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52
To His Excellency Sir John Jordan,
G.C.I.E., K.C.B., K.C.M.G..
His Majesty's Minister Plenipotentiary to China.
The humble petition of the several residents in the
British Concession known as the Shameen, Canton, whose
signatures are affixed hereto.
Sheweth as follows:-
1.
Your petitioners are all either Lessees of land, house-
holders or Merchants residing and carrying on business
in the British Concession known as the Shameen,
Canton,
in the Republic of China.
2.
The said Concession consists of land re-claimed, as to
3.
two thirds thereof by Great Britain or subjects thereof,
and as to the remaining one third by France or her
subjects, and having been appropriated by Great Britain
and France in the aforesaid proportions a lease was
granted to Great Britain by China of the said two thirds
either in perpetuity, or for a period of 999 years, at
a nominal rent. To all intents and purposes therefore
the said British Concession is British Territory.
By virtue of Treaties between Great Britain and China
and