HONGKONG
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a populous residential settlement. It is approached by Nathan Road, a fine wide thoroughfare running at right angles to the water-front. A fine bund, with a
massive granite wall, has been constructed here, and an extensive range of godowns built and several fine wharves made for discharging cargo and coaling. Here, also, is situated the handsome terminal station of the Canton-Kowloon Railway.
During 1905 and 1906 extensive reclamation works were carried out extend- ing eastward from the godown company's property to Hunghom. Messrs. Butter- field & Swire have erected extensive godown accommodation on the reclamation. The same period will also be remembered by the building of two churches at Kowloon -St. Andrew's, in Robinson Road, being the gift of the Hon. Sir Paul Chater, C.M.G., and the Roman Catholic Church in Chatham Road, the gift of Dr. S. A. Gomes. Sir Paul Chater also donated the funds for erecting a third place of worship on the Peninsula—a branch of the Union Church, Hongkong. There are four hotels, the largest and newest being the Peninsula. The Central British School was erected in 1901 on Nathan Road at the expense of Mr. (now Sir) Robert Ho Tung. The Navy maintains a small naval yard, subsidiary to the principal establishment on the Hongkong side. The Royal Observatory is situated on Mount Elgin; and a large and handsome Police Station for the Water Police occupies an eminence just above the Praya. A fine building for a European Y.M.C.A. was opened in November, 1925. A steam ferry plies regularly between Tsim-tsa Tsui and Victoria; ferry boats also run between Victoria and Sham Shui Po, Mongkok, Yau-ma-ti and Hunghom, where the principal docks of the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Co. are situated. The Cosmopolitan Dock and works, also belonging to the same Company, are situated at Sam Shui Po. At Hok-ün are also situated the extensive works of the Green Island Cement Co., Ltd., and the patent slip and shipbuilding yard of Messrs. W. S. Bailey & Co., Ltd. At Kowloon Tong a very extensive area has been. levelled and a charming garden city has sprung up.
In 1898 an agreement was entered into whereby China ceded to Great Britain for ninety-nine years the territory behind Kowloon Peninsula up to a line drawn from Mirs Bay to Deep Bay and the adjacent islands, including Lantao, the extent of the New Territory being about 376 square miles, namely, 286 square miles on the mainland: and 90 square miles on the islands. The ceremony of formally taking over the terri- tory was fixed for the 17th April, 1899, when the British flag was to have been hoisted at Taipohu, and the day was declared a general holiday. Attacks, however, having been made on the parties engaged on the preliminary arrangements, the mat-sheds erected for the accommodation of the police having been burnt, and other evidences of organised opposition having been given, it was deemed advisable to assume full jurisdiction on the 16th April, on which date the flag was hoisted by the Hon. Mr. (now Sir) J. H. Stewart Lockhart, C.M.G., Colonial Secretary. Military operations were found necessary to overcome the opposition, and on the 18th April the rebels were completely routed in an action fought at Sheung Tsun, their force numbering some 2,600 men. On the British side there were
were no fatalities and only one or two slight casualties; a number of Chinese were killed and wounded, but the exact figures were not ascer- tained, those who fell being carried away by their friends. In the Convention it was provided that Kowloon City was to remain Chinese, but, owing to the difficulties in administration and in respect of the disturbances which occurred on the taking over of the leased area, the Home Government determined to take over this. area and orders were issued to the military authorities to seize Kow- loon walled city and Shamchun. This was done on the 16th May, 1899, no opposition being encountered at either place. The Hongkong Volunteer Corps took part in the expedition to Kowloon City. Shamchun, the other place seized, is an important town on the river of the same name just beyond the boundary originally agreed upon.
It was, however, restored to the Chinese authorities in November, 1899. The New Territory under British jurisdiction is being rapidly developed by the construction of roads; one of these, runnning from Kowloon to Castle Peak, affording magnificent sea-scapes to the motorist, who can return by way of Fan Ling and Taipo, the total distance being about sixty miles. Police stations have been established, and a system of administration by means of village communities organised. The headquarters of the administration are at Taipohu. The railway from Kowloon to Canton, which passes through the New Territory to Shamchun, has already done much to develop it.. The Hongkong Golf Club acquired an area of 55.62 acres in the valley stretching West from Fanling and have converted it into a Golf Course of 18 holes, with two relief Courses-
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