NEW TERRITORY
(Contd.)
On the 16th, therefore, Major-General Gascoigne, Mr. Lockhart and the Commodore proceeded in H.M.S. Brisk to Tai Po Hu, where the flag was hoisted with no opposition; in fact, there was no sign of the Chinese.
A further detachment of the Hong Kong Regiment and a company of the Artillery had meanwhile arrived overland.
The Governor now wished the flag to be shown at Kowloon City and H.M.S. Peacock was towed there, as she had not raised steam, and fired a salute.
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His Excellency also informed the Commodore that he had reason to fear an attack at Yaumati at night, and mentioned that he had given orders for the troops to be ready and had told the Hong Kong Volunteers to patrol the town. He requested that warships be stationed off Kowloon City, and another off Yaumati, to watch the hills under their searchlights, in case of an advance of the Chinese.
The Fame went to Kowloon City and the Peacock to Yaumati. Nothing, however, was seen, and the warships returned the following day. The troops at Tai Po Hu remained camped in their positions, and H.M.S. Humber proceeded to Mirs Bay to convey stores to them. Commander Davidson, with a naval brigade, had landed to assist the troops.
On the 17th, His Excellency the Governor had a conference with General Gascoigne and the Commodore, at which the Governor authorised the General to act against "the enemy" (disgruntled agitators) with a view to removing them from the territory and requested the Commodore's co-operation in a plan of attack at Castle Peak, where the Chinese were assembled in large numbers.
H.M.S. Fame was told to prepare to leave Hong Kong and wait at Tai-lan-Cheung so as to arrive at Castle Peak Bay at daylight, to operate against the rebels who were stated to be entrenched there. Lieut. Goodenough of H.M.S. Hermione, with another officer, were sent in charge of six military launches conveying troops. The landing operations were carried out successfully, but the Chinese had abandoned the position, and the Naval forces returned on the 19th.
On April 22 a force of 300 troops were re-embarked at Tai Po Hu and brought back to Hong Kong. This apparently concluded the Naval operations with the troops for the time being, the trouble having evidently subsided. It is on record that the Naval forces merely aided the Military authorities in conveying troops and stores and occasionally using their landing parties or guns. This is emphasised in a letter written by Commodore F. Powell, dated April 18, containing the following paragraph:
"The question of pacifying the newly-acquired territory is a military one and should be left to the troops as much as possible."
Certain ships continued to patrol the coastline, and H.M.S. Peacock was ordered to make a short stay at Starling Inlet with a view to inspiring confidence in the friendly natives of that vicinity.
A letter dated May 6, 1899, conveyed the Governor's warm appreciation and thanks to the Navy for their co-operation during the unrest in the New Territories. It is shown, however, that further trouble was feared a few days later, at the border, and on May 10, 1899, it was decided to occupy Sum Chun and Kowloon City. A letter from Sir Henry Blake to Commodore Powell requested further Naval co-operation. The G.O.C. notified the Commodore that he intended occupying Sum Chun on May 16. Captain A. C. Clarke, R.N.