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Walled City of Kowloon
Under the Anglo-Chinese Convention for the extension of Hong Kong territory dated 9th June, 1898 it was agreed that "within the city of Kowloon the Chinese officials now stationed there shall continue to exercise jurisdiction except so far as may be inconsistent with the military requirements for the defence of Hong Kong. Within the remainder of the newly leased territory Great Britain shall have solo jurisdiction."
An Order in Council issued 20th October, 189 providing for the Government of the leased territories at Hong Kong laid down (Article 4) that "the Chinese officials now stationed within the city of Kowloon shall continue to exercise jurisdiction therein exog in so far as may be inconsistent with the military requirements for the defence of Hong Kong".
The so-called city of Kowloon is a walled enclosure about 200 yards long by 100 yards broad 1. the leased territories not far from the Kaitak aerodrome. It contains a few good buildings used in 1934 by the China Missionary Society and the Secretariat for Chinese Affairs (for a Chinese school, and a number of Chinese domestic buildings in very bad state of repair.
Disturbances occurred after the signature of the 1898 Convention and repeated attacks were made on the British forces by Chinese troops in uniform and local mobs. Representations were made to the Chinese authorities but as these led to no result the Governor of Hong Kong was authorised to deal with the matter locally and, with the approval of His Majesty's Government, the city of Kowloon and Sham Chun, (oubalde the New Territory), were occupied on the 16th May by British forces. Complaints were addressed to lis Majesty's Government by the Chinese Governmont thre the Chinese Minister in London as to the expulsio2 03. the Chinese troops and officials from the city of Kowloon and the occupation of Sham Chun, but in a note of the 30th May, 1899 the Secretary of State stated as follows: "In view of the fact that the Chinese Government do not hold themselves responsible for attacks by local mobs on British troops, the obligation falls on Her Majesty's Government of performing the duty which is usually performed by the sovereign of the country, but which the Chinese Government declined. After the redent experience which they have had not only of the worthlessness of the protection extended by the Chinese garrison at Kowloon, but of the additional danger involved in its presence, it is impossible for Her Majesty's Government to allow the resumption of Chinese authority within that city". The town of Sham Chun was subsequently evacuated.
The Chinese Government made strong representations but His Majesty's Government refused to yield and a second Order in Council was issued on the 27th December, 1899, revoking Article 4 of the Order in Council of 20th October, 1898 and applying the provisions of that Order in Council to the city of Kowloon "as if the said city had by the said Order in Council been declared to be part and parcel of Her Majesty's colony of Hong Kong".
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