PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference:
C.O. 882
5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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with no resistance in the Fan Ling Valley. He blew open the gate of a walled village. Please ask Mrs. Tomes to explain to my wife why I cannot write this mail. I am afraid I cannot get a letter in for Saturday's mail.
Please tell Mrs. May that May is all right.
YOUR EXCELLENCY,
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART.
J. H. S. L.
Enclosure 12 in No. 171.
Ping Shan, April 19, 1899, 10.30 p.m. SINCE writing my first letter to you from here Colonel The O'Gorman has re- ceived a secret despatch from General Officer Commanding, in which he states:-" Tell Mr. Lockhart that His Excellency the Governor has agreed to leave the whole arrange- ment of matters entirely in the hands of the military."
I presume that Your Excellency has authorised the General Officer Commanding to have this instruction conveyed to me. If so, I request to be instructed as to what my position is to be. Hitherto Colonel The O'Gorman and I have co-operated, and the results have, I trust, been satisfactory. I am of opinion that there should be no change in the present arrangements which have resulted so satisfactorily. Of course if the military authorities require labour they can obtain it as they think best. This has been the course which has been followed hitherto. I leave Colonel The O'Gorman to state his opinion of the result of our co-operation hitherto.
Late this evening Major Watson, R.A.M.C., brought here a letter from the General Officer Commanding, declaring his intention to land two forces to-day. These are the troops of which we heard rumours this morning. The General Officer Com- manding talks of us moving to Kam Tin to-day. We did so yesterday. It is unfor- tunate the letter of the General Officer Commanding was delayed through the launch sent with it returning to Hong Kong instead of going direct to Taipo Hu. This caused a day's delay. Mr. May will return to Taipo Hu to-morrow, and I hope to Hong Kong. so as to give you full details of what has taken place since the flag was hoisted,
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART.
YOUR EXCELLENCY,
11 a.m.
Enclosure 13 in No. 171.
Ping Shan, April 20, 1899, 5.30 a.m. I HAVE just received your despatch of the 16th instant, with its two enclosures. We have been careful to search for arms and have found some. Most of the villagers, however, have not yet returned to their villages, but are still in the hills, no doubt carry- ing arms. Mr. May leaves this morning at 6 a.m., and will reach Taipo Hu about He will then proceed to Hong Kong and give you full details of our operations. I am instructing him to take back with him Dr. Thomson and Mr. Messer, for whose services there is no need at present. Mr. Messer might be placed in the Land Office to learn the routine. I think the Police might also be withdrawn for the present. Mr. May will explain his views to you orally. "Colonel The O'Gorman and I work together splendidly, so I trust we may be allowed to continue to co-operate. Though active resistance on the part of the Chinese may cease, it will be some little time before the territory can be settled. In view of the part taken by the villages of Un Long and Ping Shan (where I now am), I have told the elders police stations must be built on whatever site is considered most suitable. I mention this, as you refer to this point in your despatch of the 16th instant. Mr. May hopes to be able to communicate with us to- morrow, and I shall be glad to know whether Your Excellency has any further news or instructions. We are in very good quarters here; the officers are occupying a private house, and the men two ancestral temples. We are all in good health, though our food supply has not been regular nor plentiful. We have had to live on very little, but are all the better perhaps for that. I have had no hat but that in which I stood until to-day. There is no interpreter with the troops, so my knowledge of the language and Tsoi's presence have been of assistance. The latter has been most useful.
J. H. STEWARrt Lockhart.
YOUR EXCELLENCY,
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Enclosure 14 in No. 171.
Ping Shan April 20, 1899. We have remained here all day. There has been no sign of resistance. On the contrary the villagers are returning to their villages. There has been heavy rain here to-day, which may have helped this movement. "I have availed myself of the halt to write up my diary of events since the hoisting of the flag. Major Morris has sent a note to Colonel The O'Gorman, saying he is stationed at Kam Tin, and has completed the work of demolition, by which I presume he means that he has blown down the gates of all the walled villages in that district. Mr. May left here at 6 a.m., and has, I sup- pose, seen Your Excellency by this time. We have succeeded in obtaining most of the supplies required by the troops from Un Long. We are all well. Will you kindly ask Mr. Buckle to forward to me the daily papers.
J. H. STEWART Lockhart.
YOUR EXCELLENCY,
Enclosure, 15 in No. 171.
Ping Shan, April 21, 1899. MR. MAY says you wish me to stay here, so I will remain. I had already written to you to say that I thought I ought to be on the spot. Troops without anyone of authority who knows the language would produce much unnecessary trouble. Every- thing is quiet here. I think it would be a good thing to let the Chinese in Hong Kong know that their brothers over here have been badly whipped. The villagers are re- turning. Excuse a hurried note which Inspector Hanson will deliver to Mr. May.
J. H. S. L.
Enclosure 16 in No. 171.
YOUR EXCELLENCY,
Ping Shan, April 23, 1899. I HAVE been using every endeavour to induce the people to return to their usual avocations. On the 20th instant I issued a notification, of which I enclose a copy, and which has had a very good effect.
Yesterday I received five petitions, which are all couched in the same terms. I attach a translation. The petitions are from:-
(1) The Kam Tin District, including 11 villages. (2) The Pat Heung District, including 8 villages.
The Ha Tsun District, including 9 villages.
The Shap Pat Heung District, including 22 villages. The Castle Peak District, including 8 villages.
(4) The Ping Shan District, including 13 villages. (5) The Lam Tsun District, including 20 villages.
Total, 91 villages.
These villages represent the most important section of the new territory.
You will observe that petitioners request that the Government may select such sites as it may require for offices, police stations, &c.
These petitions were brought by the elders of the various districts mentioned, and were presented in the presence of over 100 people who had assembled in front of our quarters here. I availed myself of the opportunity to impress upon those present that there was no reason why they should not return to their villages and pursue their lawful occupations, that good people would receive every protection, but that bad characters would be punished without leniency.
The villagers in this neighbourhood are returning in large numbers to their villages, and most of the male population is at work as usual in the fields.
A quantity of arms has been surrendered by the different villages, which I will have removed to Taipo later on.
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,
Colonial Secretary.
See A., p. 183.