PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TLC.O. 882
6 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
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tion of a line of tramways or the running of motor cars to Chefoo or into the interior of the province would be contrary to the declaration, and whether the grant of the application now forwarded would constitute a breach of the spirit, if not of the letter, of the declaration.
9. Another point which arises in connection with the declaration, and regarding which I desire to be informed, is whether the prohibition to construct railways from British territory into the interior was intended to include not only British subjects but all persons, regardless of nationality. In the present case, I understand, either Chinese or Americans intend to construct a railway in Shantung, and to connect it with the line which Mr. Bridges wishes to make from the shores of the bay of this dependency to the boundary of British territory, and I should be glad to know whether, if the declaration is still in force, it is not possible to grant permission to any person, regardless of nationality, to construct a railway either within the territory or to be connected with a railway constructed beyond it.
10. My experience of this dependency, though short, is already sufficient to enable me to state that unless Wei-hai-Wei is connected with other parts of China by railway, its development into a port of commercial importance will be difficult, if not impossible.
11. On the other hand, with railway communication and possessing as it does the finest harbour in the North of China, it is almost certain that Wei-hai-Wei, as a free port under the British flag, would in time become the chief centre of commerce in the North of China, as Hong Kong is in the South, and, whilst acting as an effective check on Russian influence in the North, would greatly help to advance British interests, political and commercial, in China generally.
I have, &c.,
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,
Enclosure in No. 97.
Commissioner.
SIR,
Wei-hai-Wei, May 14, 1902. I SHALL be obliged by your informing me if rights can be granted for the con- struction of a railway from Wei-hai-Wei Bay (Mahto) to the boundary of the territory, in a direction towards Chefoo; and in the event of such a concession being allowed, I beg that my name may be noted as first applicant.
may
add that this proposed railway is in connection with one to run in and about the Province of Shantung.
The Commissioner,
26582
SIR,
Wei-hai-Wei.
(No. 22.)
No. 98.
I am, &c.,
I.. F. BRIDGES.
COMMISSIONER LOCKHART to MR. CHAMBERLAIN.
(Received July 1, 1902.)
[Answered by No. 109.]
Government House, Wei-Hai-Wei, May 13, 1902.
I HAVE the honour to forward herewith for your approval an Ordinance which I have drafted to meet the present general requirements of Wei-Hai-Wei, and to enable legal sanction to be obtained for a number of orders which were made from time to time by my predecessors in office before the date of the Order-in-Council, and which are being carried out as if they have the force of law.
2. The draft Ordinance forwarded herewith is based on the two Hong Kong Ordinances dealing with the new Territories, viz., Ordinance, No. 12, of 1899, and No. 40, of 1899. But I have purposely refrained from confining the operation of the draft Ordinance to Chinese only as in my opinion the circumstances at present existing here are not such as to warrant such a restriction of its provisions, and the orders already issued include other nationalities as well as Chinese.
3. No elaborate legislation appears to be required here, and I anticipate that a short and simple Ordinance will be sufficient, for some time to come, for general
109
purposes, though it may be necessary to introduce a few Ordinances dealing with special subjects, such as mining, &c.
4. I should be glad to receive your approval of this Ordinance by telegram so that I may proclaim it without delay, and remake under it those regulations or orders which are being enforced, but which do not now appear to have any legal sanction.
I have, &c.,
J. H. STEWART LOCKHART,
Commissioner.
Enclosure in No. 98.
DRAFT ORDINANCE, No. 1, of 1902.
An Ordinance to provide for the peace and good order of the territories of
Wei-Hai-Wei.
Be it enacted by the Commissioner of Wei-Hai-Wei as follows:-
1. This Ordinance may be cited as the Peace and Good Order Ordinance.
2. The term "Territories" as used in this Ordinance shall mean* the Island of
Liu Kung: all the Islands in the Bay of Wei-Hai-Wei and a belt or land 10 English miles wide along the entire coast line of the Bay of Wei-Hai-Wei as has been de- limited, including the territorial waters of the said Islands and coast.
3. It shall be lawful for the Commissioner from and after the date of the pro- claiming of this Ordinance to make such regulations as he may deem necessary for regulating the peace, order, public health, revenue, buildings, and good government of the Territories.
4. All regulations made by the Commissioner under this Ordinance shall be pub- lished in such manner as the Commissioner may direct, and shall thereupon become as valid and binding as if inserted in this Ordinance.
5. Any person committing a breach of any regulation under this Ordinance shall be liable for any such breach, upon summary conviction, to the payment of a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars, or to imprisonment for a period not excceding six months with or without hard labour.
6. It shall be lawful for the Commissioner or any other officer duly appointed by him to summon in writing any person who appears to him to be able to give informa- tion regarding any matter into which the Commissioner deems it advisable to inquire.
7. Any person so summoned shall be legally bound to attend and to answer truthfully all questions which may be put to him relating to the matter under inquiry and to produce, if required, any books, documents, or other written matter pertinent to the inquiry and to permit the inspection of any property.
8. If any person so summoned omits to attend at the time and place specified, it shall be lawful to issue a warrant for the arrest of such person, and any person 30 arrested shall become liable to payment of a fine not exceeding one hundred dollars, or to imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months with or without hard labour.
9. If any person against whom a warrant has been so issued as aforesaid ab- sconds or conceals himself so that such warrant cannot be executed, it shall be lawful for the Commissioner to order that such person's property or the rents and profits of such person's property shall be attached by an officer named in such order until such time as such person shall appear in obedience to such warrant.
All or any part of such person's property or the rents and profits of such person's property may, if the Commissioner so orders, be forfeited to the Crown.
25277
(Secret.)
SIR,
No. 99.
COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE. [Answered by No. 104.]
Downing Street, July 10, 1802.
I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to transmit to you, to be laid before the Marquess of Lansdowne, a copy of a confidential despatcht from the Com-
• Definition from Order in Council.
↑ No. 97.