CONFIDENTIAL
(7226) No. 374.
PAPER E!
No. 1.
E:
COPY
The Marquess of Salisbury to Lo Feng Luh,
Chinese Minister in London.
Sir,
Foreign Office, May 30, 1899.
I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of the telegram from the Tsung-li Yamen which you left at the Foreign Office on the 22nd instant, complaining of the expulsion of the Chinese troops and officials from the city of Kowloon and the occupation of sham Chun by a British force.
The following brief statement of what hus occurred will explain the action which has been taken by the Governor of Hong Kong in this matter with the entire approval of Her Majesty's Government:-
On the 3rd April lasat an attack was made on an officer of the Hong Yong Government at Taipohu, where mat-shede had been erected for the accommodation of police and officials of the British Goverment who would be sent to keep order in the territory assigned to Great Britain under
1898. the Convention of the 9th June,
In consequence of this outrage, the Governor of Hong Kong proceeded to Canton, and invited the Viceroy to give protection to the mat-sheds and to preserve the peace
measures were taken of the territory until taken over. by the Viceroy accordingly and soldiers sent into the territory, but the protection given was clearly inadequate, as on the 14th April the mat-sheds were burnt.
The Governor of Hong Kong having telegraphed to Her Majesty's decretury of Utute for the Colonies that he apprehended disturbances, I instructed Her Majesty'a Chargé d'Affaires at reling by telegraph to impress upon the Yamen the necessity of taking adequate precautions against further troubles.
On the 16th April the territory was taken over by the Hong Yong Government.
On the same day the Governor of Hong Kong telegraphed that the officer in command of the troops at Taipohu had found posted on the hill opposite a large Chinese force, which had fired on the British troops.
Further attacta were made on the 17th and 18th.
On the leth April the Governor reported that the Viceroy of Canton had declined to reply to a request which he had sent to him through Her Majesty's Consul at that port that the Chinese officials and troops should be removed
The Governor from the territory leased to Great Britain. further stated that a force of 600 Chinese troops had been
the sent into Kowloon city, where they were not required, need for protection being on the northern frontier.
I thereupon instructed Mr. Bux-Ironside by telegraph to urge the Tsung-li Yamen to send stringent orders to the Viceroy for the removal of the troops, and to impress on
1.
them/