2
N
the
Government repeatedly requested British Embassy in Nanking to warn the Hongkong Government against the employ- ment of coercive measures, the consequence of which, it was thought, might be serious. It is most regrettable that this warning was not heeded and that the Hongkong Government showed no scruples in resort- ing to forcible action both on 5th and 12th January. On the latter occasion, a large contingent of armed police, equipped with shields, steel helmets and firearms, and accompanied by a group of workmen, went into the Kowloon City, and, by firing on the residents before the use was made of tear-gas bombs, caused injuries to a number of these residents, of whom two were seriously wounded.
Therefore the Chinese Government feels very strongly that the responsibility for the unfortunate incident in Kowloon City should clearly be borne by the Hongkong Government. The provocative action on the part of that Government, taken at a time when conversations were still in progress between the two sides with a view to reaching an amicable settlement, contri- buted to the deterioration of the situation which led to the series of events that followed, including the incident of Shameen on 16th January. In the opinion of the Chinese Government, it would not be just to attribute to newspaper accounts and comments the responsibility for the unfortunate occurrences in Kowloon.
The Chinese Government also finds itself unable to accept the view you have taken that the Po An magistrate's visit to Kowloon was to a degree responsible for the Kowloon incident. The action taken by the Po An magistrate in visiting Kowloon City and comforting the victims of the
eviction of 5th January was the least that a magistrate legally responsible for the administration of the city area should do in discharging the duties devolving upon him.
Apart from all the facts stated above, may I add another observation to which I hope you will give equal consideration. In order to obtain a proper perspective of the Convention of 1898 regarding the leased territory of Kowloon, it is important to recall the circumstances in which the several leases of that period were granted. Unable to resist the successive rival of demands from the Powers who were each seeking a sphere of influence on the Asiatic mainland, the Chinese Government secured a minimum reservation in each of the leases where a local Government was functioning, in the form of a special area over which China should continue to exercise jurisdiction. In other words, China yielded to the force of circumstances by agreeing only to meet the military requirements of the Powers concerned without renouncing her jurisdiction in spite of respective reserved areas. That the failure of Great Britain to observe even this reservation in respect of Kowloon, which stands now as the last vestige of an 2 out-moded system, would have the most unfortunate repercussions in China may well be imagined.
In order to prevent further aggravation of the situation the Chinese Government earnestly urges the British Government to accede to the requests put forward for a proper settlement by the Chinese Govern- ment through this embassy and through the British Embassy in Nanking.
I have, &c,
F. T. CHENG.
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