KOWLOON, OLD CITY (cont.)
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Inevitably, it found its way into Hongkong. Mandarindom persuaded Sir John Davis into passing an Ordinance, the effect of which was that the Hongkong Police should seek out and arrest political refugees as being members of the Triad Societies, brand them on the cheek and send them back to Canton, where they would be forthwith tortured and executed.
Fortunately, this barbaric ordinance was modified by the Home Government and deportees were afterwards branded under the arm.
Hongkong often feared risings of the Triad Societies and constant precaution was taken against sudden attack.
Early in March, 1884, the Mandarin at Kowloon City informed the British authorities that he expected a rising of the Triad Society. He feared that they would attack Kowloon City, he said, and he wished to put the British authorities on their guard; otherwise there might be a rising in Hongkong and rioting in the streets, and looting in the homes of rich Chinese.
Acting upon this information, special precautions were taken by the Government to meet such a contingency. A strong picket of "The Suffs" and also the whole of the Mounted Troopers of the Police patrolled the city during the night.
Some men were sent to guard the City Hall and the Hongkong Bank. A guard was also stationed at Volunteer Headquarters to protect the arms, etcetera. Three police launches patrolled the harbour during the night. Nothing alarming, however, occurred.
It is believed that at this time, the Triad Society was in considerable strength in the Colony. It was thought that if it took any action at all, its members would assemble at Hunghom and Shaukiwan with a view to proceeding to Kowloon City to join members there in any attack that might be contemplated.
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When one looks across the harbour at Kowloon to-day and sees fine hotels, well laid out streets and row after row of modern flats on shore, luxury liners and fast motor freighters tied up at the wharf, it is difficult to realise that just on eighty years ago, Tsim Sha Tsui Peninsula was the scene of a succession of bloody battles.
A contributor has sent me extracts from the Friend of China dealing with the capture of Kowloon by the Taiping hordes in 1854. Actually, Kowloon was taken and retaken repeatedly during August and September by rebels and Imperialists, but it is the first capture of Kowloon by the Taipings on August 26 that the extracts deal with.
The attack was made between 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. when the soldiers of the Taiping Prince, Hung Siu-tsuen, attacked the North and West Gates simultaneously.
All resistance was quickly broken down and the Mandarins and Imperial troops fled in wild disorder.
A strong attack was then launched on the Imperial fort at Tsim Sha Tsui and at 10 a.m., it fell into the hands of the rebels. The commandant and his troops retreated to a war junk and opened fire on the fort. When the fire was returned with interest, the junk cast off and the commandant bore away to Hongkong where he anchored.
With Kowloon in their possession, the Taipings set about enrolling more troops under their standard which bore the characters of Tien Teng Kwok. The only explanation I can find for this inscription is that Tien Teng is the name given to the country. Kwok, of course, means country or nation.
After sufficient troops had been recruited, plans were made for an attack on Ty-poong, Kwei-choong, Wong-moo-hooe and other principal villages in the area now known as the New Territories. The English spelling of the names of these villages must have altered since 1854, for I can find no record of Ty-poong, Kwei-choong or Wong-moo-hooe among the villages of the New Territories to-day.
1854