PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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similar protection to parties surveying roads that we proposed to make for the benefit of the people. He said, "I will send a telegram to the San-On Magistrate to do what you ask. I said, "I must demand something more definite from Your Excellency; as for the San-On Magistrate, I can expect no help from him. I am informed by Mr. Stewart Lockhart, our Commissioner for delimitation, that he has been only a hin- drance, and thrown difficulties in the way of the delimitation on every occasion. I must beg that Your Excellency will yourself give the necessary orders, and I must also beg that I be informed that they have been obeyed by Tuesday next, otherwise I will pro- coed to hoist the British flag, and take over the territory on Wednesday. At present I do not propose to do so until the 17th instant, when the matsheds will be ready for occupation."
His Excellency, having consulted with several mandarins at the table, said he did not think that all the men could be there before Wednesday. I said that I would not in that case make any move before Thursday, but while I knew how anxious His Excellency was to do everything in his power, I was aware that in China, orders are not always carried out with necessary promptitude. I would therefore impress upon His Excellency the necessity of my being informed on Wednesday that they had been carried out to prevent my acting on Thursday. I would also request that the San-On Magistrate be ordered to personally visit the villages accompanied by other officials, and issue a proclamation by order of His Excellency, warning the people against disturbance or interference with any working parties or surveyors. This His Excellency promised to do. I said I had a more pleasing duty to perform in assuring His Excellency that the Government of Hong Kong had determined to bring in an ordinance, the effect of which, I hoped, would render opium smuggling into China almost impossible, and also that I had issued a proclamation under the provisions of which I had prevented the export of arms to China. His Excellency expressed much pleasure at this information.
The interview which had lasted over two and a half hours then ended. His Ex- cellency apologised for being unable to return my visit, as I informed him that I was returning to Hong Kong forthwith, and he informed me that he was obliged to prepare to go to the temple to continue his prayers for rain. During the interview the Audience Hall was crowded, the place being apparently open to all comers. Immediately after my return to the Consulate, two mandarins arrived bearing the Viceroy's cards. They informed me that urgent telegrams had already been sent in accordance with my re quest. I left Canton at 4.45 p.m., and arrived at Hong Kong at 10 p.m.
I have, &c.,
11402.
No. 141.
HENRY A. BLAKE.
Governor, &c.
GOVERNOR SIR H. A. BLAKE to MR. CHAMBERLAIN.
(Received May 8, 1899.)
[Answered by No. 169.]
(No. 88.) SIR,
Government House, Hong Kong, April 7, 1899. Ar midnight on the 3rd instant I received a memorandum from Mr. May, the Captain Superintendent of Police, who had gone to Tai-po-hui, on Mirs Bay, to relieve two police constables whom he had left in charge of the matshed being built there for the accommodation of police and officials pending the erection of permanent buildings, saying that an attack had been made upon him by the inhabitants; that he would hold the matshed until morning, but that he required assistance. I may explain that matsheds are houses constructed of bamboo, the sides and roof being covered with palm leaves.
2. He was accompanied by five Chinese "braves," sent with him in accordance with the promise made by the Viceroy to me that protection would be afforded by the Chinese authorities to all such buildings and working parties, and had gone to remove the police, as I disapproved of placing our police in an equivocal position, lest there should be any conflict before the taking over of the extended territory.
3. I arranged with the Major-General Commanding and the Commodore to send
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a relieving force of 100 men as soon as steam could be got on a torpedo destroyer. They were accompanied by the Colonial Secretary, to whom I gave the instructions enclosed, and whose report I annex. I enclose also the report furnished by Major-General Gascoigne, C.M.G., who himself accompanied the troops, and Mr. May, Captain Superintendent of Police.
4. I have considered in Executive Council the question whether it would be advis- able, in consequence of the threatening attitude of the people, to hoist our flag at once, and the majority of the members agree with me that it is better to wait until the 17th. Mr. Stewart Lockhart, whose knowledge of the people is great, and who has means of obtaining special information, is of opinion that this attack is part of a general move- ment against our occupation on the part of the literati who have hitherto lived by irregular squeezes from the people and of the gamblers and bad characters banished from Hong Kong, and I am disposed to agree with him. But the heaviest punishment that we could inflict, even if we could define the offence of which the people have beer guilty, remembering that we have so far no legal standing, would not equal the expense and discomfort of having to support the Chinese soldiers sent into the district to-day by the Viceroy, in fulfilment of his undertaking. The probable result will be to welcome our appearance on the 17th instant with the disappearance of the Chinese troops. I know so little of the Chinese character and the possible action of their secret societies that I find it difficult to judge of the probability of further disturbance, but the readiness with which the villages answered the signals to assemble render a reconsideration of the police distribution necessary, as for the present it will be expedient to have fewer stations, of parties so large that they will be able to repel any attack. It will also be advisable to have for a time a military detachment in the district, which can be arranged as the regiments can do their military training by companies there, and before the season is over we shall be in a better position to judge of the requirements of the extended territory.
I have, &c.,
HON. COLONIAL SECRETARY,
Enclosure 1 in No. 14).
HENRY A. BLAKE,
Governor, &c.
Midnight, April 3, 1899.
THE interpreter who was with Mr. May has returned with a note, saying that he and his party of Sikhs and Chinese were attacked by the villagers of Tai Po Hu, and that he has retired to the matshed at Tai Po Hu, which he will hold until morning. I have requested the General to send a force of 200 men and the Commodore to have steam on two torpedo boats as soon as possible.
You will accompany the party, and take immediate civil charge of the expedition. So far as I can gather from the interpreter who brought the note, there has been no actual attack, only a riot. About 40 or 50 men assembled with stones, and threatened Mr. May and his party. I desire to avoid any hostilities except as a defensive measure, or so far as may be necessary to relieve Mr. May, should you find him attacked. He has sent for the San On Magistrate. You should communicate with the Kowloon authority, and request him to send 200 men forthwith and protect the matshed. You will, so soon as an answer has been received, withdraw Mr. May's party, leaving the responsibility of protecting the matshed to the Chinese. I do not desire to assume any responsibility in the matter until I have taken over the territory.
HENRY A. BLAKE.
You can explain the position to the villagers, and warn them of the danger of their proceedings.
Enclosure 2 in No. 141.
In pursuance of the instructions from Your Excellency, a copy of which is attached, I started about 2.35 a.m., on the 4th instant, from Government House, and proceeded with Mr. Tsoi on board a police pinnace to Kowloon City, which was reached about 3.30 a.m.
The Colonel-in-Command there was at once aroused from his slumbers, and ins formed by me of the situation at Tai Po Hu. At my request be promised to telegraph to the Viceroy at Canton and to send special messengers to the San On Magistrate and