CO537-3705 — Page 191

Revised

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 wido. 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 area 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 unable 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 squatters

faled to comply with the motices and summonses were

then