Revised
HONG KONG
Note on evictions from
Kowloon walled City
The so-called "walled City of Kowloon" is part
of the Colony of Hong Kong and is included in the
"New Territories". The "Walled City" is approximately
200 yards long by 100 yards wido. It is no longer
enclosed by a wall. The Peking Convention of 1898, by
which the New Territories were leased to H.M.G. for
99 years included a provision that the Chinese officials
then stationed within the City of Kowloon (the area
referred to above) should continue to exercise
Jurisdiction except so far as may be inconsistent with
the military requirements for the defence of Hong Kong.
It was very early found that this jurisdiction was
inconsistent with these requirements, so it was
terminated in 1899 and since that date, that is for
nearly 50 years, the British authorities have exercised
sole jurisdiction in the area of the "Walled City" as in
the remainder of the leased territories. The Chinese
have from time to time put forward the claim that they
have never relinquished their rights to jurisdiction in
the "Walled City" are, but H.M.G. has been unable to
accept this claim.
2. As a precaution against the threat of fire and
disease the Public Works Department of the Hong Kong
Government served eviction notices on the 27th November
on the occupants of some 54 wooden huts which had been
illegally erected on Crown land within the area of the
"Walled City of Kowloon". The date of expiry of the
notices was the 11th December, 1947, The squatters
faled to comply with the motices and summonses were
then