| PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
mimim PERFEC.O. 882
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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BOUNDARY Line.
The boundary line indicated on the map attached to the Convention (Map I.) is the shortest line from sea to sea that could be found, measuring on the map only eleven (11) miles. Following the river from Deep Bay to Sham Chun and the road from the latter place to Starling Inlet, the actual distance is about thirteen (13) miles.
This boundary line is open to great objection. It cuts in two the rich valley of which Sham Chun is the centre, and, while excluding that, town, divides the villages in the valley hitherto linked together by family ties and common interests, and at present separated, so far as the river extends, by about 100 feet of a tidal river, and onwards from Sham Chun to Starling Inlet by no boundary whatever. All these villages regard Sham Chun as their central and most important market, where they dispose of their goods and make their purchases, and much difficulty and friction would be certain to arise if the villages on one side of the stream or road come under British jurisdiction whilst those on the other remain under Chinese rule.
Another important reason why Shan Chun should not be excluded from the area to be leased is that it is the seat of the Head Council of the local as opposed to the Imperial Government, represented by the district magistrate, who resides at Namt'au. This Head Council controls all the village and other tribunals throughout the Tung Ed-or Eastern Division of the San On district, which is that portion of the district included in the Convention, and exercises great influence in every village.
Again, it must be remembered that the chief industry of the villages in the valleys is the cultivation of rice, for which an ample and constant supply of water is necessary. If the boundary line indicated on the Convention map be followed, endless disputes as to water rights between villages under British and Chinese jurisdiction are certain to ensue; dissatisfaction will be created; and the task of government will be rendered more difficult.
The proposed boundary would also render smuggling an easy matter, which, in view of the pledge given to China, ought to be avoided.
The disadvantages of having a Chinese town just outside British territory have been experienced in the case of Kowloon, which for years has been a source of never- ceasing trouble and constant friction between the Governments of Hong Kong and China. History will certainly repeat itself if Sham Chun be allowed to remain in Chinese territory.
In the opinion of all those acquainted with the country, whether belonging to the naval, military, or civil services, it is essential, in the interests of good government, and in order to maintain friendly relations with China, that the town of Sham Chun should be included in the lease.
From the terms of the Convention it appears that the waters of Mirs Bay and Deep Bay are to be included in the lease. Nothing, however, is said regarding the territory forming the western portion of Deep Bay and the northern and eastern parts of Mirs Bay. Both Commander Horsey and Lieutenant Rundall, R.E., whom I consulted on this point, agree that in order to have undisputed rights over those waters and for pur- poses of naval and military defence, it will be necessary to have control over all the land which surrounds these bays and from which they could be commanded by any unfriendly Power who might be at enmity with Great Britain.
In order, therefore, to secure a boundary which will be satisfactory on civil, mili- tary, and naval grounds, it will be necessary to depart from the line shown on the Con- vention map (I.), which, however, only indicates, generally, subject to future delimita- tion, the area Icased.
The boundary between two countries, which leads to least friction, is either a broad and deep river or the ridges of hills forming the watersheds of different valleys. In the San On district there is no broad river such as would form a suitable boundary. But there are ridges of hills which could be utilised for that purpose.
The first ridge is that which divides the district of San On from those of Kwai Shin and Tung Kun, and if it could be arranged to lease the whole of the San On district a political and geographical division well known to the Chinese that would undoubtedly be the best solution of the boundary question. But if it is not deemed advisable to lease such a large extent of territory, I recommend that the line sketched on Map X. be adopted, a recommendation which has the strong support of Mr. Ormsby, Commander De Horsey, and Lieutenant Rundall, R.E., all of whom have personally inspected the country.
This proposed line, which includes the important town of Sham Chun and the land to the north and cast of Mirs Bay and to the west of Deep Bay, forms a good, natural
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boundary, running along the crest of the hills, is easy of defence, and would help to check smuggling. It renders unnecessary the separation of villages hitherto united, removes all danger of disputes about water rights, and obviates any interference with the present system of local self-government, on the support of which the success of British administration in the new territory must to a great extent depend.
It should also be noted that, according to the map attached to the Convention, 113° 52′ E. longitude is the western boundary of the new territory. This places the south-west part of the island of Lantao outside the area to be leased. To obviate such an untenable position, 113° 50′ E. longitude should be taken as the limit of the western boundary.
PREVENTION OF SMUGGLING.
The question of smuggling from Hong Kong is one which has given more trouble than almost any other ever since the foundation of the colony. Steps have been taken again and again to prevent smuggling, and to aid China in the collection of its revenue, and all the return the Government of Hong Kong has received from the Chinese for these attempts to assist them has been the establishment of Customs barriers at the entrances to the harbour of Hong Kong (see Map XI.), and a watchful patrol of the waters adjacent to the colony by cruisers and launches of the Chinese Imperial Maritime Customs, ever ready to overhaul the native shipping going to and from Hong Kong. Those who treat the question of smuggling from the Chinese point of view seem to forget what has been done in the past by Hong Kong on behalf of China. They are fond of describing the colony as a centre of smuggling, and drawing very exaggerated pictures of the smuggling operations carried on from there. The accounts of such persons should be largely discounted.
The whole difficulty lies in the geographical position of the Colony of Hong Kong, which is so situated that smuggling into China may be checked but can never be alto- gether prevented. It is obvious that the extension of the colony will not decrease the facilities for smuggling, especially if a mere stream instead of a well-defined range of hills is selected as a boundary.
Opium has always been the chief article smuggled. To prevent the smuggling of it special legislation has been introduced by the Government of Hong Kong, which has resulted in a considerable decrease of its revenue, whilst China still maintains around. Hong Kong a fleet of cruisers and launches.
If it is considered desirable, in view of the pledge given by Great Britain to China to prevent, so far as possible, smuggling, to still further control the export of opium from Hong Kong, I am of opinion that this can be best effected by a bonding system.
All opium, on its arrival at Hong Kong from India, should be bonded, and no opium should be allowed to be removed from bond except under proper guarantees as to its destination, or shipped, without the harbour master being furnished with a copy of the bill of lading.
The Customs of China should be supplied with regular returns of all shipments. The Opium Farmer of Hong Kong should be made to account clearly for every chest of raw opium supplied to him, and should not be allowed to handle more raw opium than is necessary to meet the opium-smoking requirements of Hong Kong and of the new territory, and the demands of the prepared opium export trade to Australia, America, and elsewhere.
These precautionary measures are sure to decrease the revenue of Hong Kong. If they are adopted, the Government of China should not hesitate either to lease the whole of the San On district or to adopt that boundary line which is the best in the interests of all parties concerned.
KOWLOON CITY.
The city of Kowloon is called in Chinese Kau Lung Sking. The term Shing is the ordinary one used for a city by the Chinese. It originally seems to have signified a rampart surrounding a space; but it is now always applied to a city surrounded by a wall or rampart, as all Chinese cities are. The Convention refers to the retention of Jurisdiction within the city of Kowloon," thus clearly showing that the walled city is
meant:
Kowloon is situated about a quarter of a mile from the sea shore. It is enclosed by a stone wall built in 1847, forming as nearly as possible a parallelogram, measuring 700 feet by 400 feet, and enclosing an area of 64 acres. The wall is built of granite ashlar facing, is 15 feet in width at the top, and averages in height 13 feet. The wall has six watch towers, at present occupied as family dwellings, and two gateways, with doors made of wood and lined with iron sheeting. The parapet wall is built of granite, and
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