CO537-3708 — Page 17

HONG KONG

Tote on Evictions from Kowloon Walled City.

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The so-called "alled 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 Fexing Convention of 1898, by which the New Territories were leased to B...u. 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 Hon non bo It was very early found that this jurisdiction was inconsistent with these requirements, so it was terminated in 1899 and eince 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 reiinquished their ri, hts to jurisdiction in the "aslled city" area, but H.X.G. has been unable to accept this claim.

2. As a precaution against the threat of fire and disease the zublic torke bepartment 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 failed to comply with the notices and summonses were then issued by the Court, Alternative sites were offered them, and it was open to them to remove the materials of their existing hute to those sites. The case came before the Court on the 10th December and eviction orders were made. A translation of the Magistrate'a order and the notice offering alternative sites was published in the Press on the 17th lecember and coples were served on the squatters on the 22nd and 29th Dece ber. Sviction and diamant-iing of the hute was carried out without disturbance on the 5th January.

3. un the 7th January the Kagistrate of ro on, a district of the Kwangtung Province adjoining Hong Kong, palu & visit to the "alled City", which is Fifteen to twenty miles from the frontier, accompanied by several of his officials including Health and viice «ävisers. A meeting was held when he addressed the crowd under the Chinese (lag. This was interpreted in the chinese press as reaffirming Chinese sovereignty. In defiance of the Court's order, & number of huts were illegally re-erected on the former cites. olice action to move them on the 12th January was met by resistance. As the police party approached through a narrow alley leading to the "walled city", they were act by loua shouts and a heavy barrage of stones from a crowd of over 100 persont. several of the police sere hit mad the mob was obviously acting on a pre-arranged plan. olice efforts to quieten the mob were drowned in the clamour, kad it was necessary for the police thea to fire warning shote from revolvoră,

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were without effect on the crowd and tear smoke was then used, which had the desired effect or disper:lag the crowd, The police were then able to remove the hunts 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 seriously The latter had an abdominal wound caused by a bullet, most likely an accidental ricochet. The latest information we have from Hong kong concerning the casualties is that the cunuition of the live

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