F 4192/1099/10
CONFIDENTIAL
Sir,
PAPER D
No.1.
COPY
ADMIRALTY, S.W.1.
13th June, 1934.
With reference to your letter No. 33744/34 of 30th April, 1934, concerning the proposal of the Govern- ment of Hong Kong to expropriate certain Chinese tenants of properties in Kowloon City, I am commanded by My Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to offer the following observations for the consideration of the secretary of State for the Colonies.
My Lords' note from Mr. Stewart Lockhart's report dated 8th October, 1898, the text of which is given in Colonial Office print Zastern No. 66, that before the lease the only Chinese officials stationed within the walled city of Kowloon who exercised jurisdiction there were military officers, since the only civil magistrate was expressly stated to have no jurisdiction within the city. My Lords would of course regard any resumption of military jurisdiction by China as being inconsistent with military requirements for the defence of Hong Kong; and They find it difficult to conceive what jurisdiction might be exercised by China within the City of Kowloon without prejudice to defence requirements, since even the exercise of a minor judicial jurisdiction such as that presumably enjoyed up to 1899 outside the walls by the Chinese Deputy Magistrate might give rise to petty oppression and consequent unrest or provide a cloak for subversive activity.
I am, etc.,
The Under Secretary of State,
COLONIAL OFFICE, S.W.1.
(Signed) J.S. Barnes
K
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