9.
In considering the question of the boundary it is well to remember the axi- gencies of the Chinese Imperial Customs. If the line be taken from the point west of Sha Tao round the summits of the hills think it would give the Customs officials as defensible a line as the river, for the passes are not many, while the intervening heights Are most difficult to climb. At present, in consequence of the refusal of the Viceroy of Canton to authorise the Imperial Customs to remove their stations, the entire dis- tance from Namtao to the west of Mirs Bay is unprotected, and there must be a large. amount of smuggling going on.
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finite period. It is this latter to which I must offer objection with the present strength of my garrison.
I have, &c.,
W. J. GASCOIGNE,
Major-General,
Commanding in China and Hong Kong.
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PUBLIC
RECORD
OFFICE
Reference :-
TTIC.O. 882
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
I have, &c.,
HENRY A. BLAKE,
Governor, &c.
Enclosure 1 in No. 202.
From the GENEral Officer CoMMANDING in China and Hong Kong to His Excellency the GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG.
(Confidential.)
YOUR EXCELLENCY,
Hong Kong, May 10, 1899.
I AM quite prepared to detach temporarily a force of 1,500 men (infantry and artillery) to effect the reduction of Kowloon City and of Sham Chung, should it be decided to add these towns to British Territory. The strength of my garrison would in my opinion justify not only this reduction, but would enable me afterwards to assist the civil power in keeping order in these towns as in other parts of the new territory.
But if it is in contemplation to largely increase the territory by extending the boun- dary line, taking in as I understand a populous and a turbulent district, then I certainly consider that my present strength is altogether inadequate for a permanent occupation of large tracts of ground far removed from my base, and the police of which would pro- bably for a long time to come, require military assistance.
At the same time I think it would be a wise and highly politic measure to take advantage of the present opportunity to seize any further extension which may be thought desirable, and to so increase my garrison as to enable me to hold such extension in perfect security, and also should the occasion arise (which I firmly believe it will) that sudden risings in various parts of China, more or less considered to be under the sphere of British influence, might cause appeals for help from the garrison of Hong Kong, which appeals I should in that case be able to grant to the exclusion possibly of some other foreign Power.
Enclosure 2 in No. 202.
W. J. GASCOIGNE,
Major-General.
From the GENERAL Officer CommaNDING in China and Hong Kong to His Excellency the GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG. SIR,
In reply to Your Excellency's letter of this date, informing me of the cable
Hong Kong, May 15, 1899. despatch received by you, and in which you ask me to make arrangements to carry out the operation agreed upon between us: viz., of sending 100 men to occupy Kowloon City, and 2,000 men to take Sham Chun, I have the honour to inform you that I have made arrangements accordingly, and these operations are only awaiting your ǹnal orders, which orders I trust may be sent me as soon as possible.
In reply to your further question as to whether, in the event of Her Majesty's Government directing that Sham Chun Valley to the hills be occupied, I am prepared to hold it for the present with the force already at my disposal, I have the honour to state that I am prepared to so hold it for the present; but that what I do demur to is a lengthened occupation of a large extension of territory, far from my base, which could only be carried out by weakening my garrison in Hong Kong proper. It is one thing to hold temporarily, but altogether another to have to occupy and police for an inde
Enclosure 3 in No. 202.
From the GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING in China and Hong Kong to His Excellency the GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG. SIR,
Hong Kong, May 18, 1899. I HAVE the honour to inform you that in accordance with your letter of the 15th instant, directing me to make what arrangements I thought best for the occupation of the towns of Sham Chun and of Kowloon City, I arranged that, for the occupation of the town of Sham Chun, there should be a simultaneous arrival of three separate. columns from three separate routes. I was given to understand by Your Excellency that it was desired that the display of force should be such as to prevent the probability of much resistance, thereby avoiding the probability of much bloodshed. I accordingly arranged to detach for a short time a force of 1,500 men from the garrison of Hong Kong, and to request the Navy to supplement that force by a detachment of 500 men from the various ships in harbour. This the Commodore in Charge at once most wil- lingly agreed to do, and I was therefore able to count upon 2,000 men. I arranged these into three columns; that of the Navy I sent round by Sha Tau Kok with orders to march slightly north of Sham Chun, clearing the ground between Sha Tau Kok and that City. They were to land at daybreak and to meet me at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, 16th instant. I ordered a column 500 strong, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel The O'Gorman to proceed by march route on Monday the 15th to Taipo Hu, there to bivouac for the night, and to march at daybreak on the 16th direct on Sham Chun, meeting me there also at 3 p.m. I took command of the remaining columns, consisting of 1,000 men, which proceeded just before daybreak on the 16th by water to Deen Bay, to land at Sha Tao, which had been described to me as a troublesome city, and thence to march direct on Sham Chun, keeping parallel with the river, and meeting the other two columns as arranged. I was accompanied by Major Somerville, the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, of Your Excellency's Staff, who rendered me the utmost assist- ance. Thus I was able, by the simultaneous march of these three columns, to sweep a vast extent of country. The three columns arrived practically together, and the impression I received was that our arrival was completely unexpected.
We en- countered no opposition whatever; so far from that, I should judge from the demeanour of the inhabitants generally, that they were by no means inimical to our coming. My impression is that they had suffered somewhat from the extortions of some 300 Chinese soldiers who were undoubtedly in the town, and that they were generally speaking glad of our arrival. I preceded my own column with a very scanty following as soon as I saw the general demeanour the inhabitants, and I met with nothing but the utmost civility, and that before they could have become fully aware of the proximity of the troops. As soon as all the troops had arrived, I hoisted the flag, sent for all the elders of the town, assured them that all lives and property would be respected so long as the peace was kept; sent for the officers in charge of the Chinese troops; went with them to their armoury, and found a number of soldiers, and a few arms, but on searching further I found about 170 rifles of good pattern, breech-loaders, besides a good deal of rubbishy weapons. I took charge of these arms, and informed the troops that they must at once leave the City. The officers earnestly requested me to allow them to stay the night, as they had nowhere to go to, and as it was getting late, and the whole de- meanour of the people was so peaceful, I acceded to this request, and ordered them to quit in the morning, and this I believe was done. I issued a proclamation translated into Chinese, pointing out that all property would be respected, and that no taxes were to be paid in future to any Chinese Officials, and that if such taxes were levied informa- tion should be at once given to the Officer Commanding the troops who would see justice done. I added that the Viceroy of Canton had no further jurisdiction in this district, as I was told that this would have greater weight than anything. I dis- missed the force of sailors that night, and the following day, the 17th, I brought back
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