36
Kowloon
The immediate occasion of the present dispute over Kowloon might have passedh little or no disturbance but for the freedom given for some time by the Chinese censorship to a Press cam- paign against the British position in Hong- kong and adjacent places. The territories controlled by Britain on the mainland con- sist of a small area ceded in perpetuity by the treaty of 1860 and a larger area leased for ninety-nine years under the conven- tion of 1898. Included in the latter area was the tiny walled town of Kowloon, not much bigger than a London square, which was excepted from the British jurisdiction acknowledged by the Chinese everywhere else in both ceded and leased territories. This exception was, however, governed by the condition that the military require ments of Hongkong were not to be preju- diced, and this condition quickly became effective because of the misbehaviour of Chinese officials stationed inside the walls. In April, 1899, Britain had to invoke the relevant provision of the 1898 agreement and take the small enclosure under British jurisdiction, which was exercised un- interruptedly until Hongkong was occu- pied by. the Japanese in the recent war.
When the British returned they found that the Japanese, wishing to extend the Kaitak airfield, had levelled most of Kowloon and reduced the rest to rubble. Hundreds of squatters, attracted by the proximity of Hongkong, built huts in the rubble. In 1946 the Chinese magistrate of Pao On, ignoring the pro- vision of the 1898 Convention which justified the British action in 1899, claimed jurisdiction on the site. The Nanking Government did not support him officially, but made no attempt to put a stop to the anti-British agitation encouraged by his claim. The squatter community of Kow- loon was swollen by persons disaffected towards the Nanking Government as well as towards the British, and trouble-makers found a convenient field for their activities in its squalor and misery. The Nanking Government did not conceal its fears that any action against the Kow- loon squatters might lead to disturbances, but the menace to the health of Hongkong became so serious that the local sanitary authorities had to act. Alternative accommodation was offered to the squatters, who were given ample notice to leave, but attempts to clear the site met with resistance. Prison sentences on the leading agitators and the alleged death from injuries of a man who resisted the Hongkong police and sanitary officials were the reasons for the ugly demonstra- tions at Shameen on Friday.
The violence of these demonstrations appears to have taken the Chinese authori- ties by surprise, though the Nanking!
Government cannot escape responsibility for failing to see the likely outcome of the outrageous anti-British campaign in the Press. The second onset of the Canton mob, which resulted in the burning of the British consulate-general, the maltreat- ment of British subjects, and the destruc- tion of British premises, had all the marks of careful planning and organized if irresponsible leadership. The Chinese Government has offered frank and friendly apologies. The next step, if the impres- sion is to be finally removed that the Nanking authorities may not have been unwilling to see popular discontent deflected into anti-British channels, is to translate these words, which have been welcomed, into deeds. The British authori- ties are entitled to every assistance in settling the Kowloon dispute at once.
KOWLOON EVICTIONS
CHINESE MAGISTRATE'S VISIT
FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT
HONGKONG, JAN. 19 An article contributed to the Chinese news- paper Sing Tao Wan Pao by the former secre- tary to the magistrate of Pao On reveals that the conspiracy to take over Kowloon city started last September, when the district was being replanned for taxation.
The Chinese Commissioner for Foreign Affairs, Mr. T. W. Kwok, was asked whether there was anything in the treaties against reviving the Chinese administration. After some delay a reply was received that “ the establishment of an administration in Kowloon city is allowable." The head of the Civil Affairs Bureau and Mr. Kwok's delegate visited Kowloon twice to investigate, but un- fortunately met a newspaper representative who gave away the project. The secretary reprimanded by Mr. Kwok for embarking on writes that the Pao On authorities were
propaganda, whereas he thinks that had the Pao On magistrate immediately established an office at Kowloon he would probably have. succeeded.
The Pao On magistrate visited the city site yesterday to distribute largesse to persons alleged to have been evicted from Kowloon, whose number is constantly increasing as rackets develop. He announced compassionate grants to two convicted Chinese and various awards to others.
* 1049
J