CO537-3711 — Page 83

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN.

abundantly proved to be not only "inconsistent

with military requirements" but a positive

source of danger to Hong Kong. On 24th December, 1899, the Yamen addressed a secret

letter to Her Majesty's Chargé setting forth

a new argument, namely that the position as

regards Kowloon was analogous to that of

Kinchow within the Port Arthur area leased to

Russia and that if Kowloon were not administered

by Chinese officials it might cause Russia

to conceive designs to the detriment of China.

On 2nd January, 1900, Sir Claude MacDonald

transmitted to the Chinese Government a copy of

the Note of 30th May, 1899, mentioned above, and stated that he could hold out no hope of

their request being granted.

16. This appears to have ended the official

correspondence with the Yamen. In January,

1900, however, at interviews with Sir Claude

MacDonald, the Governor of Hong Kong and Her

Majesty's Consul at Canton, the newly

appointed Chinese Viceroy of Canton again

raised the question of the restoration of

Chinese jurisdiction over Kowloon. His main

argument appears to have been the analogy with

Kinchow.

17. The matter was submerged in the anti-

foreign agitation leading up to the Boxer

Rebellion which took place later in 1900 and

the Hong Kong authorities have continued since

then to exercise jurisdiction over Kowloon City.

So far as is known the Chinese Government did

not make any further protest until 1933.