The villagers on both sides of the boundary were drawn up, armed with guns & spears & carrying flags & shields, in line of battle. The emergency of the case necessitated an interview between the Gov. + the head mandarin of Kowloon, who at once took measures to restrain the villagers on Chinese territory, whilst the Hongkong Police disarmed those on British Land.
Yet it is since the occurrence of an emergency like the above that my attention has been especially called to the instructions regulating communication from the Hongkong Police to any Chinese Mandarin. The recent burglary and attack on a house belonging to the Union Dock Company, resulting in the murder of Mr. Janeey, it has been ascertained that some of the perpetrators of the act crossed over from the Chinese territory & that after the affair the majority fled inland. The Mandarins frequently said to me, & I have invariably met with an expression of perfect readiness to assist me in any matter, but coupled with a dislike that every trivial matter of police business should be communicated to them through the Viceroy of Canton.
In considering this question I cannot bring too forcibly before H.E.'s notice the comparative position & means of communication between Canton & British & Chinese Kowloon. From the two latter places Canton is 90 miles distant, & is only accessible by one steamer daily. British Kowloon borders on Chinese Kowloon for two miles, + the city of the latter district can be reached from Victoria in 40 minutes. The above remarks would also apply to other Chinese towns with which I have of necessity Police business, with more or less frequency according to their relative distances from Hongkong & Canton.
(sd) W. H. Deane,
Acting Superintendent.