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resumption by Chinese authorities of jurisdiction in Kowloon City. His Lordship has since informed Lo-Fengluh verbally that he could hold out no hope of Her Majesty's Government receding from this decision.
I am, &c.,
(Paraphrase.)
Enclosure in No. 274.
FRANCIS BERTIE.
The Marquess of SALISBURY to Mr. BAX-IRONGIDE.
(Sent November 3, 1899.)
TELEGRAM.
(No. 181. Retrocession of Sham Chun.)
Your telegram, No. 252, of 2nd October. You should state to Chinese Govern- ment that instructions have been sent to Governor of Hong Kong to withdraw from Sham Chun within boundary previously delimitated.
He is further instructed to warn the Viceroy of Canton that he is expected to afford protection to those people outside boundary, who, during our occupation for maintaining peace and order on frontier and securing life and property, have shown friendliness to British troops.
You should endeavour to obtain from the Tsungli-Yamen a pledge to the same effect. Should the Chinese authorities fail to co-operate with the Colonial Govern- ment in this respect, a second occupation may be the result.
I informed the Chinese Minister on the 24th ultimo that Her Majesty's Govern ment cannot allow resumption by Chinese authorities of jurisdiction in Kowloon City for reasons stated in my note to him of May 30th.
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369
Enclosure in No. 276.
Mr. BAX-IRONSIDE to the Marquess of SALISBURY.
(Sent 5.5 p.m.; Received 4.45 p.m., November 16, 1899.)"
(Paraphrase.)
TELEGRAM.
With reference to Your Lordship's telegram, No. 181, I have been informed in writing by the Yamen that they have instructed the Viceroy of Canton to protect friendly Chinese.
They again beg that Her Majesty's Government will," in accordance with Con- vention," allow Chinese officials to exercise jurisdiction in the City of Kowloon.
32959
SIR,
No. 277.
FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE.
(Received November 27, 1899.)
[Answered by No. 279.]
Foreign Office, November 25, 1899.
I AM directed by the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to transmit to you, sir 0. Lo to be laid before the Secretary of State for the Colonies, the accompanying copy of a Fing Lak, note, as marked in the margin, concerning the retrocession of Sham Chun.
14th Nov, 1899.
I am, &c.,
FRANCIS BERTIE.
No. 275.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
wwwiimmim TIC.O. 882
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
SI,
COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE.
Downing Street, November 7, 1899. WITH reference to your letter of the 6th instant, I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to request you to inform the Marquess of Salisbury that a telegram has been received from the Governor of Hong Kong, reporting that the matsheds erected in the Sham Chun district are being removed as quickly as possible, and that the evacus- tion will be completed within a week.
I am, &c.,
31959
(Confidential.)
No. 276.
H. BERTRAM COX.
FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received November 17, 1899.)
Foreign Office, November 16, 1899. The Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs presents his compliments to the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies, and with reference to the Foreign Office Mr. Ironside, Telegram letter of the 6th instant,” is directed by the Secretary of State to transmit, for the information of Mr. Secretary Chamberlain, the accompanying copy of a telegram, as marked in the margin, relating to the retrocession of Shâm Chun and the question of Kowloon City.
No. 272, Nov. 16, 1899.
• No. 274.
† See No. 273.
(Confidential.)
MY LORD,
Enclosure in No. 277.
Sir LOH FENG LUH to the Marquess of Salisbury. (Received November 15.)
Chinese Legation, London, November 14, 1890. WITH reference to the note which Your Lordship did me the honour to address to me under date of the 24th ultimo, I beg leave to inform you that I have received a telegram from the Tsungli-Yamen instructing me to convey to Your Lordship the expression of their gratification on learning that you were in communication with Her Majesty's Secretary of State for the Colonies, respecting the arrangements to be made with a view to the retrocession of the town of Samchun to China.
At the same time, I am to express to you the concern of the Imperial Government on hearing of the hesitation of Her Majesty's Government to allow the Chinese au- thorities to resume the control of the city of Kowloon. The Imperial Government hope that, on further consideration, Her Majesty's Government will see their way to a solu- tion of the question which would avoid the committal of what would manifestly be a violation of a Convention which was concluded so recently as the 9th June last [11888]; and they are the more solicitous of this because of the prejudicial effect to Chinese interests, which would result from any failure on the part of China to main- tain the integrity of the Convention.
In the lease to Russia of Port Arthur and Talienwan there is a stipulation, with respect to the city of Kinchow, similar to that referring to the city of Kowloon, ogn tained in the Convention for the extension of the Colony of Hong Kong, and the Imperial Government are apprehensive lest any departure from the conditions on which Great Britain obtained lease of the Kowloon Peninsula should be made a plea for a similar violation on the part of Russia of the Agreement with regard to Port Arthur and Talienwan.
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