CO537-3711 — Page 104

Coming to actual facts, I personally investigated

conditions in Kowloon City.

There are 64 h.uses

These

(including wooden structures) with 436 inhabitants.

people are generally farmers, hawsers, sasons and coolies and

their activities are confined to the markets in the vicinity

of Kowl on Jity. If they move to Kau hut Ling, the district

is very distant from the markets and the livelih od of these

eople will be greatly affected.

Besides, all the residents in Kowloon City are

poor people without any savings. The present orders require

them to move to Kau shut Ling where housen are to be construc-

ted at the cost of not less than 500. The District Officer

for the outhern District, however, only grants to the resi-

dents compen-ation ranging from a fow tens of dollars to $200.

Though these residents are ninally given land and asked to

move their residences, they have actually no means with which

to build houses. The result will be that those people will be

renuered workless and homeles8.

As relations between China and Great Britain

have all along bean cordial, it does not eam that the con-

struction of a public park of a sail scale should cause dig-

utus over Treaties and create ulcery for hun.reds of geo le.

3h ulu the Hongkong Government intend to introduce measures

for the promotion of canitation and peace in Towibon City, the

Chinese Governant will certainly be ready to take up discuB-

sions out heartily.

I havo, therefore, the h nour to write you as above

and to request you to transmit our request to the Hongkong

Government to cancel the decision requizing the removal of the

Kowloon City residents for the promotion of cordial relations.

I have the honour to request the favour of a reply.

I have, etc., etc.,

KAN OHI M-HOU.

Inspector-G-neral of Foreign ftaire

for 5 rovinces.

K.