1. Gov. Conf.
9 Jan.
34.
twas. 2 copics of plano, together with general obsons, &
proposed schemes for
compensation of displaced 'owness!'
The crux of the question at issue is
summed up in the last paragraph of the Governor's
despatch in these words:
to
•
the Chinese Government is concerned
or
with the rights which china conceives herself still to
retain under the Convention" signed at Peking
9.6.1898 vide page 293-4 Hertslets Treaties
Vol. XXI and until this issue is disposed of it
seems inadvisable to display a more conciliatory
attitude, even though based on quite different grounds.
For the same reason it seems inadvisable to postpone
the scheme and renew the leases of the property
affected.'
The proposition contained in the last
sentence may be open to the objection that until it
is decided whether or not the Hong Kong Government
has the right to compel the "owners" of the property
concerned within Kowloon City to evacuate that
property, it would be tantamount to prejudging the
main issue to attempt to compel or induce them to do
It may in fact be necessary to postpone the
scheme until the main question has been disposed of.
The main question is
So.
What rights has China under the Convention of
1898 read in conjunction with the Orders in Council of
the 20th October, 1898, and the 27th December, 1898,
pages 589-590 Hertslets Treaties Vol. XXI_7?
Before examining the actual grounds on which
the claim of the Chinese Government is based, it is
necessary to dispose of the alternative basis on which
that