8
govern- A ment
The British government had earlier intended to possess South Kowloon. In April 1860 J Elgin, the British plenipotentiary who had forced China to conclude the Treaty of Tianjin, had been instructed prior to his second departure for China by the Foreign Minister Russell (?) in the following terms: "According to the Minister of Colonial Affairs, whatever future treaty to be concluded with China must include, by all diligent efforts on our part as necessary, a provision for the cession of South Kowloon. At the request of the said minister, I hereby give you instructions never to let slip any opportunity conducive to the successful clinching of such cession." (Note 25) Elgin was hesitant because he was worried lest France would follow suit and make similar cession claims. Russell thereupon authorised Elgin to act according as circumstances and opportunities would permit saying, "Her Majesty's government would be pleased to acquire Kowloon peninsula. But it will be up to you to decide on what best means to get it." (Note 26) Because of poor communication facilities those days it was quite some time before the report on Parkes' lease of South Kowloon reached London. On receipt of the report the British government sent secret instructions to Elgin in early July to the effect that Parkes had obtained a permanent lease in respect of the Kowloon Peninsula and that it was necessary, having regard to the overall situation, to obtain a total cession of the peninsula. The instructions further claimed that France would be unlikely to follow suit because the area acquired would not be large. (Note 27) Acting on the instruct- ions, Elgin, after sacking Yuan Ming Yuan, imposed on the Qing government the Treaty of Beijing which included among other provisions of payment of huge amounts of compensation and opening of more trading ports the cession of the Kowloon peninsula.
Article 6 of the treaty The Qing was forced to sign the treaty on October 24 1860.
provided: "Whereas Iao Chongguang, Viceroy of Guangdong and Guangxi of the Qing Empire, had on the 28 day of the 2nd Moon this year (March 20 of the Gregorian Calendar), granted unto H Parkes, executing the indenture as lessee on behalf of the British Crown, a permanent lease, in respect of the territory of Kowloon in Eastern Guangdong, His Imperial Qing Majesty hereby cedes and assigns unto Her Britannic Majesty and subsequent successors to the British throne the said territory for incorporation into existing British territorial possessions so that the said port and harbour be ruled and governed in peace and the lease in respect thereof previously executed be hereby rescinded......" (Note 28) This article turned South Kowloon from leased territory to ceded territory and Britain thereby took formal possession of the part of Chinese territory south of boundary street on the peninsula.
After cession of the southern tip of Kowloon peninsula, there were some intramural conflicts within the British establishment. The military insisted that the territory on the peninsula be used solely as a military base and under military management. The civil authorities, however, contended that it was they who had acquired the piece of territory and it should be put to civilian purposes, functioning as some sort of periphery to Hong Kong. The conflict continued until 1864 when Britain on its own initiative extended its territory to Shenshuipu (Shamshuipo) on the northwest of the peninsula which part was then given to the army while the original part was given to the civil administration and the navy. Shenshuipu was filched in this manner by Britain. The desire of the aggressor was always unsatiable. On acquiring South Kowloon and Shenshuipu, greedy eyes turned northwards and designs with respect to North Kowloon were hatching.
Lease of North Kowloon and neighbouring islands
Britain leased North Kowloon and the neighbouring islands at a time when imperialism was in the course of attempting to partition China immediately after the War of Jia Wu (Sino-Japanese War). The lease was part of the loot grabbed during that period exposing once again the sinister visage of imperialism.
In 1894 Japan waged a war of aggression against China. Under the defeatist leadership of Li Hongzhang, the Qing army lost battle after battle and the Beiyang Navy was completely wiped out. The Qing government, tottering on the brink of
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