C
Yamen to Mr. Bax-Ironside Red Letter No. 56 of 1/5/99.
Mr.Bax-Irom ide to Yamen Des- patch No.36 of 1/5/99.
4
IS
compelled to ask for satisfaction for the se grave in-
juries and reserved their demands pending further con-
sideration of the f orm they should take." In reply the
Minsters denied that the Chinese authorities were re-
sponsible for the attacks by local mobs on British
troops or that soldiers had formed part of these mobs;
they contended that it was "matter of common notoriety
that the villagers of Kuang-tung in their constant
fights with each other were always erecting forts, us-
ing guns and cannons and wearing unifœm. The Yamen
stated that they had telegraphed to the Viceroy to with-
draw his troops as requested by the Governor of Hongkong.
On the 1st May,under telegraphic instructions dated 30th
April, His Majesty's Chargé informed the Yamen that un-
less proper comideration be given by the Chire se Govern-
ment to the representations of His Majesty's Governmen t
His Majesty's Government would be obliged to conclude
that the Chinese Goverment were ignorant of, and had no
control over, the proceedings of the Viceroy of Canton
and the local authorities, and would have to deal locally
with the que stims at issue in regard to the longkong
Extension without refer ence to the Peking Gove mment.
J
These repeated representations to the Yamen led
to no result and after more than a week had elapsed, the
Viceroy of Canton not having removed the Chinese troops
from Kowloon City, and information having been received
by the Governor of Hongkong of preconcerted plans for
the invasion of the leased territory by large numbers of
troops from the northern boundary, the Governor was author-
ised to deal with the matter local ly, and, with the ap-
proval of His Majesty's Government, Kowloon City am the
Valley of Sham Chun were occupied by the British forces.
Von