CO537-3705 — Page 133

HONG KONG

Note on Evictions from Kowloon Walled City

The so-called "walled City of Kowloon" is part of the Colony of Hong Kong and is included in the "New Territories". The "Walled City" is approximately 200 yards long by 100 yards wide. It is no longer enclosed by a wall. The Peking Convention of 1898, by which the New Territories were leased to H. M. G. for 99 years included a provision that the Chinese officials then stationed within the City of Kowloon (the area referred to above) should continue to exercise jurisdiction except so far as may be inconsistent with the military requirements for the defence of Hong Kong. It was very early found that this jurisdiction was inconsistent with these requirements, so it was terminated in 1899 and since that date, that is for nearly 50 years, the British authorities have exercised sole jurisdiction in the aren of the "Walled City" as in the remainder of the leased territories. The Chinese have from time to time put forward the claim that they have never relinquished their rights to jurisdiction in the "Walled City" are, but H.M.G. has been unatle to accept this claim.

2. As a precaution against the threat of fire and disease the Public Works Department of the Hong Kong Government served eviction notices on the 27th November on the occupants of some 54 wooden huts which had been illegally erected on Crown land within the area of the "Walled City of Kowloon". The date of expiry of the notices was the 11th December, 1947. The squattera failed to comply with the notices and summonses were then issuet by the Court. Alternative sites were offered them, and it was open to them to remove the materials of their existing huts to those sites. The case came before the Court on the 16th Decembe and eviction orders were made. A translation of the Magistrate's order and the notice offering alternative sites was published 14 the Press on the 17th December and copies were served on the squatters on the 22nd and 29th December. Eviction and dismantling of the huts was carried out without disturbance on the 5th January.

3. On the 7th January the Magistrate of Po On, a district of the Kwangtung Province adjoining Hong Kong, paid a visit to the "Walled City", which is fifteen to twenty miles from the frontier, accompanied by several of his officials including Healt and Police Advisers. A meeting was held when he addressed the crowd under the Chinese flag. This was interpreted in the Chine press as reaffirming Chinese sovereignty. In defiance of the Court's order, a number of huts were illegally re-erected on the former sites. Police action to move them on the 12th January wt. met by resistance. As the police party approached through a narrow alley leading to the "Walled City", they were met by loud shouts and a heavy barrage of stones from a crowd of over 100 persons. Several of the police were hit and the mob was obviou acting on a pre-arranged plan. Police efforts to quieten the mas were drowned in the clamour, and it was necessary for the police then to fire warning shots from revolvers. These warnings were without effect on the crowd and tear smoke was then used, which had the desired effect of dispersing the crowd. The police were then able to remove the huts in accordance with their orders.

4. In consequence of the crowd's attack on the police and the attempts to prevent the police from carrying out their duty, six persons were injured, five superficially and one more serious The latter had an abdominal would caused by a bullet, most like). an accidental ricochet. The latest information we have from Hou Kong concerning the casualties is that the condition of the five

minor