mwimmin
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
168
one of the Viceroy's officers, in charge of the forces for the "preservation of order. One letter would appear to show that the Viceroy wished to warn the people, but the other contains the significant hint that Major Fong" will not in any way use force, but will freely allow all the villages to carry out their own settled plans."
22. During the entire proceedings I have been careful to treat the Viceroy and his authorities with the same scrupulous regard for international obligations as if China were a great European power. The result has shown an utter disregard of the re- sponsibility assumed by the Viceroy of Canton, and a serious loss of life, for it is idle to ignore the fact that the assailants have suffered serious losses in their four days' hope- less contest against disciplined forces. Nor can I look upon such needless loss of life with equanimity. The statements of Ng-Ki-Chung and Tang-Kok-Lam, and the letters found in the meeting house show that those people possess some of the qualities that make good subjects, and, foolish as their opposition may have been, with the exception of the murder of Cheung-Tsoi after the fight at Kam-Tin, their action dis- played no moral turpitude. With Her Majesty's Government rest the decision whether any, or what, notice shall be taken of violated promises involving grave loss of life, serious expense, and inevitable feelings of acerbity on the part of the people of the new territory, with whom it was my most earnest desire to establish relations of friendship and confidence from the moment of my assumption of the Government.
23. I attach the documents mentioned in the enclosed list, relating to the subject of this despatch.
24. I venture to hope that you will convey to the naval and military authorities my warm acknowledgments of the cordial co-operation of Major-General Gascoigne and Commodore Powell, but for whose instant and effective action matters might have been much more serious. Lieutenant-Colonel The O'Gorman, Deputy-Assistant Adjutant- General, Captain Long, Deputy-Assistant Adjutant-General. and Captain Berger have had arduous duties which have been cheerfully and readily performed, and Lieutenant Goodenough, R.N., Lieutenant Keyes, R.N., and Lieutenant Kelly, R.N., have performed the duties entrusted to them with conspicuous zeal. The active and judi- cious assistance of the "Fame" on the evening of the 15th, bore a large share in the repulse of the attacking Chinese.
I have, &c.,
HENRY A. BLAKE,
Governor, &c.
LIST.
Colonial Secretary's Minute
2 th April, 1899.
37
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16th April, 1899.
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16th April, 1899.
29
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17th April, 1899.
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17th April, 1899.
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17th April, 1899.
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11
18th April, 1899.
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18th April, 1899.
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18th April, 1899.
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37
11
18th April, 1899.
21
19
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19th April, 1899.
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19th April, 1899. 20th April, 1899. 20th April, 1899.
27
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21st April, 1899.
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17th to 20th April, 1899.
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Messages (6)
Minute
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..
23rd April, 1899.
24th April, 1899.
26th April, 1899. 24th April, 1899.
169
Enclosure 1 in No. 171.
YOUR EXCELLENCY,
Ping Shan, April 25, 1899. We are just about to start for Fan Ling, having been here since Wednesday, the 19th instant. The result of our stay here has been most satisfactory, as I am able to re- port that the inhabitants of the most important and of the most rowdy districts in the new territory are now peacefully pursuing their usual avocations. The districts to which I refer are the Castle Peak District, Ha Tsun District, Ping Shan District, Shap Pat Heung District with Un Long at its head, Kam Tin District, and Pat Heung District.
The people now, instead of murdering the bearer of our proclamations, are begging for copies.
Two sets of iron gates, belonging to the Kam Tin District, have been carried by the inhabitants of that district to Flag-Staff Hill. This has had an excellent effect. The walls of the villages at Kam Tin have not been pulled down; the entrances to two of the villages having iron gates only have been blown up; Lieutenant Barrett or Mr. May will be able to explain exactly what has been done.
Ng Ki-Cheung and Tang Lo-pan, two of the ringleaders in the recent movement, whose statements I forwarded to you yesterday, were allowed to return to their villages yesterday after having found security in $2,000 each to appear whenever called upon. I attach a translation of the Bond signed by them and their five securities. As I informed you yesterday, it is absolutely necessary that a rule should be passed giving me power to demand security.
I had to try one of the men of the Hong Kong Regiment for theft yesterday. I fined him ten dollars ($10), though the complainant wished to withdraw the charge, or rather ordered him to pay $10 compensation to his complainant. If I have not yet been gazetted a magistrate, this should be done at once. The decision in the above case has shown the people that we are anxious to treat them fairly and justly, and has created a good impression.
Whilst Ng Ki-Cheung was detained here, I requested Major Watson, R.A.M.C., to treat him for a bad eye. This attention to a man who was practically a prisoner has done a great deal of good. The Chinese say that if the man had been made prisoner by China, the attention paid to him would have been of a very different nature.
All the arms, &c., surrendered, amounting to 97 pieces, were forwarded to Taipo yesterday. That number made up as follows:-
40 Spears
23 Small Guns,
6 Large Guns,
28 Muskets.
97
It will not be possible to start the executive machinery of government until I have visited all the important parts of the territory in the same manner as these districts here. This will take some time. I am, of course, making enquiries at each place with a view to dividing the territory into districts, and consulting the elders on certain points. I will push on as quickly as I can, but there are many things to consider. I trust, how- ever, that we may have a somewhat easier time at other places than we have had here, and I have no doubt we shall, as the people are returning to their usual occupations. The members of the Police living here are fairly comfortably housed in the same house we have been occupying. They might continue on here, the owner of the house being paid a fair rent. He is quite willing to lend his house, but does not want rent. That is a matter that can be arranged later on, but I think rent should be paid. We have been careful to pay for all supplies, &c., obtained here.
J. H. STEWART Lockhart,
Colonial Secretary.
17th April, 1899.
Governor's Minute
Instructions...
21st April, 1899.
Colonial Secretary's Minute
24th April, 1899.
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11
TRANSLATION of Bond.
WE, Tang Chak Hing, Tang Tsing Wan, Tang Kwong Ho, Chan Ut Hin, and Tang Chan Un, hereby agree to act as sureties for Ng Ki Cheung, and undertake that he will return to his home and live as a law-abiding and peaceful subject, and that he
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