NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN.
principal difficulty.
He said that with the
Chinese it was a question of preserving their dignity and "saving face" and that the suggested
arrangement would not be agreed to be the Chinese Government at that moment, although it
might be effected later on. He pointed out
that the Russians had agreed to the Chinese
administration of Kinchow City, and suggested
that they probably intended to revise the
arrangement at a later date.
7. On May 2nd, 1898, the Yamen agreed to grant
a lease for the Hong Kong extension, subject
to several conditions, one of which was that
the Chinese Government's jurisdiction in
Kowloon City should remain in the hands of their
officials unless the military arrangements for
the defence of Hong Kong required otherwise.
A draft convention, which included an
Article in the sense of the preceding paragraph,
was then agreed with the Chinese authorities.
8.
9. On June 6th, 1898, the Colonial Office
asked that Sir C. MacDonald should endeavour to
procure some modification of the provision regarding continued Chinese jurisdiction within
the City.
They pointed out that the town
would be well within the area of the lease, that
difficulties would arise if justice continued
to be administered there exclusively in Chinese
fashion, and suggested that the words might run "Chinese jurisdiction shall continue
concurrently in Kowloon City, so far as is not
inconsistent with military requirements, and
with European law and custom".
It was added
that the Yamen could be given an assurance that
it was not intended to interfere with the position
and/