1847/15/10
1948
COPY
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to
H.M. Anbaussdor Nanking.
Dated 20.1.48.
No. Ou 37/01653
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs present their compliments to H.B.H. Embassy and have the honour to state, with reference to the Kowloon City case, that the Embasay have not yet returned a definite and satisfactory reply to the Ministry's memorandum datod 8th January. Furthermore, the Hong Kong police again on 12th January forcibly demolished the temporary wooden huts erected by the Kowloon City inhabitants as a protection against wind and rain. They even opened fire and threw tear gas bomba directed at the luhabitants, with the result that many people were injured.
The Chinese Government consider it a very serious matter that the Hong Kong Government should, while discussions between Chinese and British authorities regarding the question of jurisdiction in Kowloon City were in progress, have twice taken the step of forcibly demolishing the houses and evicting · the inhabitants and even directly (1.e. not through the Chinese authorities/ arrest and injure the Chinese inhabitants of the City. The Ministry have repeatedly and emphatically made clear to the ambassy the position of the Chinese Government, namely, that in accordance with the provisions of the Convention respecting an extension of the llong Kong territor of 1898, China undoubtedly enjoys jurisdiction in Kowloon :ity and that the Hong Kong Government have therefore no right to end police into Kowloon City and demolish forcibly the houses of the inhabitants, still loss the right to arrest and try the local inhabitants. Should the British Government disagree with the views of the Chinese Government, they should deal with the matter peacefully through the usual diplomatic channel in a spizit of mutual friendship, and should not take one- sided forcible action resulting in the aggravation of the situation. In these circuastances, the Ministry hereby request that the Embassy will immediately as the British Government to accept the various de sands for rly ut forward by the Ministry to the Embassy and specially to release imgodiately the arrasted inhabitants of Kowloon City, and to withuraw the Hong Kong police stationed in Kowloon City, The Chinese Government also de anu that the British Government should pay appro riate compensation for the physical injuries androperty losses suffered by the inhabitants in Kowloon City as a result of the ultra vires action of the Hong Kong Government, and ascertain who fired and who lagued the order to fire in Kowloon City on 12th January, and punish them.
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It is requested that the above be transmitted to the British Government without delay and a reply returned.
(STARK D) HIMISTRY OF PORBI :: AFFAIRS.
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