9
16106.
No. 12.
HONG KONG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE to FOREIGN OFFICE.
(Received in Colonial Office, July 19, 1898.) TELEGRAM.
(Dated 9.57 a.m. Received 11.30 p.m., July 16, 1898.)
HONG KONG Chamber of Commerce strenuously urges Government insist abso- lute freedom from Chinese customs and jurisdiction whole Kowloon extension territory, including city. Anything less renders situation most unsatisfactory, leading to endless complications. 16949.
No. 13.
ACTING-GOVERNOR BLACK to MR. CHAMBERLAIN.
(Received 11.5 a.m., July 28, 1898.) TELEGRAM.
Just received from British Minister at Peking Hart's proposed arrangement for Chinese Imperial Customs in connection with additional territory; has been sent to Foreign Minister; am sending same thing by next mail; await arrival of despatch before taking action.
17706.
18334.
(No. 191.)
No. 15.
ACTING-GOVERNOR BLACK to MR. CHAMBERLAIN (Received August 16, 1898.)
EXTRACT.
Government House, Hong Kong, July 18, 1898. THEBE is considerable disappointment expressed here on the reservation of Chinese rights over the City of Kowloon, which will probably be increased when the concessions made to the Imperial Maritime Customs become known.
As some of the Societies who interest themselves in public affairs and freely give advice thereon have gathered from the "Times" telegram above referred to that the reservation of Chinese rights over the City of Kowloon give more power to Chinese officials than is the case, I thought it well to let them know the exact terms of the Convention on this head, viz. :—
"That within the City of Kowloon the Chinese officials now stationed there shall continue to exercise jurisdiction except so far as may be inconsistent with the 'military requirements' for the defence of Hong Kong."
This will prevent them from wasting protests against what is not intended.
18729.
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
61
Reference :--
C.O. 882
5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
No. 14.
CONVENTION FOR THE EXTENSION OF HONG KONG. (Received in Colonial Office, August 6, 1898.)
WHEREAS it has for many years past been recognized that an extension of Hong Kong territory is necessary for the proper defence and protection of the Colony, it has now been agreed between the Governments of Great Britain and China that the limits of British territory shall be enlarged, under lease, to the extent indicated generally on the annexed map.
The exact boundaries shall be hereafter fixed when proper surveys have been made by officials appointed by the two Governments. The term of this lease shall be ninety-nine years.
It is at the same time agreed that within the city of Kowloon the Chinese officials now stationed there shall continue to exercise jurisdiction except so far as may be in- consistent with the military requirements for the defence of Hong Kong. Within the remainder of the newly leased territory Great Britain shall have sole jurisdiction.
Chinese officials and people shall be allowed as heretofore to use the road from Kowloon to Hsin-an.
It is further agreed that the existing landing-place near Kowloon city shall be reserved for the convenience of Chinese men-of-war, merchant and passenger vessels, which may come and go and lie there at their pleasure, and for the convenience of movement of the officials and people within the city.
When hereafter China constructs a railway to the boundary of the Kowloon terri- tory under British control, arrangements shall be discussed.
It is further understood that there will be no expropriation or expulsion of the inhabitants of the district included within the extension, and that if land is required for public offices, fortifications, or the like official purposes, it shall be bought at a fair price.
If cases of extradition of criminals occur they shall be dealt with in accordance with the existing Treaties between Great Britain and China and the Hong Kong Regulations. The area leased to Great Britain, as shown on the annexed map, includes the waters of Mirs Bay and Deep Bay, but it is agreed that Chinese vessels of war, whether neutral or otherwise, shall retain the right to use those waters.
This Convention shall come into force on the 1st day of July, 1898, being the 13th day of the 5th. moon of the 24th year of Kuang Hst. It shall be ratified by the Sovereigns of the two countries, and the ratifications shall be exchanged in London as soon as possible.
In witness whereof, &c.
Not reproduced.
(No. 198.)
SIB,
No. 16.
ACTING-GOVERNOR BLACK to MR. CHAMBERLAIN.
(Received August 19, 1898.)
Government House, Hong Kong, July 19, 1898.
I HAVE the honour to forward for transmission to the Marquess of Salisbury copy
of a letter of current date from the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, dealing with certain portions of the recent Convention, dated 9th June last, between Great Britain and China, and published in the "Times" of 10th June.
Owing to the hour at which the letter was received, I am unable to do more than forward it and reserve my comments for the mail which leaves on the 23rd instant.
I have, &c.,
W. BLACK,
Enclosure in No. 16.
Major-General, Administering the Government,
Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce, July 19, 1898.
My LORD MARquess,
I HAD the honour to address your Lordship on the 5th and 11th May last on the necessity of the extension of the territorial limits of this Colony, and my Committee have since learned, with no little relief, that the efforts of Her Majesty's Minister at Pekin in this behalf have been so far successful that a Convention was signed on the 9th June, under which the territory in question has been leased to Great Britain for a period of ninety-nine years. While, however, gladly expressing their appreciation of the energy displayed in the interests of the Colony, my Committee nevertheless feel compelled to take strong exception to one stipulation in the Convention as published-to the effect that within the native city of Kowloon the Chinese officials now stationed there shall continue to exercise jurisdiction-and they beg respectfully to indicate soune of the offerts to be apprehended therefrom, if it be adhered to.
As your Lordship is well aware, the city of Kowloon is situated close to the existing boundaries of British Kowloon, and is virtually a port within the limits of the harbour of Hong Kong.
The city, though small and commercially insignificant, has from the very foundation of this Colony been a moral danger, owing to its having afforded an asylum to defaulters,
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gamblers, and criminals of all kinds, while its insanitary condition constitutes it a menace to the physical health of Hong Kong.
A further consideration, and one of no little importance, is the fact that if the city with its water frontage be allowed to remain in the hands of native officials, Chinese vessels could presumably claim the right to lie off its foreshore, and would thus afford a pretext for the Chinese revenue cruisers to exercise their powers within the limits of Hong Kong harbour.
It is therefore, as your Lordship will perceive, not without cause that the public of this Colony view with something like consternation the insertion of a provision in the Convention that can hardly fail to give rise to continual and vexations complications. The retention of Chinese jurisdiction over the present seat of government of the leased territory, moreover, could not fail to exercise a malign influence on the minds of the natives, and would assuredly have a damaging effect on British prestige in South China.
Although my Committee have not, so far, been favoured with a perusal of the full text of the Convention, they have reason to fear that concessions may have been promised to the Imperial Maritime Customs, who at present, by means of their stations and cruisers, maintain a species of blockade of the junk trade of the port, which trade has been practically unprogressive since the establishment of their office in the City of Victoris some twelve years ago. There is, in the Committee's opinion, a well founded impression that the natural growth of the native distributing trade of the Colony is restricted by the action of the Customs, and they had hoped that, with the extension of the Colony's frontiers, the Customs station and their central office would have been relegated to the Chinese border, and thus leave Hong Kong in fact, as in name, a free port of trade.
Being persuaded that the question was one of urgent and pressing importance, my Committee deemed it advisable to despatch the following telegram to your Lordship on the 16th instant :-
GE
Marquess Salisbury, London. Hong Kong Chamber Commerce strenuously urges Government insist absolute freedom from Chinese Customs and jurisdiction whole Kowloon extension territory including city. Anything less renders situation most unsatisfactory, leading to endless complications.
"GRAT, Chairman."
In conclusion, my Committee venture to regret that, in a matter so nearly affecting the interests of this Colony, no opportunity has been hitherto afforded to the residents of learning the provisions of the Convention or of expressing an opinion thereon.
To the Most Noble the Marquess of Salisbury, K.G., Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
I have, &c.,
R. M. GRAY,
Chairman.
(No. 61.)
SIR,
11
Enclosure in No. 17.
Her Britannic Majesty's Consulate,
Canton, July 18, 1898.
I HAVE the honour to enclose translation and copy of a despatch from the Viceroy of the Two Kuang, and, in accordance with the request contained therein, I have also the honour to enclose for the information of the Officer Administering the Government translation and copy of the Regulations affecting the new extension of territory at Kowloon.
**
I am sending copy of the despatch and its enclosure to Her Majesty's Minister.
I have, &c..
The Acting Colonial Secretary, Hong Kong.
Viceroy T'AN to Mr. MANSFIELD.
R. W. MANSFIELD,
Consul.
SIB,
Kuang Hsu, 24 y. 5 m. 27 d., July 15, 1898. SOME days ago I had the honour to receive your despatch with regard to the settlement at Hong Kong, in which you asked me to depute an officer to discuss matters with you.
I have accordingly, as a first measure, drawn up Regulations in eleven clauses on the lines of the despatch received from the Tsungli Yamen, and I have entrusted the manage. ment of this matter to my Foreign Deputy, Wang Ts'un-shan, a Taotai en disponibilité for Kuangtung.
I have, therefore, the honour to request you to transmit the Regulations to His Excellency the Governor of Hong Kong,
If, after perusal thereof, he finds he can arrange matters in accordance with these Regulations, I will, at an early date, despatch an Official to Hong Kong to determine the boundaries.
Enclosed is a copy of the Regulations.
I have, &c.,
(Seal of Viceroy).
(Translator).
G. D. PITZIPIOS,
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference:→→→
ILLIC.O. 882
5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
18928.
(No. 209.)
No. 17.
ACTING-GOVERNOR BLACK to MR. CHAMBERLAIN. (Received August 22, 1898.)
Government House, Hong Kong, July 22, 1898.
SIB,
I HAVE the honour to transmit for your consideration, copy of a letter and its enclosures, received from Her Britannic Majesty's Consul at Canton, and to invite particular attention to Clause 10 of the second enclosure, which relates to a question not touched on in the Convention.
These papers will be shown to Mr. Lockhart on his arrival.
I have, &c.,
W. BLACK,
Major-General, Administering the Government.
REGULATIONS WITH REGARD TO THE NEW SETTLEMENT AT HONG KONG.
Regulations.
1. The boundaries, as shown in the map, are upon the authority of the Taungli Yamen's original map, and in delimiting the boundaries according to this map, there will be no need for discussion (as to its authority).
2. After the boundaries have been determined, boundary stones shall be erected, the Chinese incription on which shall read "Boundary of the New Settlement in extension of Hong Kong The English inoription shall read "Boundary of the Settlement," and the expression" Boundary of the Colony" must not be used.
3. The officials of the City of Kowloon shall, as heretofore, exercise their several functions within the City, but they must not place any impediments in the way of military works connected with the defences of Hong Kong.
4. Chinese officials and people shall, as usual, make free use of the existing road between Kowloon and the Hsin An district without let or hindrance.
5. Chinese vessels of war, merchant ships, passage boats, and other craft of all kinds shall have free access to and liberty to anchor at the landing stages at Kowloon City, and the officials and people of the City shall make free use of the said landing stages.
6. Hereafter, when any railway line, constructed by China, approaches the boundary of the territory newly leased to England, each country shall depute officials to deliberate as to what action shall be taken.
7. The population resident in the new settlement shall continue in the undisturbed pursuit of their former occupations, and no pressure shall be brought to bear on them to make them remove. Their landed property shall not be confiscated to Government use,
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