91
27906.
No. 56.
MR. CHAMBERLAIN to GOVERNOR SIR H. A. BLAKE.
(Sent 3.20 p.m., December 23, 1898.)
TELEGRAM.
[Answered by No. 58.]
Lockhart returns by P. and O. leaving 29th December. It may be necessary to postpone occupation of new territory for a short time. See my despatch* of to-day.
27906.
27516.
SIR,
No. 60,
COLONIAL OFFICE to MB. W. M. GOODMAN.
Downing Street, January 3, 1899. I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to inform you that he has had under his consideration the memorandum which you have submitted to him respecting the application of the existing laws of Hong Kong to the new territory about to be annexed to that Colony.
2. I am to express to you Mr. Chamberlain's best thanks for this memorandum, which has been of great use to him in dealing with this important question, and to inform you that a copy of it, together with the draft ordinance you have prepared, will be forwarded to the Governor of Hong Kong for his information and guidance.
I am, &c.,
No. 57.
C. P. LUCAS.
MR. CHAMBERLAIN to GOVERNOR SIR J. WEST RIDGEWAY (CEYLON). (No. 380.) SIR,
Downing Street, December 23, 1898. I HAVE the honour to inform you that Mr. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, C.M.G., Colonial Secretary of Hongkong, will leave this country for that Colony by the S.S. 'Britannia," on the 29th instant.
2. Mr. Lockhart has lately been employed on a mission to the newly-acquired ter- ritory in the vicinity of Hongkong, with the object of reporting generally upon the capabilities of the country and the best means to be adopted for its future adminis- tration. One of the first steps to be taken will probably be the carrying out of sur- veys with a view to land settlement under an officer of practical experience assisted by native surveyors; and, as I am led to believe that such surveyors may be obtained in Ceylon, I shall be obliged if, when Mr. Lockhart touches at Colombo, you will be good enough to place him in communication with the Public Works Department, with a view to his explaining his wishes. Mr. Cooper, with his Hongkong experience, will no doubt facilitate what is required.
I have, &c.,
20079.
No. 58.
J. CHAMBERLAIN.
27516.
No. 61.
MR. CHAMBERLAIN to GoVERNOR SIR C. B. H. MITCHELL (STRAITS SETTLEMENTS.)
(Confidential.)
Downing Street, January 6, 1899.
SIR,
I HAVE the honour to inform you that arrangements are in progress for formally taking over at an early date the territory recently added, under a Convention between this country and China, to the Colony of Hong Kong, and that one of the first steps to be taken will be the appointment of a Land Commissioner, assisted by a staff of native surveyors, to carry out a preliminary survey of the country, with a view to deciding the question of titles to land.
2. It is probable that there may be no officer at present in Hong Kong who would be available for such a service, and who would have sufficient experience in land settle ment. If this is the case, it has been suggested that an officer from the Straits Settle- ments or Federated Malay States could be lent temporarily for the purpose to the Government of Hong Kong. I am therefore asking Sir H. Blake to consider the matter, and, if necessary, to communicate with you, and I shall be glad if you will be good enough to render him any assistance which may be required.
I have, &c.,
J. CHAMBERLAIN.
GOVERNOR SIR H. A. BLAKE to MR. CHAMBERLAIN. (Received 10.9 a.m., December 24, 1898.) TELEGRAM.
In reply to your telegram of yesterday, as I understand large quantity of land belonging to new territory has been purchased Chinese: delay in taking over will cause increase of price in land necessary for public purposes.
27516.
No. 62.
27906.
No. 59.
COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE.
SIR,
Downing Street, December 29, 1898. WITH reference to previous correspondence on the subject, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to transmit to you, for the information of the Marquess of Salisbury, a copy of a despatch* that he has addressed to the Governor of Hongkong on the subject of the newly-acquired territory in the vicinity of that Colony.
I am, &c.,
C. P. LUCAS.
SIR,
MR. CHAMBERLAIN to GOVERNOR SIR H. A. BLAKE. (Confidential.)
Downing Street, January 6, 1899.
WITH reference to my confidential despatch of the 23rd ultimo,† am now in a position to communicate to you the views of Her Majesty's Government as to the future administration of the territory which, under the Convention between the United King- dom and China of the 9th June last, has been added to the Colony of Hong Kong, and to convey to you their instructions as to the steps to be taken for its formal occupation in the name of Her Majesty the Queen.
2. I have in the first place to enclose an Order of Her Majesty in Council, dated the 20th October last, and declaring the territories within the limits and for the term described in the above Convention to be part and parcel of the Colony of Hong Kong. You will cause this Order in Council, which has not at present been made public, to be published in the Colony at as early a date as possible.
• No. 55.
† No. 56.
488
• No. 51.
† No. 55.
MI
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