CO537-3711 — Page 111

(Translation)

F 6068/1099/10

of 1934.

From Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to

H.M. Minister, reking.

NANKING

COPY

MEMORANDUM

7th September (Received 10.9.1934)

The Ministry of Foreign affairs present their compliments to His Majesty'a Legation and have the honour to acknowledge receipt of a memorandum dated the 14th August on the subject of the eviction by the Hong Kong Government of the residenta of Kowloon City. The Ministry however find that there are considerable discrepancies between the facts as reported to them and the statements contained in the memorandum under acknowledgment, and has the honour therefore to submit the following statement:-

There follows a detailed statement on complaints reccived from the inhabitants of Kowloon City. ¡

"

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs have the honour to observe that the proceedings of the Hong Kong Government in this case having obviously been at variance with the spirit of the treaty stipulations, this ministry, has already, in a Note dated the 27th July 1933, requested that the Hong Kong Government be moved to withdraw their original design as is on record. In June of this year however further reports were received that the Hong Kong Government had notwithstanding the above request, again issued a Notification setting a time-limit for the forcible eviction of the residents, in apparently complete disregard of the intentions of the treaties and the sense of this Kinistry's previous Note. The rights of jurisdiction within Kowloon City have always been patently distinct from the newly leused territories outside the city which are exclusively under British juris- diction; the people within the city therefore without exception come in every respect under the control of the Chinese Government and the authority of His Excellency the Governor of Hong Kong cannot of course be exercised within the City.

In His Majesty's Minister's Note under acknowledgment it is stated that "the vast majority of the residents of Kowloon City have gladly accepted the Governor'a offer" but according to the reports quoted above they were in fact overawed by a display of authority and did not gladly accept the terms offered

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs have the honour therefore to reiterate their request that the Hong Kong Government be moved to reconsider the matter in a spirit of equity und immediately withdra" or auspend the orders issued regarding the residenta of Kowloon City so that friendly relations may be strengthened. The favour of a reply is requested.

JAME (P MINI,TRY OP PIGN A PAIRS.

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