PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
C.O. 882
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
192
Peking, to put all obstacles possible in the way of the transfer of government, which, of course, included information required by the British Authorities.
The Sun-on Magistrate, Chinese like, was nothing loth to act on this initiative-knowing full well that if complaint were made of him his own Government, whilst openly disavowing his action, would reward him in proportion to his success in carrying out his secret instructions accordingly evaded all requests on the part of Mr. Lockhart for the handing over of the land-register to enable him to copy out the necessary particulars, finally point-blank refusing to hand it over, or allow it to be copied. Mr. Lockhart then personally called on this contumacious official, and after administering to him a severe rating, finally procured the books wanted, which he retained possession of for three days, copying out necessary details.
Mr. Lockhart and party having finished their survey and departed from the district, word went forth that the foreigners were going to dispossess the natives of their land and that it would be necessary to raise money for the purchase, in Canton, of arms, to resist the encroachment of the foreigner when it took place. In accordance with this programmé a subscription has been raised amongst the population of the district, who fear the loss of their title to the land, and over $100,000 had been raised some weeks ago, when the writer first became aware of the action of the Chinese Authorities; the subscription now, probably, exceeding that by a considerable amount. All the rowdy characters in the surrounding district have been encouraged to take hand in the disturbance when it comes off, on the taking over of the territory.
It is to be hoped that by that time the more reputable members of the native community in the district will have acquired sense enough to take no part in the resistance to the British occupation; if not they will undoubtedly have to stand the consequence of their folly.
It seems only too probable, and a fact which some more sensible of the local Chinese recognise, that having collected a large sum from their dupes those handling the funds will pocket the cash, and allege that it has been seized by the British authorities; at any rate, they will not want for a plausible tale and one which will, if posible, breed trouble between the natives and their new masters.
The bill
It may be remembered by some of the readers of the "Daily Press" that after coding Formosa to Japan, as a result of the China-Japanese War, the Chinese Government continued to send men and mili. tary stores to the island to assist in the resistance to the Japanese occupation of their new territory. Had the Japanese been so disposed they might have made China pay for her treachery in the matter. would have been a heavy one, for it cost the Japanese considerable, in men and money, before the island came fully under their sway, and much of her present trouble with the natives is due to the action of the Chinese Authorities on the mainland. Japan, however, though fully aware of China's duplicity, has made no claim; doubtless this and the failure of the French to demand satisfaction for similar action as to Tonkin has encouraged China in pursuing a like policy in her other cessions of territory; a policy which only, in the long run, recoils on herself, for these rowdies, armed by her, when driven out go to swell the rebel bands now ravaging her southern provinces. The British authorities would be doing the Chinese Government a kindness if they were to visit them with severe penalties for their duplicity in connection with the territory to be ceded for the extension of the colony of Hong Kong, the penalties taking the form of extending British influence locally.
As it is not the desire of the British Government to obtain a further cession of territory, though this might well be done, the penalty inflicted should be an imperative demand for the acceptance of a British Resident (with duties similar to the British Resident in a Native State in India) in all the coast and delta districts which carry on a large trade with this colony; thus impressing on the people of these districts and on the Chinese Government the lesson that the British Government is not to be trifled with. The districts bo which Residents should be appointed are Bun-on, Tung-koon, Heung-ahan, Sun-ning, Sun-wei, Hoi-ping, Nam-hoi, and Pun-yu.
By this action we would, besides bringing the Chinese Government to book, intimate plainly to France thas her pretensions to the reversion of the Provinos of Kwangtung on the break up of the Chinese Empire will not be tolerated by Great Britain.
The Consular Service, the Colonial Civil Service of the Far East, or the Chinese Maritime Customa could supply suitable men for Residents; if coming from the latter service they would have to renounce their adherence to it on taking up their new duties.
The time is ripe for such action, for Russia has no stomach for fighting, at present, and France is not prepared to put her claims to the test of warlike action. Both would, of course, vigorously protest.
The British Government have the ball at their feet, and have only to be firm and the game is theirs. The British electorate will not forget or forgive them if they fail now to recover their lost prestige in China and conserve the interests of the important colony of Hong Kong and the vast and growing tradal interests in South China, as well as that in the north.
A large number of the compradore class, especially in the north, hail from 8am-taun, the centre of this intrigue. It is well to remember it is this class which supports the system of farming the taxes and the accompanying abuses to which foreign trade is subjected.
Strange to say, although the preparations for resistance have been common talk amongst the local Chinese for weeks past, no word has come out amongst foreigners, and most Chinese will, on being interrO gated, profem ignorance of it, though when pressed," with the assurance that the fact is known, some will
to it. "P
own
Mention has been omitted, in the body of this article, that inhabitants of the ares ceded to the colony of Hong Kong who are favourably disposed to the change have been intimidated, and fear now to speak their minds.
Enclosure 2 in No. 172.
The Hon. Acting COLONIAL SECRETARY to Hon. CAPTAIN SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE and the ACTING REGISTRAR-GENERAL.
SIR,
October 8, 1898.
I AM directed to call your attention to an article headed Extension of the Colony" which appeared in the " Daily Press" of the 3rd instant, and to request you to make inquiries by means of trustworthy officers whether the allegations in the 5th para- graph of that article are true or false.
193
It is also desired that you should discover whether any subscriptions for the objects named in the aforesaid article are being invited or contributed in Hong Kong itself.
I have, &c.,
T. SERCOMBE SMITH,
SIB,
Enclosure 3 in No. 172.
Acting Colonial Secretary.
The Hon F. H. MAY, Chief Superintendent of Police, to Hon. Acting Colonial SECRETARY.
Police Office, October 15, 1898.
I HAVE the honour to report that, in accordance with the instructions contained in your confidential letter, No. 39, of the 6th instant, I have made enquiries into the truth of the allegations contained in the 5th paragraph of the article headed "Extension of the Colony," which appeared in the "Daily Press " of the 3rd instant, with the fol- lowing results:----
+
2. One Chinese resident informed me that his brother had heard at his club that after the Kam Tin affair an endeavour had been made to raise a subscription to oppose by force of arms the British occupation, but that after the deputation from Kam Tin had been obliged to tender in Hong Kong an apology for the treatment of Mr. Lockhart the subscription, which had reached the sum of 10,000 dollars, had been abandoned. My informant, at my request, is endeavouring to ascertain whether any money was actually subscribed, as alleged in the above report, or whether subscriptions were merely promised to the sum mentioned.
3. Another Chinese resident whom I questioned informed me "that the villagers of Kam T'in did, through some misunderstanding, try to collect money to oppose the Hong Kong authorities. But when the Kam Tin people comprehended their true situation and mistake they came to apologise, and their first intention to resist had died a natural death."
4. While I was making the above enquiries of the high-class Chinese, I instructed C. D. I. Hanson to make enquiries on his account. He brought me a petty trader whom he has known for many years, and who resides at Yau Ma ti, but is a native of Nam Tau, where his home and family live, and whither he frequently goes on business. I attach the statement that this man has made, and I am inclined to believe that it is not improbable that there is foundation for what he says as to the speculation in land that has been going on in the Kowloon Hinterland.
If such is the case
is more than likely that undue influence and misrepresentation have been employed by the agents of the capitalists. The man Ng Lo-Sám (Ng Sui- Shang) is probably known to you by name. His reputation is not good. The denial of the informant that any subscription was raised is, I think, due to fear on his part to make such an admission, being as he is a native of the neighbourhood.
5. I have not been able to discover that any subscriptions have been invited or contributed in Hong Kong.
Yours, &c.,
F. H. MAY.
Enclosure 4 in No. 172.
Attached to Hon. F. H. May's letter of October 15, 1898.
Police Office, October 11, 1898.
AN informant of Chief Detective Inspector Hanson states as follows:-" When Mr. Lockhart went to Kam Tin with Ng Le-Sám and Tang-Yung-Shén (the former is
a hanger-on of Mr. Wei Yuk and the latter is a hanger-on of Ng Lo-Sám), the two Chinese mentioned ordered the villagers of Kam T'in to fire 10,000 crackers in Mr. Lockhart's honour, and said that they would give the villagers five dollars for the cost of the crackers.
The villagers resented being ordered by men like the two Chinese mentioned to do what was asked of them. Ng Lo-Sám and Tang-Yung Shén are well known to the inhabitants of Kam Tin, and to all the inhabitants in the territory which is about to be leased to Great Britain.
·
It is notorious amongst the inhabitants of the said territory that Ng Lo Sám and Tang Ying Shén have been endeavouring to buy up title deeds for plots of land all over
01
B
·