PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TTIC.O. 882
5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
| ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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Division of the territory, the most thickly-populated and most important portion of the newly-leased area, which has been the headquarters of the anti-British movement and in which Tang Ts'ing Sz resided, would not have been restored to order so quietly as it has been. This is not an opinion peculiar to myself, but is shared by all the Europeans who have been on the spot during the recent trouble, and who have had personal experience of the situation, and by all the Chinese, who know their countrymen better than anyone else.
Another point that should be borne in mind is that all those implicated in the murder and the deceased belong to the same clan, and have the same surname, and that the heads of their clan informed us previously to any action having been taken that the murder had been carried out by Tang Hin at the instigation of Tang Ts'ing Sz and Tang Sak. Such evidence may not be admissible in a court of law, but in dealing with a people living under the clan system, where the clan and not the individual is the unit, it cannot be disregarded as of no importance.
Your Excellency reminds me that the people must learn that the troops and police are here for the protection of the well-disposed, and their presence does not involve op- pression. The people fully understand the situation, which has been fully explained to them by me orally and by proclamation, and our action throughout has shown them that the presence of the troops, so far from involving oppression, has relieved them from the terrorism exercised over them by their own leading men. Such relief has not only inspired them with gratitude, but also with confidence, as is indicated by the inhabitants of the districts-men, women, and children-in which we have lived and through which we have passed having returned to their ordinary avocations. For everything that has been purchased a fair price has been paid, and every precaution has been taken to prevent the villagers being injuriously affected in any way.
HON. COLONIAL SECRETARY,
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,
Enclosure 15 in No. 172.
Colonial Secretary.
I HAVE read carefully the statements of Ng Ki Cheung and Tang Kok Lam, and the various documents translated by you. I have decided to pass a regulation giving power to any police magistrate or any justice of the peace to summon before them any person for examination in reference to any offence committed, and on sufficient grounds being shown to call upon the person so summoned to enter into security to be of the peace and good behaviour. If a summons be not obeyed a warrant may be issued to compel attendance. I do not consider it advisable that any land should be confis cated in connection with the recent troubles.
It is evident from the statements made that the working of the company alluded to more than once has had much to do with the general uneasiness. It has been stated to me by a member of the Executive Council that he has been credibly informed that a company or syndicate composed of Chinese was formed some time ago to buy land in the leased area, and that the syndicate bought land at a rate much below its value, by representing to the villagers and elders that when the territory was taken over the land would become the property of this Government, who would not acknowledge any land titles. This would account for the great uneasiness displayed and for the ultimate determination to combine and offer resistance to our occupation of the territory. I consider it of great importance that the people should be fully informed as to our inten- tion not to interfere with their holding of land, and the fact that this Government issued a notice that sales of land effected since the date of the Convention would not necessarily be acknowledged should also be freely circulated: Should it come to your knowledge that land was purchased under its value by the syndicate in consequence of the false representations that I have mentioned, such sales should be declared null and void if the seller so wishes, and is prepared to return the consideration paid.
Having regard to all the circumstances preceding the combined opposition, I do not consider it just or expedient that a vindictive retribution should be exacted. Doubtless clemency may be misunderstood; but the fault has been sharply punished, and the evidence is before the eyes of the people that swift punishment will follow any similar attempt, while the power to impose a special police tax upon a district in the event of crime for which no person has been made amenable will, I expect, act as a salutary deterrent. I shall be glad to have a report from you upon the proceedings of the syndicate mentioned since the date of the Convention, and a statement of the lands
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purchased from the holders by them since that date. I am glad that your proceeding up to the present have resulted in the return of the villagers to their work. I hope that the work of the arrangement of the districts may soon be actively pursued.
H.. A. BLAKE.
April 26, 1899.
HON. COLONIAL SECRETARY,
Enclosure 16 in No. 172.
WITH reference to the Viceroy's messenger, release him. He has committed no offence. You were quite right to prevent the posting of notices. Those, if any, posted in Castle Peak District should be removed. The Attorney-General has prepared the draft of an Ordinance giving to any magistrate or justice of the peace power on informa- tion laid to summon before him any person, and, after hearing evidence, to order him to find sureties to be of the peace and good behaviour for a given term, or in default to be imprisoned for a term not exceeding six months.
I fancy that you are a J.P., either by commission or in virtue of your office. If not, I shall gazette you, and antedate your commission,
I agree with you that a fair rent should be paid for the house occupied by the police. I am glad to learn that you find matters settling down. If the Chinese doctor has returned he might be found useful. There must be many wounded men in the hill villages requiring medical assistance.
regret very much to hear of the serious injury to Major Watson, R.A.M.C., by an attack by a buffalo. It may be necessary to make some regulation later on to prevent similar accidents now that Europeans will be travelling through the territory.
I have carefully considered all the circumstances of the murder, which was, as you show, perpetrated for political reasons, but all the arguments used would be equally applicable to any murder committed by a number of the inhabitants of a given village or district. With the evidence that you have obtained it appears to me that there will be grounds upon which to offer a large reward for such evidence as will lead to the arrest and conviction of any of the offenders. You have the names of several, for whose arrest warrants can be obtained. This will mark very clearly that the law is not dead. The other means are doubtless effective, but the two systems mark the difference between benevolent despotism and law. The clan or village can always be reached under the system of enforcing payment for special police store. I see it stated that the murdered man was sent in by Government. I did not know this; but even had he been so sent, there was nothing to show you that there was the slightest danger to be apprehended. On the contrary, the reports received were to the effect that the people were ready to receive the, British rule gladly. The police stations will be proceeded with as quickly as possible. I hope that the arrangements for the adminis- tration will soon be begun.
H. A. B.
April 26, 1899.
Enclosure 17 in No. 172.
SIR,
British Consulate, Canton, April 15, 1899. I HAVE the honour to inform you that I have embodied a translation of your No. 22,* confidential, in a despatch which I yesterday addressed to the Viceroy, request- ing him to take the action desired.
The Honourable
The Colonial Secretary,
Hong Kong.
I have, &c.,
R. W. MANSFIELD,
Consul.
P.S.-I have now the honour to enclose translation of the Viceroy's reply.
(Translation.)
Viceroy T'AN to Mr. Consul Mansfield.
SIR,
April 15, 1899. I AM in receipt of your despatch, stating that the Governor of Hong Kong has written to the effect that I had altogether misunderstood him with regard to the question of the Customs stations discussed at our interview.
Correspondence previous to this forwarded in despatch No. 93 of 15th April, 1899.
[See No. 159.]
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