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China Mail; but the community was already put on its guard by the following "Notice," largely advertised in the different journals, both in English and in Chinese.
NOTICE.
TUNG WING-FOOK-TONG, of Sun-On district, was formerly sole Proprietor of the Island of Hong Kong, and of the hills and coast on the North side of the Harbour under the general name of Tsim Shar-choy. The Island of Hong Kong was ceded to Great Britain, and Tsim Shar-choy was alone left to Tung Wing-Fook-Tong. But Mah-Chow Wong, with Oong Tin-Sing, and the late Oong Min-Toong, established themselves under the name of SAN-LOONG-TONG, and took possession of Tsim Shar-choy. Lately, Tung Wing-Fook-Tong petitioned the Magistrate of Sun-On to examine Tung's claim to Tsim Shar-choy, and the Magistrate issued a Proclamation, declaring that Tung Wing-Fook-Tong is the true Owner of the property, and Mah-Chow Wong has no right to it. Though Mah Chow-Wong is now a convict in prison in Hong Kong, yet his wife has sent Oong Tin-Sing to lay claim to Tsim Shar-choy, stating that those Comprador Boats belonging to Mah-Chow-Wong's people, which supply the Foreign Shipping with provisions, need fear no one, but may act as they please at Tsim Shar-choy, independent of its Proprietor and his claims. Tung Wing-Fook-Tong hopes that the Foreigners will not take a biassed view of this matter.
TUNG WING-FOOK TONG,
per Yun Loong.
Hong Kong, 19th July, 1858.
I have not heard whether the petitioners regained their property, or whether their expedition proceeded. But, if it did, thanks to the appeal thus made by them to the good sense of the British, military and naval, as well as civil, the pirates of Hong Kong did not, on that occasion, obtain the countenance of the British flag.
Whilst such was the terror produced abroad, it may well be imagined what was the "public opinion," and what the policy, of the Hong Kong Chinese, in dealing with the acting Colonial Secretary.
