PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TILUC.O. 882
5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
(Translation.)
76
Tsung-LI YAMEN to Sir C. MACDONALD.
Peking, September 10, 1898. On the 4th September the Yamên received the following communication from the Viceroy of Canton:-
"I am in receipt of the Yamên's despatch, stating the agreement come to in connec- tion with the British proposals for an extension, under lease, of the Colony of Hong Kong, and enclosing a copy of the map appended to the original Memorial to the Throne.
"I observed that the British Minister, Sir C. MacDonald, says that the extension is for the defence and protection of Hong Kong. Hong Kong lies very near to the pro- vince of Kwangtung, and alarm in this Colony would mean uneasiness in the province. China has therefore no objection to offer against anything that makes for the defence and protection of Hong Kong, and cannot but assist any means of the sort strenuously. The important questions involved in this matter referring to the non-removal of officials and offices, the retention of jetties, the planning beforehand of railways, the free movement of war vessels, and the non-confiscation of property, has all been arranged by the Yamên, and need not be discussed again; but after close consideration four other points occur
to me. 1. The Yamên's Memorial to the throne speaks of 'tsu chang' (conditions of
lease), and 'tsu chich' (the Chinese usually employed for concession' or 'settlement"). In the foreign text the extension should therefore be called a settlement.'
"2. As official Yamêns are not to be removed, the custom-houses should also remain as before. This will accord with the promise in the original agreement to lend every assis tance in customs matters. If the five custom-houses must all be removed beyond the limits of the extension, the Commissioner of Customs says that there will be a great extent of sea without a commanding station, entailing heavy expenses in surveillance by revenue-cruisers. Further smuggling will be facilitated, and the yearly loss to the revenue will amount to a million and some hundreds of thousands of taels. The sole concern of the custom-house in the settlement being the collection of duty British interests will not be prejudicially affected. Moreover, as the Commissioner will con- stantly employ steamers and cruisers, the protection and defence of Hong Kong will be all the more fully provided for.
"3. Land in the new settlement belonging to Chinese subjects should pay the usual land tax to the Chinese authorities. If this is all levied by Great Britain, then a rent must be calculated, the amount of which need not be considered now.
4. There is a great extent of sea included in the new settlement. Setting aside the territorial waters of Hong Kong, which, being British territory, Chinese Government vessels must not enter to seize criminals, the search for and arrest of such in the new settlement should be undertaken by the two Governments conjointly. This is the mean- ing of the provision agreed upon by the Yamên, that the waters of Mirs Bay and Deep Bay shall be free to Chinese vessels of war, whether neutral or otherwise."
A copy of the despatch which was addressed to the British Consul on the above subject on the 15th July is enclosed, and I have the honour to request the Yamên to examine it, and come to an agreement with Sir Claude MacDonald, who should be asked to inform the Foreign Office by telegraph of the terms of the arrangement, and to press for the immediate appointment of a delimitation Commissioner."
The Yamên see no objection to the Viceroy's proposals, and have therefore the honour to communicate them to Sir C. MacDonald that he may act accordingly. The favour of a reply is requested.
A copy of the Viceroy's despatch to the Consul is enclosed.
The VICEROY of Canton to Consul MANSFIELD, dated Kuang Hsü, 24th
27th day (July 15, 1898.) (See sub-enclosure in No. 17.)
REGULATIONS.
(See sub-enclosure in No. 17.)
year,
5th moon,
77
Sir C. MACDONALD to TSUNG-li YamÊN.
Peking, September 20, 1898. On the 10th instant I received the Yamên's despatch on the subject of the extension of Hong Kong, quoting a despatch of the Governor-General of Canton, and enclosing Regulations for the loan of the district in question.
I have the honour to observe that on the 9th June last, an Agreement for the ex- tension of the territory of the Colony of Hong Kong was entered into by our respective Governments, in which all relevant matters were included in clear detail.
It is, therefore, out of the question that the Governor-General of Canton should be permitted to draw up Regulations for the loan of his district. His action is quite uncalled for, and his Regulations are unworthy of consideration.
With regard to the definition of the boundary, the Colonial Secretary, Mr. Stewart Lockhart, has already inspected the district, and has returned to England to present his report. When Her Majesty's Government deputes an officer to define the boundary, the Chinese Government will be requested to send an official to co-operate with him.
CLAUDE M. MACDONALD.
20619.
SIB,
No. 46.
FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received November 26, 1898.)
Foreign Office, November 25, 1898.
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to transmit to you, to London be laid before the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the accompanying printed copy of Chamber a letter, as marked in the margin, relating to the extension of the boundaries of Hong of Com- Kong.
Enclosure in No. 46.
meros, November
I am, &c.,
11, 1898.
FRANCIS BERTIE,
LONDON CHAMBER of Commerce to the MARQUESS OF SALISBURY. (Received November 12.)
MY LORD,
Botolph House, Eastcheap, London, November 11, 1898. I AM directed to inform you that the East India and China Trade Section of this Chamber had under its consideration at its last meeting a communication from the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce, dealing at length with the terms of the Anglo- Chinese Convention to secure an extension of the boundaries of Hong Kong, signed at Peking on the 9th June last, and which have been made public, and regarding which the Hong Kong Chamber have, I understand, made representations to Her Majesty's Government.
The Hong Kong Chamber take strong objection to the clause of the Convention which provides that within the city of Kowlon the Chinese officials now stationed there ahall continue to exercise jurisdiction, and that the existing landing-place near that city shall be reserved for the convenience of Chinese vessels.
This is regarded as tantamount to having a foreign authority exercising jurisdiction in British territory, and to the establishment of a Chinese port within Hong Kong Harbour for the use of Chinese war-vessels and customs cruisers, a position absolutely without parallel.
To the conditions laid down in the Convention, the East India and China Trade Section are informed, there is universal objection in the Colony of Hong Kong, where the opinion obtains that these conditions will effectually hamper the development of trade and industry, which might otherwise have been confidently expected.
The Hong Kong Chamber are further profoundly convinced that the freedom of the port can only be properly safeguarded by the withdrawal of the Chinese Customs stations to Chinese territory, and the refusal of permission to the Chinese Customs officials to collect duties either in the Colony or its waters.