26
CHINA
In the late Ching dynasty, one civil official, the sub-magistrate, and a colonel and his subordinate military officers were stationed in Kowloon City. When the Hong Kong Government took over the newly-leased territory outside of Kowloon City, these officials were made to withdraw by force. Since the establishment of the republic, no officials have been stationed in the city.
But the withdrawal of the officials in the Ching dynasty, and the non-appoint- ment of officials during the republic, do not alter the meaning of the treaty then concluded, nor do they cancel the rights provided by the treaty. As Kowloon City is to be controlled by Chinese officials, then Chinese residents inside the city should have free residential rights. The Hong Kong Government's orders for all the residents in the city to move out therefore are not all in conformity with the text of the treaty or with the spirit prevailing at the conclusion of the treaty.
Coming to actual facts, I personally investigated conditions in Kowloon City. There are 64 houses (including wooden structures) with 436 inhabitants. These people are generally farmers, hawkers, masons and coolies and their activities are confined to the markets in the vicinity of Kowloon City. If they move to Kau Shut Ling, the district is very distant from the markets and the livelihood of these people will be greatly affected.
Besides, all the residents in Kowloon City are poor people without any savings. The present orders require them to move to Kau Shut Ling, where houses are to be constructed at the cost of not less than $500. The District Officer for the Southern District, however, only grants to the residents compensation ranging from a few tens of dollars to $200. Though these residents are nominally given land and asked to move their residences, they have actually no means with which to build houses. The result will be that these people will be rendered workless and homeless.
As relations between China and Great Britain have all along been cordial, it does not seem that the construction of a public park of a small scale should cause disputes over treaties and create misery for hundreds of people. Should the Hong Kong Government intend to introduce measures for the promotion of sanitation and peace in Kowloon City, the Chinese Government will certainly be ready to take up discussions most heartily.
I have, therefore, the honour to write you as above and to request you to transmit our request to the Hong Kong Government to cancel the decision requiring the removal of the Kowloon City residents for the promotion of cordial relations. I have the honour to request the favour of a reply.
I have, &c.
KAN CHIEH-HOU, Inspector-General for Foreign Affairs for Five Provinces.
F 6074/2398/10/1933
Chinese Ministry for Foreign Affairs to His Majesty's Minister, Peking.
Sir,
(Received 31st July, 1933)
I have the honour to inform your Excellency of the receipt of the following
27th July, 1933 report from Mr. Kan Chieh-hou, this Ministry's Special Inspector for Foreign Affairs:
I am in receipt of a verbal report by representatives of persons resident within the city of Kowloon to the effect that the persons in question had for many years been living peacefully in Kowloon city as their ancestral home; that the lease of Kowloon by China to Great Britain in the time of Kuang Hsü of the late Manchu Dynasty was from the first confined to the districts outside the city, while those within the city remained under Chinese administration; that the people had continued to live undisturbed and content with their lot as before; that recently, however, the New Territories District Office (Southern District) of the Hong Kong Government had suddenly decided to construct a public park and issued an order whereby residents of Kowloon City were to register with the District Office before September and receive new land on the Kau Sut Ling with a view to removal. I have been requested to enter upon negotiations in accordance with justice and have the honour to request the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to give the matter their consideration and take appropriate action.'