24
(Translation) (Secret)
CHINA
The Tsung-li Yamen to Sir C. MacDonald
(7464) No. 118. Enclosure 1
Sir,
Peking, 24th December, 1899.
On the 14th instant, when your Excellency came to the Yamen, we laid before you our views with regard to the city of Kowloon. Shamchun, we said, had already been restored to China, but the conduct of affairs within the city of Kowloon should, in accordance with the provisions of the Convention, be administered by Chinese officials.
Your Excellency was good enough to consent to transmit our arguments to your Government.
We desire, however, to again place the matter carefully before your Excellency.
The position as regards the city of Kowloon is, without doubt, analogous to that of the city of Kinchow, situate within the leased area at Port Arthur. If the city of Kowloon be not administered by Chinese officials, it is to be feared that Russia will, in consequence, conceive designs, which will certainly be greatly to the detriment of China.
China and England are friends of long standing, and we are of opinion that the British Foreign Office would be unwilling that another nation should have a pretext on account of this Kowloon affair.
Should there be fear that there will be any prejudice to the military require- ments of Hong Kong, we would be most willing to discuss and arrange in the fullest manner such measures as would be deemed advisable, and it would be incumbent on China to order their careful observance.
In sending your Excellency this special secret letter, we beg you to transmit these arguments in full detail, and without loss of time, by telegraph to the Foreign Office of your honourable nation. We beg to express our fervent hope that, in consideration for the welfare of China, her officials will be permitted to exercise jurisdiction within the city of Kowloon in conformity with the Convention.
We beg the favour of a reply.
(Cards of Prince and Ministers of the Yamen.)
Sir C. MacDonald to the Tsung-li Yamen
(7464) No. 118. Enclosure 2 MM. les Ministres,
Peking, 2nd January, 1900.
I have the honour to reply to your Highness's and your Excellencies' secret note of 24th December, requesting me to telegraph to the Foreign Office with regard to the city of Kowloon.
I find that on 6th November Mr. Bax-Ironside addressed a note to the Yamen communicating a telegram from the Foreign Office on this subject, which contained the following passage :-
On 30th May last the Marquess of Salisbury addressed a note to the Chinese Minister in London, stating the reasons why Her Majesty's Govern- ment cannot allow the resumption by Chinese authorities of jurisdiction in Kowloon City, and Her Majesty's Government adhere to the decision therein contained."
As your Highness and your Excellencies may not have seen the note to the Chinese Minister above referred to, I have the honour to enclose a translation for your perusal. The note contains a detailed account of the circumstances in connexion with the taking over of the Hong Kong Extension. I will, however, add some particulars of the representations made to the Tsung-li Yamen by this legation
On 4th April Her Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires sent a red letter to the Yamen requesting that a telegram might be sent to the Canton Viceroy to prevent the Chinese of the district from making any disturbance or offering obstruction to the taking over of the leased territory. On 12th April a despatch was sent to the Yamen, on the 13th Mr. Bax-Ironside called himself at the Yamen, and on the 16th sent the Chinese Secretary to the Yamen on the same business.
On 20th and 29th April Mr. Bax-Ironside went to the Yamen to ask that the Chinese troops be withdrawn, and on 1st May he sent a despatch on the subject.