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THE KOWLOON EXTENSION,
Reuter's telegram of the 10th June con- tains the welcome announcement that the long desired rectification of the frontiers of the colony, so as to include that bounded on the north by a line from Deep Bay to Mirs Bay and all the surrounding islands, has at last been sanctioned. Now that this important project has really been carried to a successful issue it will be of interest to reproduce the letters of the Hon. C. P. Chater to H.E. the Governor in which it was first advocated, and we accord- ingly reprint them below:--
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THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND Stonecutter's Island and in the Lyeemoon, and the Chinese boundary line runs through the middle of the Lyeemoon Pass, there, only a quarter of a mile wide, and to within a mile of the Hunghom batteries, and it passes on the other side of Kowloon, between "Stonecutter's and the mainland. The waters on the northern side of that line are neutral waters and open to the fleet of any foreign power, to pass in and out or to concentrate an overwhelming force within sight and easy gun-shot of our batteries and magazines. In time of an anticipated war the entrance of a French or Russian fleet through the Lyeemoon into Kowloon Bay, no matter with what intent, could not be opposed or resisted without a breach of the laws of neutra Ility.
(June 18, 1898, Great Britain, not China, should control the ap proaches through the Capani-moon.
Now is the opportunity to rectify our fron tiers in all these points. War is actually raging between Japan and China and no hostile opera- tions can be tolerated within sight of the City. The Lyeemoon must be closed to the fleets of both powers. There is always the possibility of war between England and any European power. That possibility has become so apparent now that preparations are being made to meet it. Those preparations must include measures which will prevent the present neutral waters close round our boundaries, and neutral ter
The ritory from being utilised against us. necessity for an adjustment of boundaries is being pressed home. China cannot, as I have before pointed ont, reply that she is able, even if willing, to enforce her rights as a neutral and to protect these neutral waters and territories from hostile aggression. The same arguments that prevailed in 1860 must prevail now. We want now only what we wanted then; what is essential to the safety of the colony. What was enough then has become, from the changes in weapons and the alterations in modes of warfare, wholly in. sufficient now, and we must have more. How much more it is for the naval and military anthorities to say, but our boundaries must be so extended that city and harbour are absolutely out of reach of the sight and range of any hostile guns, and that we have complete com. mand of our own waters from all sides.
Hongkong, 13th November, 1894. Sir,--At the interview with which you were so good as to favour me on Thursday last,
Of course, the neutrality of Chinese took the liberty of calling your Excellency's waters and territories would have under such cir- attention to the very limited extent of the cumstances to be disregarded, or else, the colony Colony's territory on the opposite mainland of would have to be surrendered to an enemy. In China; to the very close proximity of the the present contest between Japan and China a Chinese boundary line to the harbour and city Japanese force might lawfully pursue a Chinese of Victoria and to the fortifications that defend squadron through the Lyeemoon Pass and en. both; to the very great danger to which in gage them in Kowloon Bay, where every shot time of war the Colony would, in con- that missed the enemy would find a lodgment sequence, be exposed; and to the very great on British territory. In case of war between inconveniences
suffer, we
even in time England and any foreign power, France, or of peace, and I ventured to suggest for your Russia, or Germany, or the newly arrived Excellency's consideration that the present was Empire of Japan, the officers responsible a most favourable time for obtaining, if possi- for the defence of the Colony of Hongkong ble, a re-adjustment of boundaries and an ex-must, as a matter of absolute necessity, close tension of territory such as would obviate these the whole of the Lyeemoon Pass to the ships inconveniences and preclude these dangers in of the enemy, from the moment there the future I further suggested that your Ex- was any serious danger of war breaking celleney might usefully call the attention of the out. They must occupy the hills on the Government in England to our position; to the mainland on the other side of the Pass, com- dangers attendant on it, accentuated as they manding the Lyeemoon batteries. They must have been by recent events in China, and to the forbid all entrance to Kowloon Bay. They opportunity now presented of improving that must be prepared to oppose the appearance of position by negotiations with the Chinese troops on the hills behind Kowloon and Stone- Government. Your Excellency was so good as oatter's and the erection of batteries. They to approve of what I said and to promise to for- must watch the bays beyond those hills which ward and support any representation I might afford easy means of access for troops and guns. make to you in writing on the subject, and Lamma to the south, Cow-e-chow to the west, I beg of your Excellency to press on the at- that you would be glad to have them set forth and Waglan to the east would have to be tention of Her Majesty's Government the im- at length, with the reasons in support. occupied or observed. No regard for Chinese mense importance from a naval and military I had discussed the matter about a month neutrality could be allowed to interfere with point of view of availing ourselves of the op- previously with the honourable the Acting these absolutely necessary measures of precaution. portunity now afforded of rectifying our bound. Colonial Secretary but only in brief, and Would any other power at war with us regard aries. It is a necessity of our continued ex- I now bag to submit for your Excellency's or respect Chinese neutrality, and fail to occupyistence as a fortress and naval station that we consideration a full statement of the case as it these points of vantage if we did not? Not one. appears to me and of the many reasons that Until the other day it was possible for us to seemed to me to concur in rendering it desir-suppose and say that the Chinese neutrality able that an effort should be now made, and a vigorous effort, to enlarge the boundaries of the Colony, not for the sake of territory, but wholly and solely for the sake of its more efficient administration aud protection.
First, may I remind your Excellency that if we were to look only at Her Majesty's Letters Patent creating this Colony of Hongkong, dated the 5th April, 1843, our boundaries ought to be considerably more spacious than they are. The boundaries of the Colony of Hongkong and its dependencies are stated to be between 22° 9' and 22 21' North latitude and 114° 18' and 114° 18' and 114" 6' East longitude. These boundaries, if laid down on the map, would have taken in Lamma Island on the South, and the opposite range of mountains on the North, and would have left both sides of the Lyeemoon in our hands. However that may have been and what- ever degree of importance is now to be attached to the wording of the Letters Patent, it is clear that only the Island of Hongkong and the smaller isleta in close proximity to its shores were originally taken possession of; until 1860 Stone Cutter's Island and the entire peninsula of Kowloon were Chinese territory. It did not matter much then when the Colony was of little importance and the inhabitants comparatively few and when the troops were armed with the old tower musket and cannon shot was barely & mile. Even when, in 1860, it was thought advisable, first to lease, and then to acquire Kowloon, rifled cannons were in their infancy, ironclads were unknown, and a boundary line at the foot of the opposite hills was thought to be ample for the protection of the city and the harbour. As late as 1878 when the first fortifi. cations were erected for the defence of the island, the Hunghom and North Point bat- teries were supposed to be sufficiently well placed to keep an enemy's fleet at a safe distance from the city and from the shipping. No one then ever dreamed of seeing a powerful fleet of Chinese ironclads anchored in Kowloon Bay.
What is the position now ? Our forts are on
would be respected; that China was strong enough to compel proper respect being paid to ber territory and to prevent it being used as a base of operations against us. Who will say that to day she is able to compel her neutrality to be respected ? Chinese naval and military power has crumbled away into ashes. In this her tran- sition state, she has less real power, less real fighting force than she had in 1842.
If the possession of portions of the opposite mainland and complete control of the water ap- proaches of the Colony would be absolutely es sential to the security of the Colony against any European foe, how much more necessary against
If the Chinese Government will not willingly yield territory in absolute possession, she may, and must be compelled, to give us the right of perpetual occupation and possession of the needful extent of territory under some such form of engagement as that under which Portugal holds Macao or we hold Cyprus, we undertaking that it shall go back to China in the event of our leaving Hongkong,
should do so. Events might happen at any mo- ment that would compel us to disregard Chinese protests and objections and take possession of points on her territory to prevent an enemy seizing them to our destruction. To have to do so would make an enemy of her. Better obtain what we require and must have by negotiations. There can be no better time than the present. And the time 18 now or never. However great the success of the Japanese to-day, however tre- medous the disgrace and humiliation of China, that Empire is too instrinsically strong, too full main for any length of time in her present.com- of resources, too patient and persevering to re-
dition. This Japanese war will be followed by a tremendous upheaval and China, twenty years hence, will be another China from to-day. If anything is to be done, it is to done now. In fact I should like to see His Excellency Major- China is now at her lowest ebb, but 50 years General Barker in possession of Kowloon and hence, possibly 20 years hence, judging from
the Lyeemoon to-morrow, as doubtless he would the progress Japan has made, China will pro-like to be if only military counsels prevailed. bably be a powerful nation fully armed and with the skill and knowledge that will enable her to make use of her vast natural strength. If then the boundaries of Hongkong are no more ex- tensive than they are now, where will we be with a Chinese fleet in Kowloon Bay and the hills and islands close round in Chinese posses- sion? At their mercy at any moment.
China herself.
I pray your Excellency to put the question to your naval and military advisers and ask them what steps they would have to take in the event of a threatened war with China, and what por- tions of the opposite mainland and which of the neighbouring islands they must take possession of, or control, to make good the defence of this City and harbour and its immense wealth against any enemy. They will tell you, I feel sure, that to the security of this island as a fortress and naval station the possession of Lamms and of all islands on the south and east lying closer to our shorejis essential; that the control of both sides of the Lyeemoon and of Kowloon town and bay is absolutely essential; that possession of the opposite range of hills to the north, to their summits, theoretically at least, would be most highly desirable, and that to the west
Need I point out to your Excellency the immense advantages to the colony from a purely civil point of view of such an extension of territory as I suggest. The police of the opposite mainland and of the numerous villages that lie along it at all points round the city and harbour would be in our hands, with what benefit to the peace, order, and good go- vernment of the colony yon best know. The Kowloon gambling hells, pawnshops, and marine store dealers would vanish. The Chi- nese Customs with all its ornisers, revenue stations, revenue farmers, deteotives, and spies would be done away with, and with it the con- stant possibility and probability of troublesome disputes with the Chinese mandarins and peo- ple. Our population would have room to spread- manufactories would find space to plant them; selves with abundant supplies of water. An immense number of the minor industries would take root here. We might become independent of Canton as regards cattle, poultry and vegeta- bles. In every way the colony would benefit, and the increased expenditure, military and civil, would be more than compensated by the increased land revenue and additional safety