ENCLOSURE No. 1.
(Mr. Stewart Lockhart to Governor.)
No. 16.
COLONIAL SECRETARY'S OFFICE,
HONGKONG, 20th March, 1899.
SIR,
I have the honour to report that, accompanied by Mr. ORMSBY, Director of Public Works, I left for Mirs Bay on Thursday last, the 16th, to delimit the boundary of the new territory leased to Great Britain by China.
2. I was met on the morning of the 17th instant at Starling Inlet by the Officer deputed by the Chinese Government to carry out the work of delimitation on behalf of China.
3. The delimitation was completed on the 18th instant on which day I returned to Hongkong.
On the 19th instant, I met the Officer deputed by the Chinese Government and we both signed the enclosed memorandum which clearly defines the boundaries of the new territory.
4. I attach a sketch map* on which the boundary defined in the memorandum referred to above is indicated. This map has been prepared by Mr. ORMSBY, Director of Public Works, who has been of great assistance to me in settling a satisfactory boundary.
5. I had a final interview with Mr. WoNG, the Chinese representative, to-day.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your Excellency's most obedient Servant,
His Excellency
Sir HENRY A. BLAKE, G.C.M.G.,
Governor of Hongkong.
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART, Colonial Secretary.
MEMORANDUM
(Referred to in Mr. Stewart Lockhart's Letter of the 20th March, 1899.)
The Northern Boundary commences at the point of high water-mark in Mirs Bay where the meridian of 114°.30' East cuts the land and follows that high water-mark to the point marked with a peg immediately to the West of the market town locally known as Tung Wo Hi and sometimes called Shat aukok. It then proceeds straight inland for a short distance till it meets a narrow path between fields on the right and a tidal flat on the left. A peg was driven in to the East of the path, and it was agreed that the whole of the path is within British territory but inay be used by the inhabitants of both countries. The line follows this path until it reaches a corner of the market town of Tung Wo Hi where another peg was driven in and then proceeds until it comes to the bed of a wide stream which is at present dry. It was agreed that the boundary should follow the centre of this river bed. The land to the right of the river, that is, the land on the left bank being within Chinese territory; the land to the left of the river, that is, the land on the right bank being within British territory. This line along the middle of the river's bed continues until a road leading to the village Kang Hau is reached. A peg was driven in at the point where the boundary line leaves the river and fol- lows this road. It was agreed that the whole of the road is within British terri- tory but may be used by the inhabitants of both countries. This road leads
up a steep ravine crossing and re-crossing the stream. It was agreed that the waters of this stream whether within the British or the Chinese boundary should be avail- able for the inhabitants of both countries. This road passes through a gap about 500 feet above sea level forming the dividing ridge between the Shat'aukok and Sham Chun valleys. The boundary was marked at this point with a peg. It was agreed that the road from this gap should be the boundary and is within British territory but may be used by the inhabitants of both countries. This road passes
* Not printed.