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PAPER A.
No. 1.
Additional Information about Kowloon City and the early history of the dispute as to
jurisdiction over it.
Kowloon City.
1.
When leased to Great Britain in 1898,
Kowloon City was an enclosed area surrounded
by a stone wall forming as nearly as possible
a parallelogram, measuring 700 feet by 400 feet.
At that time, it had a total Chinese population
of about 744 persons, the garrison amounting
to 544 and the civil population to 200.
After the British authorities took possession
of Kowloon City in May, 1899, very few changes
occurred there until Hong Kong was occupied by
the Japanese during the Second World War. At
the present time the City can only be
described as a ruin. The city wall, with the
exception of a portion about 60 feet long at
the north-east corner, was demolished in 1942
by the Japanese to obtain materials for the
extension of Kai Tak Aerodrome. Only two
buildings remain, a school which is in a
dilapidated condition, and a home for aged
Negotiations leading to the Convention of 9th June, 1898.
women.
2.
Attached is a plan showing the position
and extent of Kowloon City. The former city
wall is shown in red. A triangular area to
the north of the city was formerly enclosed
by a low wall which no longer exists.
3.
As a set off to certain concessions to
the French, the Chinese authorities expressed
their readiness on April 11th, 1898, to lease
to Her Majesty's Government as much additional
territory/
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