Captain Simonds, R.A., with his company of the Hong Kong-Singapore Battalion R.A. arrived about the same time, his guns having been sent round by sea under escort.
His Excellency the Governor on the night of the 15th ultimo determined to antedate by a day the hoisting of the British Flag and the taking over the Kowloon Territory in order that he might be in a position to at once assume the power of administering the Hinterland and promptly quell disturbances under the authority of the Queen's Government. The ceremony was performed at 3 p.m. on the 16th April 1899, under Your Excellency's Military Command.
Before leaving Hong Kong on this mission Your Excellency most kindly intimated to me your desire to entrust me with the Command of the Kowloon Field Force whenever you might decide upon leaving Taipo on return to Hong Kong, and at 5 p.m. on the 17th ultimo you handed over to me this command. I have already orally expressed to Your Excellency my gratitude for this mark of confidence in me and beg to reiterate my thanks.
I now have the honour to report in detail on the operations that took place after my assumption of Command.