section 1, which requires that in the event of a company not having obtained a license, it shall be struck off the register if it fails to comply with the Ordinance after the expiration of one month. The proposal from Shanghai was that the time of expiration of notice should be three months instead of one. The Government has met them half way and suggested that a notice of two months would be sufficient. The Bill is non-controversial and I trust the Council will approve. I move that the Bill be read a second time.\n\nThe COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.\n\nHon. Mr. HEWETT-Sir, after the explanation made by the Hon. Attorney-General, it is unnecessary for me to say anything.\n\nHe explained to the Council that the question had been referred to Shanghai, and the Bill as it now stands in its altered form with one slight alteration, has been accepted by the Chambers of Commerce at Shanghai and Hongkong. With regard to section 6, sub-section 1, I wish to make a slight suggestion which, I trust, we will be enabled to deal with in the committee stage of the Bill.\n\nThe Bill was then read a second time. Council went into committee to consider the Bill clause by clause, and the Attorney-General intimated he would consider the point raised by the Hon. Mr. Hewett and, if necessary, recommit the Bill.\n\nEXPOSURE IN THE STOCKS.\n\nThe ATTORNEY-GENERAL-Sir, I rise to move the second reading of the Bill entitled an Ordinance to limit the imposition by public exposure in the stocks. I need not expatiate on this Bill at any length. It has been thought that punishment inflicted in the stocks has in some cases taken rather an exaggerated form. Having regard to representations in the matter, it is desirable that in future punishment should be limited to cases where an offence is punishable by imprisonment. The Bill is introduced with that object.\n\nTHE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded.\n\nHon. Mr. KESWICK-I wish, Sir, to oppose this Bill because I feel it is being rushed on us. You will pardon me, Your Excellency, if I call your attention to the fact that you have only recently arrived here, and have not had the opportunity of studying the conditions under which we live and the conditions of crime and the status of the people who commit crimes and incommode us here. The Hon. Attorney-General has also but recently arrived. I cannot but feel that we are being rushed on this Bill by a small section of the Chinese community who evidently have control of one of the morning papers and who, having acquired a certain amount of Western knowledge and learning, consider the exposure of their fellow countrymen in the stocks is a reflection upon themselves. They, however, entirely forget that we are absolutely next door to China, and that a man only requires twenty minutes to get over the border. The people who are punished by stocks are not the enlightened gentlemen of the Chinese nation who are a credit to any nation.\n\nPage 576", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-341 - Acting Governor May Governor Lugard - 1907 [7-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 414495, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-348 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [7-10]", "page_number": 406, "title": "CO129-348 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [7-10]", "content_text": "# Enclosure 6.\n\n## FINDING OF THE MARINE COURT.\n\nWe find that the British Steamship Ying King, Official No. `116,031` of Hongkong, of which **ERNEST JAMES PAGE**, Certificate of Competency No. `491` of New South Wales, was Master, left Canton at 6 p.m. on the 27th July, 1908, on a voyage to Hongkong, with a full general cargo, about 430 passengers, of whom 3 were Europeans, and 23 crew, besides about 10 in the Compradore's staff, making about 465 souls all told. This is a rough estimate by the Mate.\n\nAfter leaving Canton, with a light North-easterly breeze, weather clear, sky overcast, barometer falling, all went well until after passing Bogue Forts, when the wind and sea rose, the barometer falling rapidly. At about 11.30 p.m. the Master decided to anchor, on account of the very heavy sea, between Pillar Point and Castle Peak. Two anchors were let go, and with the assistance of the engines held the ship. The weather continued to get worse, the sea breaking over the ship, which finally took a heavy list, from the cargo shifting, and large quantities of water found its way into the engine room, extinguishing the fires at about 2.30 a.m. At about 2.50 a.m. the list suddenly increased and the ship foundered. Of the 465 souls on board only 42 appear to have survived. The Master and about 420 others perishing.\n\nWe find that the cause of the foundering was the Typhoon, which passed over the Colony during that night. That all reasonable precautions were taken to ensure the safety of the ship and passengers. That the state of the sea rendered any recourse to boats for saving life out of the question. Finally, we desire to record our expression of regret at the grave loss of life.\n\nGiven under our hands at Victoria in the Colony of Hongkong, this Eleventh day of August, 1908.\n\n**BASIL TAYLOR**, Commander, R.N. \nStipendiary Magistrate and President of the Court. \n**HENRY BUTTERWORTH**, Lieut., R.N., \nH.M.S. Tamar. \n**E. BEETHAM**, \nMaster, British S.S. Empress of India. \n**CHAS. V. LLOYD**, \nMaster, British S.S. Fatshan. \n**E. EVANS**, \nMaster, British S.S. Hoi Ming.\n\n# Enclosure 7.\n\n## REPORT OF CHIEF RESIDENT ENGINEER KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY, BRITISH SECTION.\n\n### TYPHOON DAMAGES.\n\nKowloon, 4th August, 1908.\n\nSIR—I have gone right through the line since the typhoon and find that the damage done is very small considering the strength of the typhoon.\n\nMost damage was done at the North Face Tunnel, where the most serious items were, the unroofing of the coolie quarters and the power house.\n\nThe unroofing of the coolie quarters drove all the coolies into Hongkong, which forced the work to close down for a week. The miners' quarters on the top of the hill suffered also.\n\nA start was made next day to provide quarters for the coolies who were to repair the permanent ones, and to-day I believe there were to be sufficient coolies out there to start the heading.\n\nAt the South Side, no miners' quarters were injured, but the roofs were blown partly off a couple of coolie quarters, but this did not stop the work as the coolies went to Kowloon and came to the work daily.\n\nMr. Valpy, whose house is at the top of the hill at Sha-tin, said his house was greatly protected by the mosquito gauze netting which was all round the verandah and which evidently formed a sort of cushion, as he was able to remain in his verandah during the height of the storm.\n\nOn the rest of the line, the damage by the typhoon was small and not such as to cause any delay to the work. The launch Marlow was driven on shore in Tide Cove, and a couple of lighters slightly damaged. Some of the jetties were also damaged, but very little material was lost.\n\nThe heavy rain previous did more damage really than the typhoon. 12.4 inches was reported from Taipo in twenty-four hours. This caused a heavy flood in the river that runs through the Causeway at Taipo, the water being three feet higher on the inside than on the outside.\n\nOn the reclamation works at Kowloon, work stopped for a considerable time, and as none of the contractors' European foremen did much, work was a long time in getting started again.\n\nI have, &c., \nTo the Honourable, The Colonial Secretary.\n\n(Signed) **G. W. EVES**, \nChief Resident Engineer.\n\n# Enclosure 8 (1).\n\n## REPORT BY DISTRICT OFFICER, TAI PO.\n\nThe New Territory N. suffered wonderfully little from the typhoon. Apart from the case of the Ying King on the West, and of one trading junk on the East—No. `S. 1,503 H`—I can hear of absolutely no loss of life. The loss from the junk the Police have not been able to ascertain exactly, but even there most of the crew escaped.\n\nAt Tai Po and Sha Tin, a number of junks were driven ashore and of course damaged—details in the Morning Reports of the two days succeeding the storm; in Plover Cove, one junk was sunk; but in none of these cases was there any loss of life. I am leaving the Railway damage out of consideration.\n\nThe crops over most of the Territory had been harvested before the typhoon; the wet ten days of July had done a lot of harm, and the people worked hard in the two fine days between the wet weather and the typhoon to get in all they could. The rest was of course further damaged by the typhoon, but was far from being entirely ruined. It was beaten flat quite early and so escaped much shaking, and as it was fit to cut, it has all been taken off the fields since, and there was no need to choose between reaping unripe grain and leaving it a little to ripen at the risk of rotting. The San Tin district alone may have suffered very badly; the flood there is only now subsiding sufficiently to allow of harvesting, and much of the crop not previously reaped will no doubt be rotted. No appeals for special help have, however, been made, and the Crown Rent in each district seems to be coming in at least as fast, if not rather faster than before.\n\nThe barometer at Tai Po read 29.15 at 3 a.m. in the typhoon.\n\nNo serious collapses, and practically no important shore damage in the villages.\n\n2nd August, 1908.\n\n**E. R. HALLIFAX**, \nDistrict Officer.\n\nPage 402", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-348 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [7-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 415222, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-349 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [10-12]", "page_number": 511, "title": "CO129-349 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [10-12]", "content_text": "## 505\n\npossessing such certificates be endorsed upon the officers certificates (`B. of T`) under the existing regulations.\n\nI cannot help thinking that the proposition put forward by Major Evans (with, I understand, the sanction of the Commander in Chief) has only to be placed before the Board of Trade to ensure its adoption, in, perhaps, a modified form, after interdepartmental discussion between that Department and the Admiralty. It would tend to greater efficiency in this most important maritime necessity signalling, as well as to the promotion of sympathy between the Naval and Mercantile branches of the sea service.\n\n**(sd) Basil R. H. Taylor** \nHarbour Master \n11/12/08.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-349 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1908 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 426284, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-368 - Acting Governor May - 1910 [8-9]", "page_number": 66, "title": "CO129-368 - Acting Governor May - 1910 [8-9]", "content_text": "Enclosure 2.\n\n63\n\nto South Africa. Also the services of the Registrar-General to receive repatriated labourers and to arrange for their return to their homes and also in dealing with labourers' remittances sent from the Transvaal\".\n\nBefore the Officers concerned were communicated with, Mr. Cowan who at that time was employed with Lieutenant Wells, R.N., by the Transvaal Government in doing the work which it was proposed to assign to the Harbour Master and Registrar-General, furnished at my request detailed particulars of the duties to be performed in a letter dated 31st March, 1905, copy enclosed.\n\nThis letter apparently forms the basis of paragraph 5 of the Memorial, but the mention of some of the work entailed upon the Registrar-General is omitted. At first the emigration was carried on both from Hongkong and from North China. After a short time the emigration from Hongkong was, as described by the Harbour Master, discontinued.\n\n3. As regards the comments made by Commander Basil Taylor on the amount of extra work cast upon the Harbour Master and Emigration Officer and on the Registrar-General respectively, it is of course obvious that", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-368 - Acting Governor May - 1910 [8-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 426286, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-368 - Acting Governor May - 1910 [8-9]", "page_number": 68, "title": "CO129-368 - Acting Governor May - 1910 [8-9]", "content_text": "65\n\nhalf a month's salary.\n\nI am at a loss to understand the statement of the Harbour Master in the same paragraph that whereas he inspected a vessel for the Transvaal Government on the 27th of April, 1908, his claim was not even forwarded. His claim to the continuance of the allowance formed the subject of Sir F. D. Lugard's Despatch No. 35 of the 29th of January last. The statement that he received \"instructions to continue the special inspections\" refers to the fact that on the 22nd April, 1908, the Harbour Master was informed that a vessel sailing from here to Durban with the intention of embarking Chinese returning emigrants there, required a Special Licence under the Chinese Emigration Ordinance.\n\n5.\n\nCommander Basil Taylor bases his claim on the ground that the service he performed in connection with the granting of such special licences were the same after the 31st March, 1908, as before that date; and that these services were of a special nature in that they were imposed by special legislation which required more to be done by the Emigration Officer than was required under the Emigration Ordinance, 1889, and Chinese Passenger Act 1855 before the Emigration Ordinance", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-368 - Acting Governor May - 1910 [8-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 427265, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-369 - Acting Governor May Governor Sir Lugard - 1910 [10-11]", "page_number": 350, "title": "CO129-369 - Acting Governor May Governor Sir Lugard - 1910 [10-11]", "content_text": "347\n\nGodown Company, Limited, and an Unofficial Member of the Legislative Council, to be a Committee to enquire into the questions set out in their letter of appointment. A copy of this letter was sent to the Harbour Master, copy of Enclosure 10 enclosed.\n\nEnclosure 12.\n\n13714.\n\nI enclose copy of the report furnished by Messrs. Messer and Osborne, excepting the detailed statements of duties of the clerical staff and the numerous forms referred to, together with a précis of the recommendations made by myself. This report was communicated to the Harbour Master on the 23rd of September (copy of letter annexed) and I enclose copy of his reply.\n\n2. Mr. Percebais expressed the opinion that the clerical staff might be reduced by 1 European Clerk and three Chinese Clerks. The Committee endorse this opinion as far as the European Clerk is concerned, and as regards the Chinese Clerks if forms are revised and duties re-arranged.\n\nCommander Basil Taylor adheres to the opinion that the staff cannot be reduced.\n\nIn this connection I have to remark that the Retrenchment Committee, a summary of whose recommendations was forwarded in Sir F. Lugard's Despatch No.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-369 - Acting Governor May Governor Sir Lugard - 1910 [10-11].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 427629, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-370 - Governor Sir Lugard & Public Offices - 1910 [12]", "page_number": 178, "title": "CO129-370 - Governor Sir Lugard & Public Offices - 1910 [12]", "content_text": "Circular.\n\n173\n\nUB:30***\n\nHarbour Department,\n\nKengkong, 22nd November, 1909.\n\nFor the future, after the 1st December, 1909, the shroff of this Department will not call to collect fees for Light Dues.\n\nI have to request that owners, agents, &c., of vessels arriving in the Waters of the Colony will pay the necessary fees for light dues into this office within 48 hours of the departure of such vessels, or, should a Sunday or a Government Holiday intervene, within 72 hours of such departure.\n\nAll other fees, for Survey, Registration, Medical Examination of Emigrants, Engagement and Discharge of Seamen, &c., &c., should likewise be paid into this office not later than 48 or 72 hours after they become due, as above.\n\nBasil Taylor,\n\nCommander, R.N.,\n\nHarbor Master,", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-370 - Governor Sir Lugard & Public Offices - 1910 [12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 430898, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-376 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [3-4]", "page_number": 80, "title": "CO129-376 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [3-4]", "content_text": "## Original Text Reconstructed\n\nI was allowed to enjoy the honour and dignity of being the vessel of the high officials of Government on most ceremonial occasions in the Colony.\n\nI trust that you will have the goodness of supporting my application for my salary to be raised to the maximum of the incremental scale and in transmitting this letter to His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government you will be kind enough to recommend it to His Excellency for approval.\n\nI have etc.,\n\n(sd.) G. Willoughby, \nMaster, S. T. \"Stanley\". \n\nCommander Basil Taylor, R.N., \nHarbour Master, &c.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-376 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [3-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 431403, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-376 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [3-4]", "page_number": 585, "title": "CO129-376 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [3-4]", "content_text": "## No. 164.\n\n### Government House, Hongkong, 28th April, 1911.\n\nSir,\n\nIn my Despatch No. 331 of the 11th November, 1909, I had the honour to forward a scheme, recommended by Commander Basil Taylor, for the redistribution of work in the Harbour Office which resulted in a net saving of $1,637 per annum. Commander Taylor informed me at the time that he was not entirely satisfied with this re-distribution of the work, but that it was the best he could do under the circumstances. He added \"for one thing I can vouch which is that the work will be done, I will see to that\". However, shortly before going on leave Commander Taylor requested Commander C. W. Beckwith, whom I have appointed to act as Harbour Master during the former's leave of absence, to re-present to me that Mr. M. McIver's services were now badly needed afloat in connection with the supervision of Junk Traffic and of the two Portuguese Junk Inspectors. Commander Beckwith informs me in a minute dated 7th instant that Mr. McIver\n\n...\n\nThe Right Honourable \nLEWIS HARCOURT, M.P.,\n&c., \n&c., \n&c.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-376 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [3-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 432373, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-379 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [8-9]", "page_number": 123, "title": "CO129-379 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [8-9]", "content_text": "# MEMORANDUM\n\n**C O 31503**\n\non the subject of letters dated the 14th day of June 1911 and 16th June, 1911 addressed by Commander Basil Taylor, Harbour Master of Hongkong, to the Under Secretary of State for the Colonies,\n\n## RECEIVED 28 SEP 1911\n\n### A.\n\n1. Commander Taylor's letter of the 14th day of June, 1911\n\nMr Harcourt has already replied (C.O. letter No 15745 of 25th May, 1911) that he cannot admit Commander Taylor's first complaint \"I have been condemned unheard\". Commander Taylor then rejoined that up to the date on which he received the Crown Agents' letter of the 25th April, 1911 he was unaware that any charges had been preferred against him personally. The facts are that the defalcations in the Harbour Department which occurred on the 22nd October 1910 were reported by Commander Taylor on the 25th idem, and that Sir F.D. Lugard after full inquiry into the case stated in a minute dated the 5th November 1910 that he did not consider Commander Taylor's explanation of the occurrence satisfactory and could not conscientiously accept it as exonerating Commander Taylor. A copy of His Excellency's minute was sent to Commander Taylor in Sir F.H. May's letter of the 9th November, 1910. Commander Taylor replied in a letter dated the 11th November, 1910. The matter was then considered in Executive Council on the 9th December, 1910, when Messrs E.A. Hewett and H. Keswick thought that the Harbour Master would be leniently dealt with if he were only required to pay one month's salary towards the loss incurred. They said that no Mercantile Firm would retain a servant responsible for such loss. The Attorney General, the Colonial Treasurer, and the General Officer Commanding advised that the Harbour Master should bear the loss to the extent of one month's pay. The Colonial Secretary, the Director of Public Works, and the Principal Civil Medical Officer advised that the Harbour Master should bear the loss to the extent of half a month's pay.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-379 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [8-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 432406, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-379 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [8-9]", "page_number": 156, "title": "CO129-379 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [8-9]", "content_text": "## C.O.\n31502/154\nH.KONG\n1911\nProt 28 SEP 11\n\nDate. \nAnd \nbon \nlast previous Paper. \n58685/3/502\n\n**Commander Basie Taylor.**\nReasons Maski\n\nSends copy letter from Chamber of Commerce recording emphatic protest against his revision to the law. \nColway. unpopular, Hates views & suggests Alternative courses\n\nCokane the \n4131 W. 28,082-50. \n40006 11:10. A.&E.W.\n\n**Subsequent Paper**\nSee on 31503\n\nlater adopties \n91-\n\nIt is curious that Mr Hewitt should object to somebody else's manner. \n\"quis \ntulerit Grachos de seditione querentes!!\"", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-379 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [8-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 432412, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-379 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [8-9]", "page_number": 162, "title": "CO129-379 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [8-9]", "content_text": "# Hongkong General Chamber of Commerce\n\n## CONFIDENTIAL\n\nHongkong, 25th August, 1911.\n\nSir,\n\nOn behalf of the British Shipping Community and its interest in this Colony, I beg to lay before you our views with regard to the present Harbour Master and to ask that His Excellency will be good enough to give the question his serious consideration and place the matter before the Right Honourable the Secretary of State for the Colonies.\n\nIt is now some 12 years since Commander Basil R. H. Taylor, R.N., first came to this Colony as Assistant Harbour Master, while shortly after, and at not infrequent intervals, he acted as Harbour Master, obtaining the substantive appointment on the death of our friend, the late Captain Barnes-Lawrence, R.N. Mr. Taylor is thus well known to us all, many of us having from the first been intimately associated with him in his work at the Harbour Office.\n\nHe has now been on leave for some months, and we presume would, in the ordinary course of events, ultimately return to Hongkong; we therefore consider it now to be a fitting time for us to express our views with regard to this Official. To be brief, it is the earnest wish of all the representatives of British Shipping in this Port that Mr. Basil Taylor should not return to the Colony in the capacity of Harbour Master.\n\nHis Excellency has, I believe, had this question before him in the past. Almost from the first, and again on almost every occasion when Mr. Taylor has been in acting charge of the Harbour Department, dissatisfaction has been expressed as to the manner in which he has conducted himself towards individuals and companies.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-379 - Governor Sir Lugard - 1911 [8-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 436801, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-387 - Individuals - 1911", "page_number": 191, "title": "CO129-387 - Individuals - 1911", "content_text": "281.\n\n10\n\nbai Trent\n\nad mi povsol no quielob (i privest\n\nTO\n\n184\n\nthat, thanks to the rest on the passage home, I am, to a great extent, restored to health, but my doctor warns me that a return to the climate of Hongkong, under similar conditions, would in all probability result in a recurrence.\n\nA. I need hardly point out the inevitable damage to Imperial interests which is bound to result from such treatment of the officer in charge of the harbour of a Colony like Hongkong, whose very existence depends upon its shipping alone. Should that shipping be unduly interfered with, or excessive restrictions or expenses be placed upon it, there is now little, since the advent of the many Chinese railways now under construction, or already finished, to prevent it from deserting Hongkong for some other port of call, which would be the death blow of the Colony.\n\nThe Under Secretary of State\n\nColonial Office\n\nDowning Street.\n\nI have the honour to be\n\nSir,\n\nyour most obedient servant\n\nBasil Jaylor\n\nCommander R.N.\n\nHARBOUR MASTER &c:\n\nHONGKONG.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-387 - Individuals - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 436803, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-387 - Individuals - 1911", "page_number": 193, "title": "CO129-387 - Individuals - 1911", "content_text": "COPY.\n\nCOLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE\n\nHONG KONG\n\n30th March 1911.\n\nSir\n\nI am directed to inform you that the Secretary of State for the Colonies has decided that you cannot be exonerated from responsibility in connection with the recent defalcations in the Harbour Master's Department and that you should be called upon to pay $750 of the amount lost.\n\n2. I am accordingly to request you to remit this amount or its equivalent in sterling to the Crown Agents for the Colonies for credit of this Government's account.\n\nI am, Sir,\n\nYour obedient servant\n\nColonial Secretary.\n\nCommander Basil R.H. Taylor. R.N.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-387 - Individuals - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 436806, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-387 - Individuals - 1911", "page_number": 196, "title": "CO129-387 - Individuals - 1911", "content_text": "the sum \n\nby monthly instalments of £10 \n\ndeducted from your \n\nsalary \n\nJan Gall\n\nI am to say that I am prepared to consider any further representation \n\nwith which \n\nyou may \n\ndesire to furnish \n\nyou \n\nletter of \n\nthe 1st \n\nNovember 1910 \n\n2 \n\n(Signed) G. V. FIDDES. \n\nDRAFT.\n\nI.C.A.\n\nMINUTE.\n\nT \n\n15745/11 \n\nH.K.\n\nMr. Wiseman 20/5 \n\nRobanon 27/57 \n\nMr. Collins 2 \n\nMr. Fiddes.\n\nMr. Just.\n\nMr. Cox.\n\nSir C. Lucas.\n\nLord Lucas.\n\nFind Deety.\n\nMr. Harcourt,\n\nfor cons on \n\n22 \n\nJune \n\n189 \n\n20/5 May 1911 \n\nGentlemen \n\nwith ref. \n\nlain made y \n\nref. ton \n\nthe \n\nHony \n\ntory Govt against \n\nCommander Basil R \n\nTaylor RN for the \n\nsum \n\nof \n\n£68 \n\n\"11\"1 which \n\nhave \n\nyou \n\ncollect \n\nbeen instructed bever \n\nJ \n\nan \n\netc \n\nfrom him, to inform you \n\nthis \n\nthat \n\nshould be \n\ndeduction \n\nby monthly deduction", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-387 - Individuals - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 437671, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-389 - Governor Sir Lugard Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [3-4]", "page_number": 327, "title": "CO129-389 - Governor Sir Lugard Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [3-4]", "content_text": "C \n\ncertainly not want to \n\nwith Sir H. May \n\nunmay \n\nhe will probably reply \n\n1- \n\nR \n\n1381 \n\n3817 \n\nSo \n\nback to Stangkang \n\nTherefore. Therefore \n\n& Ant \n\nletter on \n\nshould not \n\nthat he wants & retain. \n\nof so I think \n\nut- \n\nthe matter of \n\nvery exigent in medical certificate. \n\n? Wait to see what that \n\nletter brings forth \n\n \n\nCKET. \n\nSir, \n\nHong Kong. \n\n3602 \n\nC. O. \n\nGovernment House. \n\n12th April, 1912. \n\n \n\n13 \n\nSir G. F. Jon \n\nAn \n\nAEC \n\nbox Cottin \n\n13 \n\nshens Utial-ke \n\n17325 wait retain The \n\nIt is therefore necessary \n\nSome decision \n\ncan \n\nhelp it. \n\nto take \n\nthis paper \n\nI think \n\ncan \n\nonly \n\nreply that owing to the impossibility \n\nConclusively \n\nsource from which the \n\nof paving the letter emanated]. \n\nthan \n\nseems \n\nthe Sops considers useful purpose is to send \n\nbig his taking any \n\naction \n\nRM \n\nI would omit 12' \n\nYu. I \n\nwould \n\n[ J \n\nA&r \n\n12 \n\n13 \n\n \n\n7. 18113/11 7.19888 \n\nYou 31803 \n\n315 03/11 \n\nL. V. \n\n11 \n\nI have the honour to transmit an extract \n\nfrom the \"Hongkong Daily Press\" newspaper of the 11th \n\nof April and to inform you that a perusal of the letter \n\npublished in \"Truth\" newspaper of the 6th of March and \n\nsigned by 'another old China Hand\" has led me to the \n\nconclusion that Commander Basil Taylor, Harbour Master \n\nof this Colony, who is at present on leave in the United \n\nKingdom, must either have written it himself or inspired \n\nit. \n\n2. \n\nIt seems clear that the writer refers \n\nin the third paragraph to the removal of certain \n\nPortuguese clerks from the Harbour Office, more especially \n\nto the case of Mr Guterres; and in support of this view \n\nI would refer you in particular to paragraphs 5 & 9 of \n\nCommander Taylor's letter of the 1st of June forwarded \n\nunder cover of your Confidential despatch of the 11th of \n\nJuly, 1911, and to paragraphs 5 to 15 of Mr Clementi's \n\nMemorandum transmitted in Sir F. Lugard's Confidential \n\ndespatch of the 25th of August. I may also state that \n\nCommander Taylor's animus against the Cadet service is \n\nwell known locally: as is also the interest which he \n\ntook in the scheme for the registration of Chinese \n\nservants. Commander Taylor's hostility to Sir H. May is \n\napparent in \n\nHARCOURT. \n\nThe \n\nRIGHT HONOURABLE, \n\nSECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES. \n\nM.P. &c..", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-389 - Governor Sir Lugard Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1912 [3-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 439496, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-393 - Governor Sir May - 1912 [11]", "page_number": 412, "title": "CO129-393 - Governor Sir May - 1912 [11]", "content_text": "Enclosure\n\nCapt. Basil Taylor, R.N.,\n\nHarbour Master,\n\nHongkong.\n\nDear Sir,\n\nR. M. S. Empress of Japan\n\nNovember 17th., 1912.\n\nChina Coast.\n\nC.O.\n\n40730\n\nReceived [REC] 23 DEC 12\n\nI enclose a report from Mr. Lovegrove 2nd officer on the rescue of S. Lenard last voyage at Hongkong also a Report from the ship's doctor on the condition of Lenard after he was brought on board.\n\nI have not been able to find out any particulars of the sampan which brought the two men off. The number might possibly be got from the note book of the constable who was on duty at Blake Pier about 10.30 p.m. Saturday September 7th.\n\nThe following particulars about Lenard are taken from the ship's articles. S. Lenard A.B. Age 20. Born Melbourne Australia. Address High Street Melbourne. He left the ship on our arrival at Vancouver Oct. 6th. and I have no idea of his present whereabouts.\n\nYours etc.,\n\n(Sd.) S. Robinson,\n\nCommander R. M. S. Empress of Japan.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-393 - Governor Sir May - 1912 [11].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 441832, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-398 - Individuals - 1912", "page_number": 281, "title": "CO129-398 - Individuals - 1912", "content_text": "272 \n\nMy dear Mr Earle \n\nChohan: quite hopeless. I am afraid it is hopeless. My past experience is that the War Office say it is impossible to hold out as the kind of experience required is hard to come by. Also it is likely that the promotion list will be piled up.\n\nWhitehall, S.W. \n23rd January 1912.\n\n24/1 \n\nI understand that Commander Basil Taylor, R.N., who is at present Harbour Master at Hong Kong, and who has been employed in that capacity or as Assistant Harbour Master for the past 12 years, is anxious to get the appointment of Commissioner at Limasol, Cyprus, which either is vacant now or is about to fall vacant.\n\nYou have, I know, in the Colonial Office a full record of Commander Taylor's various services, and so I will not recapitulate them, and you are no doubt fully aware of the work, especially that he has done in the appointment which he now holds.\n\nI am, therefore, only writing to you to ask you if you will do what you can to further his wishes, as I feel sure that you will find him a useful and satisfactory", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-398 - Individuals - 1912.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 442649, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-400 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [3-4]", "page_number": 217, "title": "CO129-400 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [3-4]", "content_text": "#15\n\nI would also draw attention to the fact that the three Chinese clerks (Messrs. Chan Pui, Fan Tsung-hing, and Chan Pui-sam) whom Sir Frederick Lugard, in his minute of 19.11.10, states were to blame in the matter, have apparently incurred no penalty. Indeed, the first named has been promoted instead. If any one of these officers had reported to me, as it was their bounden duty to do, that my orders were being deliberately disobeyed, a fact of which they were all fully aware, no money could have been stolen. Instead, they concealed the fact from me, and thereby directly contributed to the theft.\n\n10.\n\nIn conclusion, I would draw a comparison between the treatment accorded to me in this case with that received by Mr. Orme in the two cases in which he was held responsible for the loss of Government money, in neither of which was he called upon to refund any part of the sum stolen.\n\nI have etc.,\n\n**(Sd.) Basil Taylor, \nCommander R.N., \nHarbour Master.**\n\nThe Honourable \nThe Colonial Secretary.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-400 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [3-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 442650, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-400 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [3-4]", "page_number": 218, "title": "CO129-400 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [3-4]", "content_text": "#TAPTO V Jabe 400 ud Web 1990 \n\n## Enclosure 5\n\n214 \n\nSir,\n\nI am directed to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 8th instant, and to inform you that it has been carefully considered by the Governor who is of opinion that no new facts have been adduced and that he is therefore unable to alter the decision which was arrived at by his predecessor after exhaustive enquiry and consideration of the subject.\n\n2. Commenting on your letter it is observed that Paragraph 2(1) the presence of the I.O.Us. in the Sailors' Home safe is admitted. The words \"As the occurrence referred to is stated to have taken place on Saturday the 22nd October, 1910\" are not very clear, but they apparently refer to the date of the placing of the I.O.Us. in the safe. There is no evidence of any sort regarding such date.\n\nYou state:- \"As I have before pointed out, the money in the Sailors' Home ante was not Government money but belonged to the Sailors' Home\", your inference evidently being that the money lent by the shroff against the I.O.Us. was taken from that particular safe. Your argument throughout has been that, as the I.O.Us. were in this safe, the money lent on them was taken from it. No evidence has been adduced on either side to show whether Sailors' Home money or Government money was lent on these I.O.Us.\n\nCommander Basil Taylor, R.M. \nHarbour Master\n\n25th March \n5760/1910 \n6.1.0.7th", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-400 - Governor Sir May - 1913 [3-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 444398, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-403 - Governor Sir May Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1913 [8-10]", "page_number": 395, "title": "CO129-403 - Governor Sir May Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1913 [8-10]", "content_text": "# N2 346.\n\n**C.O** 36243 393\n\n**GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG.** 30th September, 1913.\n\n70\n\nSir,\n\n29090\n\nI have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your Despatch No. 264 of the 29th of August transmitting a copy of a letter from the Foreign Office giving cover to a letter from the Imperial Merchant Service Guild.\n\n2. Letters have been addressed by the Guild both to Mr. Thomson and Commander Taylor forwarding copies of the article in the London Shipping Gazette and Lloyd's List, and by my direction they merely acknowledged the receipt of these communications which were apparently sent for information only.\n\n3. I regret to inform you that the letter addressed by the Harbour Master to Mr. H. Cornwall is accurately quoted in the article, and I agree with what you have written as regards its tone. The Harbour Master was instructed to inform Mr. Cornwall that the Government of Hongkong would take no steps in connection with the matter, but he thought fit to add the rest of the letter which is based on another portion of the minute of Mr. Thomson, who was acting as Colonial Secretary. This minute was written for the Governor's consideration and Sir Henry May agreed with it. It was not intended to be included in the letter, and Mr. Thomson pointed this out shortly afterwards to the Harbour Master. I have caused Commander Basil Taylor to be informed that in your opinion the tone of the latter to Mr. Cornwall leaves a great deal to be desired.\n\n**RIGHT HONOURABLE LEWIS HARCOURT, M.P.,** \n&c. &c. &c.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-403 - Governor Sir May Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1913 [8-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 445701, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-406 - Public Offices - 1913", "page_number": 172, "title": "CO129-406 - Public Offices - 1913", "content_text": "171\n\nHe would, however, inquire into the case of the \"Robert Lebaudy\", regarding which he had at present no information. That, of course, was a perfectly courteous answer, although it would have been more satisfactory, perhaps, had Sir Edward Grey stated the circumstances of the attack \"as reported by the Governor\". The public, we think, would like to know exactly what the facts are as found by the Governor, and as much in the Governor's interests as in those of anyone else, seeing that his subordinates appear to have dealt with this case in a rather unfortunate way.\n\nThe main facts of the incident seem to be very simple. The \"Tai On\" is a British steamer, registered at Hong Kong and trading in Chinese waters. She is commanded by Captain W. Holmes, and Mr. H. Cornwall is her chief officer. The Chinese Government, primarily responsible for the maintenance of law and order, discharge their duties in such a negligent fashion that the \"Tai On\" is the subject of piratical attack, with the result that the officers of the ship are robbed of a large sum in cash and of their clothing and effects. In the circumstances, they naturally turn to seek the protection of their own country.\n\nIt appears at once to have given in the subsequent case of the \"Robert Lebaudy\". Some measure of sympathy, it may be assumed, they would at least receive, but, so far as may be inferred from a letter addressed to one of their number, the authorities at Hong Kong were not even civil to these plundered men. Here is the communication:-\n\nMr. H. Cornwall.\n\nSir,-\n\nReferring to your letter of the 17th instant addressed to the Honourable A.K. Thomson, I am instructed to inform you that the Government will take no steps in connexion with your claim, which they consider is unwarranted, and that any loss you may have incurred is due to your own imprudence in carrying so large a sum of money with you on board the \"Tai On\".-\n\nHong Kong.\n\nI have &c.,\n\n(Signed)\n\nBasil Taylor.\n\nCommander R.N., Harbour Master.\n\nThe Mr. Thomson referred to in the letter is the Treasurer of Hong Kong, which, of course, is a Crown Colony.\n\nThey have curious customs in Crown Colonies, and one of them appears to be for the Treasurer to send... a protection which the French Government appears... replies", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-406 - Public Offices - 1913.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 447011, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-409 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [1-3]", "page_number": 109, "title": "CO129-409 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [1-3]", "content_text": "Page 108\n\nThe axood flotteur was IIN omid ei aqueouny ent\n\n...\n\nfind that it was not done daily, but latterly only from time to time, and that Mr. Chan Pui sent his Assistant down in his place. Finally, apparently in April of this year, it was given up altogether, without my approval and without my knowledge. I also find that Mr. Lenfestey on 9th May, 1913, requested Mr. Chan Pui to resume the check, in writing, but apparently he did not do so.\n\n4. My opinion is that Mr. Chan Pui deliberately neglected his duty, and hence was directly instrumental in affording an opportunity for dishonesty.\n\n5. As you will see by Commander Beckwith's memo. Mr. Lenfestey is responsible for everything in the Junk Office. He signs all receipts, and should himself check the counterfoils and see that the shroffs pay in the correct amount of money. This he has failed to do, his excuse being that he was not told to do so\". This excuse is absurd: it is obviously essential that an officer who gives receipts should see that the money is paid in. It is also absurd for him to say that he has no time. He has been relieved of the inspection of emigrants, which formerly occupied a large portion of his time.\n\n6. This seems to have been done since last April, the procedure having been altered by Mr. Chan Pui on his own authority, and in defiance of orders. The statement that the Assistant Harbour Master directed that a clerk was to copy the entries in the shroffs' books is untrue.\n\n7. I don't think so. The collections of boat fees are liable to fluctuate. At certain times of the year they are much greater than at others, and June is apt to be one of the slack seasons.\n\n15th July, 1913.\n\n(Sd.) Basil Taylor, Harbour Master.\n\nPage ...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-409 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 447041, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-409 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [1-3]", "page_number": 139, "title": "CO129-409 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [1-3]", "content_text": "(\"A\"- to accompany Report No. 5 (6).)\n\nEVIDENCE.\n\n138\n\n1st day 1.12.13.\n\nCaptain Basil Taylor states:-\n\nI admit responsibility as a head of a Department but it is impossible for me to be over every individual as there are many in my department.\n\nI could not be at every man's elbow.\n\nI know Mr. Lenfestey did not carry out the letter of the G.O. 315 (3).\n\nThe old Committee of 1910 (Mr. Osborne and Mr. Hesser) made a report (N.B. must look and see).\n\n14.\n\nThe system was in force for many years, certainly for my time.\n\nMy system was very old.\n\nThe system was approved by that Committee.\n\nForgery never entered our heads.\n\nI thought Mr. Lenfestey was carrying out the spirit of the G.O. 315 but I knew he was not carrying out the letter. If he had carried out the latter, this defalcation could not have occurred.\n\nI should like to call Commander Beckwith.\n\nMemo. of Orders of October 31, 1910, put in.\n\n2nd day 2.12.13.\n\nCommander Charles William Malpeys Beckwith called.\n\nAssistant Harbour Master.\n\nIn addition to written Order of 6.2.11 up to July, 1911, Mr. Lenfestey had been running the Junk Office and also doing work on the upper floor.\n\nIn early July, 1911, I divided the office into two, placing Mr. Chan Pui in charge of the upper floor and Mr. Lenfestey in charge below, i.e., of Junk office and Junk Inspectors.\n\nI explained verbally to both these officers their duties, my reason for sending Mr. Lenfestey below being for him to keep a...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-409 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 447470, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-410 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [3-5]", "page_number": 12, "title": "CO129-410 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [3-5]", "content_text": "HONG KONG\n\n12364\n\n11 May 1914\n\nLast previous Paper: No. 4617 dated 17 April 1914\n\nNext subsequent Paper: No. 25172 dated 19...\n\nCapt. Basil Taylor.\n\nJODELL_APR 14\n\nCumulative effect of his delinquencies is not sufficient to warrant calling in question his competence to hold office of Harbour Master.\n\nM. Jaffin and I. Anderson\n\nI think he can accept this view. An ardent supporter of Cmdr. Taylor's capacity: if he thought Cmdr. T was incompetent, I think he would have got rid of him without much hesitation.\n\nIt is clear from No. 7617 that Commander Taylor did not exercise proper supervision (Rs.31,088/-18, Rs.45,000, 12/3).\n\n...\n\n \n13364\n\nCapt. Basil Taylor.\n\nTo d. A Mas...\n\n \nPage 19\n\n \nwas not there, I re-format the text into proper paragraphs and correct obvious OCR errors while preserving the original content as much as possible.\n\nChanges made include:\n- Reorganizing the text into coherent paragraphs.\n- Correcting spelling errors (e.g., \"aclinquencis\" to \"delinquencies\", \"peratifing\" to \"warrant\", \"meh\" to a likely date or irrelevant text and removed, \"Ans?\" to a likely \"dated\", \"wt\" to \"without\", \"mmm?\" to \"Commander\", \"Sor's\" to likely \"Cmdr.'s\" or left as is due to ambiguity, \"Rmpeju\" and \"рит\" removed as they seem to be OCR errors without clear meaning).\n- Fixing spacing issues and removing extra spaces.\n- Rejoining broken sentences.\n- Standardizing the format using HTML as requested.\n- Preserving \"Page 19\" as it follows the page numbering rule.\n- Not making any comments or leaving explanations within the text.\n\nThe output is in HTML format using `` for paragraphs.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-410 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [3-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 448642, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-412 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [7-8]", "page_number": 348, "title": "CO129-412 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [7-8]", "content_text": "I..\n\n# 40 *:4* ' „Aisení Prag 101 - 338 234 BI LİM Ly wit\n\nthe 6th August were informed in accordance with your instructions.\n\n17. Sense\n\nYour telegrams of the 7th instant concerning the arrest of enemy's reservists have been acted upon and there are now 49 reservists or suspected reservists under arrest. The majority of these arrived from Manila and Haiphong en route for the North. The principle that has been acted upon is that Germans travelling in the direction of Tsingtau who cannot prove that they are not reservists and who are suspected of being reservists, are detained. There was no occasion for telegraphing to the Admiralty the names of vessels carrying reservists.\n\n18. In acknowledging this telegram I took the opportunity of asking your directions concerning the question of allowing certain second reservists and other members of the German civil population to remain in the Colony.\n\n19. In accordance with the instructions contained in your telegram of the 7th instant I informed the German Consul that he must leave the Colony, and I made arrangements for his staff of four clerks to leave also.\n\n20. Only one German vessel remained in Port at the outbreak of war. She has been detained.\n\n21. The use of Cypher \"G\" has been discontinued. I have borrowed Cypher \"P\" from His Majesty's Consul-General at Canton.\n\n22. The action laid down in the Defence Scheme for Heads of Departments was promptly taken. I wish specially to commend the services of the Colonial Secretary, the Secretary for Chinese Affairs and Commander Beckwith, acting as Harbour Master in the absence of Captain Basil Taylor on vacation leave. Practically the only divergence from standing instructions has been in not taking up the Peak Hotel as a Hospital. Such action would have involved the large European population\n\n \nPage 1", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-412 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [7-8].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 452638, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-419 - Individuals - 1914", "page_number": 484, "title": "CO129-419 - Individuals - 1914", "content_text": "# HONGKONG TELEGRAPH SUPPLEMENT\n\nThose who were found clinging to the rudder were transferred to the s.s. Hoisang, as was also the compradore of the Tai On, who was also picked up and brought into Hongkong early on Tuesday. On arrival off Green Island, the police were called and attended under Inspector Gordon. Mr. McCartney was removed to the Government Civil Hospital, and the rescued Chinese were taken charge of by the Water Police.\n\nCaptain Wetherell sustained no injury from the pirates, though he received a nasty blow in the chest from a detonator that he exploded when the attack commenced. He was badly singed. Having killed the man who endeavoured to climb onto the bridge, Capt. Wetherell searched him for signs of identification and papers but failed to secure any clues from him.\n\nThe three officers concerned in this new outrage are all well known in the Colony. Capt. Wetherell has been on the West River for about two years. First, he was the mate of the s.s. On Lee. Later, he went with Capt. Holmes to the Tai On and was Chief Officer on that boat. Shortly after that, when Captain Holmes left the ship, he became master, a position which he has held ever since. He has a married daughter in Hongkong, who was saved from the wreck of a boat in Nagasaki Harbour some twenty-five years ago, when Mrs. Wetherell met her death.\n\nMr. Evans was in India before he came to join the River steamer traffic at Hongkong and was at one time with the Hongkong, Canton and Macao Steamboat Company.\n\nMr. McCartney has been on board the Tai On for many years past and was in the last piracy of the ship.\n\nThe authorities, on hearing of the outrage, took prompt steps in connection with it. Two torpedo boats, Nos. 035 and 037, were immediately placed under orders to proceed there with armed guards, and they left shortly after ten o'clock for Ki O, which is about thirty miles from Hongkong. The Governor's yacht, Stanley, was also commissioned, and in this, Commander Basil Taylor, Harbour Master, left for the scene of the outrage. The Hon. Mr. McI. Messer also left in one of the torpedo boats with a police guard. There is at present no information as to how all the pirates fared after they had fired the ship. No one seems to know whether they succeeded in getting away from the ship with any booty, and apparently, no junks were seen in the vicinity. Their fate is at present the interest of the authorities, who have despatched police in the torpedo boats, with food, to deal with matters on the spot. The fact that food has been ordered for the force that has been despatched seems to show that they are expected to be away some little time.\n\nLater in the morning, the s.s. Shun Lee and the Shiu On arrived in the Harbour and took up anchorages opposite the Harbour Office. Armed police guards were at once put on board. No one was allowed to leave the vessel, and a police patrol boat was told off to cruise round, keeping craft from approaching them. Representatives of the Telegraph went out and, while allowed to pass by the patrol, were forbidden to board. However, in a few words that were passed between a European officer on board and the press representatives, the former was able to express doubts as to the condition of Mr. McCartney before the visiting sampan was hurried off by the police. The Chinese brought in by the s.s. Hoisang were conveyed to the Water Police to await enquiries.\n\nAnother story of the occurrence states that at about eleven o'clock, the s.s. Wo Kwai saw the s.s. Tai On ablaze near Ki O. She went within two hundred yards of the vessel and was instrumental in saving the Captain, the Chief Engineer, and seven others, four of whom were found clinging to the rudder. The piracy was first made known to those on the bridge by the sound of shots below. The Captain, with a shotgun, and the Indian Guard, of whom there are four carried on board, taking watches, defended the bridge. The Pirates, finding that they could not take the vessel, set fire to it. The Chief Engineer received shot wounds, and Officer Evans is missing.\n\nSpeaking with an officer engaged in the West River trade, the Telegraph learnt that the district in which the piracy took place is nearly in the centre of the district commonly reported to be infested by pirates.\n\n\"If you stood on Wangmoon and drew a circle of thirty miles radius,\" he said, \"you would map out the district where the pirates are to be found.\"\n\nThis officer, speaking of the resistance that had been offered to the pirates, did not agree with it. \"It is the feeling along the wharves that it will be a bad time for Europeans at the next piracy,\" he said.\n\nThe long scroll of piracies in the waters of south China has had a further addition in the attack on the Tai On near Ki O; but there is one satisfactory side to the story - that is the fact that four of the pirates, alleged, are lying in the Government Civil Hospital in Hongkong suffering from gunshot wounds in three instances and from severe burns in the other. It is very likely that one of the men who received a shot in the chest, practically blowing it away, will not live much longer, and from him, little information is ever likely to be gained.\n\nWhen the Telegraph called at the Hospital on Tuesday, Dr. Bell intimated that the men could not be seen, as they were in a special room under an armed guard of Indians. One man had been shot in the shoulder, and the other in the left thigh. The damage to the thigh was, from his observation, of a very serious nature, and at the moment, the patient was about to be operated upon. The wounds were of a spreading nature, that it appeared as though they were inflicted with a shotgun. Engineer McCartney had been to the Hospital that morning suffering from a slight wound in the lower part of his back, but, though he was invited to stay, preferred to leave the hospital after being attended to.\n\nThe men, said Dr. Bell, who were alleged to be the pirates, appeared to be of the Chinese common class, and neither of them appeared in any dress other than that of the artisan or boatman. As far as he knew, no arms had been found upon them, but it was practically certain that they would have been subjected to a search before being brought to the hospital.\n\nThe Telegraph eventually succeeded in interviewing Capt. Somerville of the s.s. Shun Lee. The Captain gave a most graphic description of the truly horrifying scenes that he witnessed.\n\nThe Shun Lee left Hongkong, said the skipper, at 5:30 on Monday; the weather was cloudy and squally. They passed Kwongmoon at 9:00, and the s.s. On Lee passed them at 10:10. Shortly after the On Lee had passed them, the Liantan passed up and gave word that the Tai On was on fire. At 10:20, Capt. Somerville, from the bridge of the Shun Lee, observed distress rockets going up on his starboard bow. A quarter of an hour later, he saw the Tai On ashore sending up rockets and blowing her steam whistle. Capt. Somerville slowed down his engines and made towards the Tai On, blowing his steam whistle in answer.\n\nAt 10:50, he anchored in twelve feet of water; it was very dark at the time, and he could not get very near to the Tai On. He sounded down about four cables' lengths off, just inside half a mile.\n\nAt eleven o'clock, a fork of flame shot skywards from one end of the Tai On. At the moment, he could not say whether it was stem or stern, owing to the darkness. He immediately put out the lifeboats of the Shun Lee, with the object of rescue work. At 11:30, three boats pulled towards the burning ship, and from then until four o'clock in the morning, the men worked with unceasing vigour, bringing half-drowned persons to the haven of the Shun Lee. By this time, no less than 116 persons were rescued from certain death.\n\n\"Of what use are our grillages now, or our bullet-proof protectors for the bridge,\" feelingly exclaimed Capt. Somerville, \"if they are going to burn our ships from under us and plunder us while we are sinking slowly and helplessly into the treacherous mud of the West River?\" The scenes in and about the Tai On, he continued, \"were almost indescribable; the flames shot mast-high, and the smoke hindered greatly the rescuers in their work and to a great extent obscured vision. The wails and cries from the hundreds in the water were heartrending, and as the boats drew close by the Tai On, desperate people clung to the sides of the boats and made frenzied efforts to gain security from the muddy waters.\"\n\nThe fact that they set fire to the ship, said Capt. Somerville, proves the treacherous nature of the gang of pirates that make it their business to molest ships on this particular run. Finding the heroic defence of those on the bridge of the Tai On too great for them, from sheer desperation and lust for blood, they set fire to the vessel, caring not for the loss of hundreds of lives - the lives of fellow countrymen - so long as they avenged themselves on the sturdy and stalwart defenders of the Tai On's commanding quarters.\n\nA peculiar feature of the affair is that not a junk or a sampan was seen alongside the Tai On during the whole of the night, and the only other craft that got near her was the rescue party.\n\nIt is quite probable, however, that when the ship was fired, the smoke would obscure the movements of craft about the stern of the vessel. The Captain did turn the ship round so that the flames would be carried from the ship by the wind instead of onto it. It is believed by those on board that many of the pirates mixed among the passengers in the disorder that followed, and in that case, many have either perished or have been rescued with the passengers. The authorities are inquiring into the matter, however, and no doubt their investigations will lead to a better understanding as to how the pirates escaped.\n\nThose who have first-hand information of the occurrence tell the most glowing stories of the gallantry of the guard on the Tai On, who did so much courageous work during the fighting between the pirates and the ship's officers. Twice the pirates suffered reverse, and it was not until they found the fire from the officers so fatal to their numbers that they determined to set fire to the ship. The Captain of the Tai On had but a shotgun with which to take up his stand, but this he did, gallantly assisted to a man by his loyal assistants. In one case, a pirate received a full charge of small shot in the chest at a few yards' range, and terrible injuries were inflicted.\n\nThe two Portuguese watchmen on board the Tai On are named Dias and Leocadie Jorge da Silva. The former was a soldier in Macao for a time and from there went to Shanghai, later returning to Hongkong. The latter is a young man with a wife and mother in Hongkong.\n\n## Page 472\n\n# HONGKONG TELEGRAPH SUPPLEMENT", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-419 - Individuals - 1914.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 452639, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-419 - Individuals - 1914", "page_number": 485, "title": "CO129-419 - Individuals - 1914", "content_text": "# HONGKONG TELEGRAPH SUPPLEMENT\n\nIt would appear from the story of the Chief Engineer that the pirates were armed with Mauser pistols, and that whilst they were employed in trying to break down the grille, the Europeans and the guard fired deadly shots into them. It is conjectured that the firing of the ship was not so much to take life as it was to give the pirates an opportunity of being covered from the marksmanship of those on the bridge as they tried to escape, the smoke from the burning vessel obscuring all that took place at the stern until the vessel was turned round. At the time, all was darkness, the pirates' first move being to destroy to a disastrous extent the electric installation.\n\nAbout mid-day, those on board the Shui On and the Shun Lee, after being kept out in the Harbour under armed guard all the morning, were allowed to land. They seemed quite relieved to find themselves on shore again. Hundreds of Chinese flocked round the landing passengers, and each and every one was subjected to a running fire of questions. Others, who had relatives and friends on the Tai On, were making anxious inquiries all the morning, and the scene round the Harbour Office and the wharves was an animated one.\n\nThe facts of the affair as ascertained by the police were communicated to the Press by Mr. T. H. King, Deputy Superintendent of Police. He stated that the Tai On left Hongkong at 7 o'clock at night with 300 or 400 Chinese on board. At about 10 o'clock, when off Ki O Island, near where the S.S. Shing Tai was recently pirated, the captain heard noises on board and firing of revolver shots. He jumped up and found that a gang of pirates was attempting to rush the ship. On account of the guard, consisting of Portuguese and Indians, the pirates could not get possession of the bridge. The officers put up a fight, and a regular melee ensued on the ship for the space of about half an hour.\n\nIn the struggle, and as far as the police know, the Chief Engineer was wounded, and the mate is still missing. The pirates took possession of the whole of the lower part of the steamer and they put out the lights and damaged the steering gear. Seeing that they were failing in their endeavours to get possession of the bridge, the gang set fire to the ship, whereupon the captain let off rockets and burnt blue lights. By this means, he attracted the attention of passing ships, and apparently, the first boat to come along was the S.S. Hoisang. When it was realised that the vessel was on fire, everybody jumped overboard, officers, passengers, and pirates, and the captain was in the water for at least half an hour. Eventually, the ship was burnt down to the very water's edge, and she drifted aground on the shore at Ki O, where she still remains.\n\nLater, the S.S. Kwong Wai, a Wuchow boat, came along and picked up the captain and three others from the water, and put them on board the Hoisang, which vessel brought them to Hongkong. The steamers Shun Lee and Shiu On also came along and stood by from midnight until about 4:30 in the morning. These boats participated in the rescue work, and between them, they managed to pick up some 168 persons, whom they brought to Hongkong. As these two boats came into harbour, they flew signals, and the police boarded the boats, and took the rescued people off. These were composed of passengers and possibly some pirates; seven or eight of them were wounded. Several pirates were also shot by the officers on board the Tai On. The whole of the rescued people are being detained by the police for further investigations.\n\nThe Tai On is a steel screw steamer of 706 tons gross displacement. She was sent out to Hongkong in pieces from Home and put together by a local firm in 1891 to the order of the Yik On S.S. Company, Ltd. Her length is 172 feet 3 inches, breadth 35 feet 1 inch, and depth 10 feet 1 inch. She flew the British flag.\n\nThe vessel was built for the express purpose of competing on the Hongkong-Canton service line until some three years ago; she continued her run on that line when she changed ownership and was put on the Hongkong-Kongmoon run, on which she has ever since been employed.\n\nA praiseworthy, if unsuccessful, effort was made on Tuesday to fetch the wreck of the Tai On to Hongkong. Torpedo boats 035 and 037 left for Ki O with armed guards. Commander Basil Taylor also left in the Stanley. The Hon. Mr. U. McI. Messer was in one of the torpedo boats, and with him were Inspector Terret and Sergeants Ingham and Appleton, together with European and Indian constables. On the Stanley, as guard, were Lance-Sergeant Grimmitt and two Indian policemen. The torpedo boats were unable to find any traces of pirates. Some junks, which were near the wreck, cleared off promptly on the approach of the torpedo boats. The Stanley made a fine effort to fetch the burning wreck to Hongkong, but was forced to abandon the attempt.\n\nA Telegraph representative who was aboard the Stanley writes:-\n\nThere was nothing exciting in the trip up until we had passed Castle Peak and were nearing Ki O. Then the question was, where exactly was the Tai On lying? It was necessary to find out more particularly, so enquiry was made at first one and then another fishing boat. They did not savvy any grey smoke in the distance caught the eye; and almost immediately after came something else to indicate nearness to the disaster. This was the body of a woman, face downward, which floated past. Of course, a body drowned twelve hours before should not have been floating; but when this one was picked up by the boat, a possible explanation came from the fact that she had been hit with much force over the head before she entered the water. Later in the day, the bruises showed up terribly. If she was from the Tai On, she must have got in the way of some desperate pirate.\n\nThe smoke ahead was from the Tai On, as we discovered just after two, when the Stanley was bearing her. Anything more pitiable could not well be imagined. She was the merest framework of a vessel, the steel of the upper portions of her hideously crumpled and twisted and fallen. The shell of the vessel was there - rather, the caricature of the shell - and from this skeleton of a steamer, smoke and flames still arose. Forward, she seemed nearly to have burnt herself out; aft, she was blazing fiercely. A little way off lay torpedo boats 035 and 037, and near the vessel was the steam launch Lee Fat of Hongkong, which had a rope attached to the Tai On.\n\nOn the burning vessel, water was played on a bollard aft, and a wire rope fastened round it; the bollard forward was cleared of smoking rubbish, and another rope attached. The torpedo boats came up and watched intently, as it seemed. Came a shouted enquiry as to how we stood; thanks, we would be all right now. We were moving; three to four knots an hour. For a little, the torpedo boats hung around, watching the Stanley chug-chugging towards British waters. Then, a wave of the hand, and they bounded forward. Sixteen knots - and the Stanley four at most!\n\nCommander Taylor left for torpedo boat 037, on which was Mr. Messer, and a few minutes later, he was aboard the Lee Fat. There was no hesitation shown. Almost immediately, the Stanley was crawling astern first towards the burning vessel. We were to tow her! The approach was delicate work, for the propeller was churning up as much mud as water, and the lead was always going. There was just water enough, and presently the Stanley had the Tai On in tow. She crept out into deeper water, the burning vessel, her rudder jammed and useless, forcing her always to port, and then Commander Taylor changed his plan. The Stanley must get alongside and be made fast to her there. Towing would then be easier.\n\nEvery man aboard lent a hand in this work; a hose was turned on the burning vessel. Now the wreck was seen close at hand. Indescribable smells rose from it, but chiefest of all was the smell of burning bones, which cannot be mistaken if one has once known it. Chiefly, it came from forward. Presently, Lance-Sergeant Grimmitt, greatly daring, ventured along the wrecked steelwork. It trembled and shook in places, but it held. It was possible to explore forward, and the hose was kept going steadily there in order that danger should be reduced. A Sikh policeman also lent a hand, and relics began to be found. A Mauser pistol first, then a couple of Winchesters, and two Colt revolvers, another Winchester, two Browning pistols, two Savage revolvers, and a shot gun, which was probably that of Captain Weatherall. Remember that these arms, all up-to-date, resulted from a search which was not, and could not be, thorough, and it will be seen that the pirates must have been well armed.\n\nBones were seen - bones that fell into powder at a touch. There were the bones of perhaps eight or ten or a dozen people forward, so far as could be seen. But there were almost certainly others, and in one spot was the smell of burning flesh - the most terrible of all smells when one knows that the flesh is that of human beings. These poor creatures had been caught like rats in a trap. The mind reeled from the thought of what they had suffered before death mercifully came to them.\n\nAmongst other things found were twenty-cent, ten-cent, and dollar coins melted and assuming the most fantastic shapes. Two watches were picked up forward; one had stopped at 12:55, and the other at 12:25. There were some Philippine coins too, so that there were probably a Filipino or two on board.\n\nIt was 4:20 when the Stanley finally set off with the Tai On, and about five o'clock, the Kwong Lee came alongside. She had been sent by the owners from Hongkong to assist. Her skipper wanted to go ahead and help, but, as the Tai On's rudder was jammed, towing ahead was not satisfactory, as had been proved already. He was asked to go alongside the Tai On, and, with a launch on each side, Hongkong would have been reached last night; but the skipper did not appear to relish the job. Anyhow, after hovering around for a time, the Kwong Lee cleared off, and the Stanley was left to battle alone with its burden. Now the Stanley was not built for this kind of work, yet it did its part for a long time as though it had been a tug built for the purpose. By 6:30, Castle Peak was looming up in the distance, and ten minutes later, fire broke out in the after hold. Water was poured into it, but it was clear that the fire was a long way from being subdued. There was kerosene oil forward in the hold, and altogether, the Stanley was facing an unpleasant task.\n\nBy seven o'clock, Castle Peak was still in sight, but evidently no nearer. The tide was running strongly against us, and in half an hour, the Stanley had made hardly an inch. Ten minutes later, it was decided to abandon the Tai On. A brave effort had been made to fetch the burning hulk to Hongkong, and if it had failed, that was not from want of resolution or foresight. Happily, her port anchor could be dropped; this was done, and the windlass worked after a fashion.\n\n## Page 473", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-419 - Individuals - 1914.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 452641, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-419 - Individuals - 1914", "page_number": 487, "title": "CO129-419 - Individuals - 1914", "content_text": "## HONGKONG TELEGRAPH SUPPLEMENT\n\nYou have an official letter which I have had addressed to you by the Colonial Secretary; and as I have said, it is merely a formal recognition of your services:\n\n**Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 30th April, 1914.**\n\nSir,\n\nI am directed to inform you that your spirited action on the occasion of the piratical attack on board the steamer \"Tai On\" on the night of Monday the 27th of April, 1914, has been brought to the notice of the Governor. It appears that with the help of your colleagues, Mr. McCartney, the Chief Engineer, and Mr. Evans, the Chief Officer, you gallantly withstood the armed assault upon the bridge, and that when the vessel had been set on fire you did all that lay in your power to obtain help from other vessels in the vicinity, afterwards remaining at your post until all had left the burning ship.\n\nYour devotion to duty in circumstances of great peril was worthy of the highest traditions of the British Mercantile Marine Service and I am to convey to you the thanks of His Excellency and the Government of Hongkong for your courageous conduct, which was the means of saving many lives.—I am, Sir,\n\nYour obedient servant,\n**Sd. CLAUD SEVERN**,\nColonial Secretary.\n\nR. H. Wetherell, Esq.,\nMaster, S. S. \"Tai On.\"\n\nI may say here that enquiries will be made into the circumstances under which certain ships, who although they knew that the \"Tai On\" was on fire did not stand by to render her assistance. Thank you again very much and my personal opinion of you at the present is, that you are one of the finest chaps I have ever shaken hands with.\n\nMr. McCartney, you come from a race—the Scots race—which has proved itself equal to any emergency, and you are a fine specimen of one of the finest races on the face of the earth, though I say it who am not of your race.\n\n**Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 30th April, 1914.**\nSir,\nI am directed to inform you that the valuable services which you rendered on the occasion of the piratical attack on board the steamer \"Tai On\" on the night of Monday, the 27th of April, 1914, have been brought to the notice of the Governor.\n\nYou gallantly supported the efforts of the Captain in repelling the armed assault on the bridge, and afterwards when the vessel had been set on fire.\n\nI am to convey to you the thanks of His Excellency and the Government of Hongkong for your brave conduct.—I am, Sir,\nYour obedient servant,\n**Sd. CLAUD SEVERN**,\nColonial Secretary.\n\nI am proud to shake hands with you.\n\nMr. McCartney:-Thank you, sir.\n\nHis Excellency:--And now, Mr. Dias, you acted a very brave part. You were foreman of the guard on board and you showed that the Portuguese race has still got lots of the courage for which it was famous in history. I am glad to think that one of the ancient allies—or a member of a country, the ancient ally of England—stood by British officers to do the strenuous work that you did.\n\nThe following letter has been directed to you:\n\n**Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 30th April, 1914.**\nSir,\nI am directed to inform you that His Excellency the Governor has heard with much pleasure of your gallant conduct on the occasion of the piratical attack on board the steamer \"Tai On\" on the night of Monday, the 27th of April, 1914.\n\nIt appears that with your colleagues you assisted the officers in preventing the pirates from capturing the bridge and wheel-house, and that while so doing you shot down several members of the gang.\n\nI am to convey to you the thanks of His Excellency and the Government of Hongkong for your services.\n\nI am, Sir,\nYour obedient servant,\n**(Sd.) CLAUD SEVERN**,\nColonial Secretary.\n\nAntonie Dias, Esq.,\nArmed Guard,\nS.S. \"Tai On.\"\n\nI am proud to shake hands with you and I am only sorry I was not beside you on the bridge. I will only add that I deeply regret the loss of Mr. Evans and so many others, especially Mr. Evans who must have had a very strenuous time on that night. Now I have asked the Captain Superintendent of Police and the Harbour Master to enquire into the losses which you have incurred and the Government will deal fairly with you in this matter.\n\nCapt. Wetherell:-I beg to thank you on behalf of myself and my shipmates and to unite with you in regret at the loss of Mr. Evans.\n\nThe men again shook hands with His Excellency and left, being photographed in the grounds as they went.\n\nOne of the Chinese passengers of the \"Tai On,\" Leung Ping-wan, who was sent to the Government Civil Hospital on the 28th inst., suffering from shot wounds, died there at 7.45 p.m. on Wednesday.\n\nLee. Sgt. Grimmitt reports that he picked up on the wreck of the \"Tai On\" the following articles: the metal parts of a shot-gun, 3 Winchester Rifles, 2 Mauser Pistols, 2 Automatic Pistols, 2 Revolvers, various silver and copper coins, 3 Bangles, 1 Gold Finger Ring, 1 piece Jade Stone.\n\n## ON THE INQUIRY\n\n41\n\n## HONGKONG TELEGRAPH SUPPLEMENT\n\nTuesday the official inquiry into the circumstances attending the casualty to the British S.S. \"Tai On,\" to quote the words of the warrant forming the Court, was commenced at the Harbour Office. The court, which was composed of Commander Basil Taylor R.N. president, Lt. T. D. Sharp, R.N. HMS. Tamar, Mr. F. T. Wheeler, master of the S.S. Kum Sang, J. W. Evans, master of the S.S. Hai Mun, and J. Robinson master of the S.S. Sangking.\n\nThe first witness called was the master of the ill-fated \"Tai On,\" Capt. Wetherell said he left his wharf at 7 p.m. on April 27.\n\nThe President:-Bound for Wongmoon?-Kwongmoon.\n\nWere there other ships which left at the same time?—Yes; the \"On Lee.\" She left after me and came astern down the central fairway.\n\nWas the \"Lintan\" due to leave at the same time?-I believe so.\n\nDid you see her?-No. Did the \"On Lee\"?-I cannot say, but I have been told she passed me at Capsimun Light.\n\nDid you see any more of the \"On Lee\"?—No.\n\nThen you went along and everything went well until when I turned in before then.\n\nWhen?-About 10 p.m. What is the next thing that happened?—I had a few smokes but could not sleep. I never can sleep on that watch—and then I heard yells, shouts, and revolver shots.\n\nComing from where?-From both sides.\n\nOn your boat deck?-Yes. Any down below?-I can't say that.\n\nThen what did you do?-I got up and turned the light on. A plan of the ship was produced showing the captain's quarters.\n\nYou were fully dressed?-No, in singlet and gown.\n\nThe gun was a-? Ten bore shot gun.\n\nLoaded? It is always kept loaded.\n\nLoaded with what?-S.G.\n\nYour door is on the aft deck?-There are two doors. I went to the starboard side when a man met me. He went back and I went to the port side.\n\nThe man who met you; was he?-A pirate.\n\nArmed?-I had not time to see if he was armed.\n\nThen you went to the port side and what did you see?-A man attacking the Chief Engineer.\n\nArmed?-I could not see. It was dark; I don't know whether it was before or afterwards that the engineer shouted he was shot. Anyhow I gave the man the barrel.\n\nIn his head?-No; in his chest. You fired at the man, and killed him? He went over backwards; he was killed. I went to the starboard side and saw another man; I don't know whether he was coming up or going down but I gave him the other barrel.\n\nThe man dropped on the forecastle?-On the fo'c'sle.\n\nYour gun was then empty?-Yes. I told the engineer to go into my room and passed him my gun to load up again. There were four spare cartridges on the locker.\n\nWere you firing from your cabin?-No. I went into the cabin, got two revolvers, and shot two or three times with those.\n\nWere the pirates behind the grille?-Behind the after grille shouting and yelling.\n\nWere there many of them?-The place swarmed with them.\n\nThere seemed to be a lot?-Yes.\n\nYou fired a few shots at them?-Yes. I must have gone into the wheelhouse and got another...\n\nWhat do you mean...?\n\nYou were using revolvers then?-When the gun was loaded. I got in two more shots, one forward and the other to the starboard side.\n\nHow long did this firing go on?-Perhaps two or three minutes.\n\nAnd they went off; how about the people behind?-They were there all the time.\n\nThen how did you escape?-I was behind the shield?-No.\n\nThen what happened?-I sung out to the mate. I saw there were no more on the bridge, and I told the mate to guard the bridge and see that no more came up.\n\nWhere were your watchmen?-In the meantime I had the grilles closed.\n\nThat was the foremost grille; the after grille was already shut?-Locked.\n\nThe watchmen, where were they?-There was one on each side between the foremost grille and the shield?-Yes.\n\nWhat were they doing?-Firing aft.\n\nWhat were they using?-Each one had a .38 calibre revolver and a Winchester.\n\nThe chief engineer was where?-In my room.\n\nWas he badly hurt?-He was complaining.\n\nWitness said:-I gave him the keys of the rocket locker, and when I got them I let one off.\n\nHow long after the attack commenced did you send off these?-About five minutes.\n\nAs soon as you had repelled the attack?-Yes.\n\nThen you started firing rockets?-I fired one and then had another two or three shots aft. These men were firing all the time. Then I went and got another one but I found the brass tube burst and I was hit in the chest.\n\nYou kept on fighting and sending off rockets?-As best I could. Were your engines going all this time?-I can't say.\n\nYou had not stopped the engines?-The engine room had rung up.\n\nYou can't say what time the engines stopped?-No sir. I rang one engine full ahead and put the helm a-port after I had rung the engines two or three times. I could get no reply. Then I found the steering gear was out of order. By this time were they still firing?-Yes, from aft.\n\nHow long afterwards?-Before they started the fire.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-419 - Individuals - 1914.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 499009, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-487 - Others & Individuals - 1924", "page_number": 117, "title": "CO129-487 - Others & Individuals - 1924", "content_text": "86\n\nPass granted to him by the Colonial Secretary or the Officer in Command of the Troops.\n\nH. Also, that entrance into any Battery or Fortification in the Colony is prohibited, unless the person is provided with a pass from the Officer in Command of the Troops.\n\nIII. Also, that the making of any sketch, plan, or photograph of any fortification in the Colony is prohibited, and that any person found in the vicinity of a fort with photographic or sketching apparatus in his possession is liable to arrest.\n\nR. MURRAY RUMSEY, Retd. Comr., R.N.,\nHarbour Master, &c.\n\nHARBOUR DEPARTMENT,\n19th May, 1896.\n\n87\n\nCARGO BOATS MOORED TO VESSEL AT BUOY.\n\nNotice to Mariners.\n\nIt is hereby notified that when vessels are moored at their Buoys in the Harbour not more than five cargo-boats shall be moored abreast on either side of such vessel at one time; and not more than two steam-launches, one of which may be the Company's launch, shall lie alongside any vessel's gangway at one time.\n\nBASIL TAYLOR, Commander, R.N., Harbour Master, &c.\n\nHongkong, 5th February, 1911.\n\n## FAIRWAY BUOYS\n\nNotice.\n\n## ROYAL OBSERVATORY\n\nMasters of vessels are hereby notified that the Fairway Buoys are not to be obstructed by vessels anchoring within the following limits:—\n| Direction | Limit |\n| --- | --- |\n| To the South | a line drawn N. 53° W. from the Northern Fairway Buoy |\n| To the North | a line drawn 13° W. from the Southern Fairway Buoy |\n\nBASIL TAYLOR, Commander, R.N.,\nHarbour Master, &c.\n\nHongkong, 1st February, 1914.\n\nNo. 542.\n\n## Time Signals\n\nCommencing with January 1st, 1920, the Time Ball on Kowloon Signal Hill will be dropped daily at 10 a.m. (120th Meridian Time) instead of at 1 p.m.\n\nIt will also be dropped at 4 p.m. except on Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays. On Saturdays it will be dropped at 1 p.m. instead of at 4 p.m.\n\nThe Ball will be hoisted half mast at the 55th minute and full mast at the 57th minute.\n\nShould the Time Ball be out of order the above routine will be carried out with the flag \"Z\" on the Storm Signal mast.\n\n113", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-487 - Others & Individuals - 1924.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 544418, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-547-2 Appointments to Executive and Legislative Councils 25-1-1934 - 28-12-1934", "page_number": 33, "title": "CO129-547-2 Appointments to Executive and Legislative Councils 25-1-1934 - 28-12-1934", "content_text": "# LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.\n\n33\n\n**His Excellency the Governor** (Sir William Peel, K.C.M.G., K.B.E.).\n\n**The Honourable the Officer Commanding the Troops** (Brigadier Gawaine Basil Rowan-Hamilton, D.S.O., M.C.).\n\n**The Honourable the Colonial Secretary** (Sir Thomas Southorn, K.B.E., C.M.G.).\n\n**The Honourable the Acting Attorney General** (Mr. R.E. Lindsell).\n\n**The Honourable the Secretary for Chinese Affairs** (Mr. N. Lockhart Smith).\n\n**The Honourable the Colonial Treasurer** (Mr. E. Taylor).\n\n**The Honourable Commander G.F. Hole, R.N. (Retired)** (Harbour Master).\n\n**The Honourable Dr. A.R. Wellington, C.M.G.** (Director of Medical and Sanitary Services).\n\n**The Honourable Mr. R.M. Henderson** (Director of Public Works).\n\n**The Honourable Mr. T.H. King** (Acting Inspector General of Police since Hon. Mr. E.D.C. Wolfe went on leave).\n\n**The Honourable Sir W.E.L. Shenton, Kt.**\n\n**The Honourable Mr. C.G.S. Mackie.**\n\n**The Honourable Mr. R.H. Kotewall, C.M.G., LL.D.**\n\n**The Honourable Mr. J.P. Braga.**\n\n**The Honourable Mr. Ts'o Seen-wan, O.B.E., LL.D.**\n\n**The Honourable Mr. Chao Tsun-nin.**\n\n**The Honourable Mr. W.H. Bell** (since Hon. Mr. J.J. Paterson went on leave).\n\n**The Honourable Mr. J. Owen-Hughes** (since Hon. Sir H.E. Pollock went on leave).\n\nMr. R.A.C. North (Deputy Clerk of Councils).", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-547-2 Appointments to Executive and Legislative Councils 25-1-1934 - 28-12-1934.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 544427, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-547-2 Appointments to Executive and Legislative Councils 25-1-1934 - 28-12-1934", "page_number": 42, "title": "CO129-547-2 Appointments to Executive and Legislative Councils 25-1-1934 - 28-12-1934", "content_text": "# LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.\n## 42\n\nHis Excellency the Governor (Sir W. Peel, K.C.M.G., K.B.E.)\n\nThe Honourable the Officer Commanding the Troops, (Brigadier Gawaine Basil Rowan-Hamilton, D.S.O., M.C.)\n\nThe Honourable the Colonial Secretary, (Sir T. Southorn, K.B.E., C.M.G.)\n\nThe Honourable the Attorney General, (Mr. R.E. Lindsell)\n\nThe Honourable the Secretary for Chinese Affairs, (Mr. N.L. Smith)\n\nThe Honourable the Colonial Treasurer, (Mr. E. Taylor)\n\nThe Honourable Commander G.F. Hole, R.N. (Retired), (Harbour Master)\n\nThe Honourable Dr. A.R. Wellington, C.M.G., (Director of Medical and Sanitary Services)\n\nThe Honourable Mr. R.M. Henderson, (Director of Public Works)\n\nThe Honourable Mr. T.H. King, (Acting Inspector General of Police)\n\nThe Honourable Sir W.E.L. Shenton, Kt.\n\nThe Honourable Mr. C.G.S. Mackie\n\nThe Honourable Mr. R.H. Kotewall, C.M.G., LL.D.\n\nThe Honourable Dr. Jose Pedro Braga\n\nThe Honourable Mr. Ts'o Seen-wan, O.B.E., LL.D.\n\nThe Honourable Mr. Chau Tsun-nin\n\nThe Honourable Mr. W.H. Bell\n\nThe Honourable Mr. J. Owen-Hughes", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-547-2 Appointments to Executive and Legislative Councils 25-1-1934 - 28-12-1934.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 } ]