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F 4264/4264/10/1935

CHINA

Telegram from His Majesty's Minister, Peking, to Foreign Office containing text of telegram to him from Chinese Ministry for Foreign Affairs of 1st July, 1935. Telegram (en clair) from Sir A. Cadogan

(No. 647)

Peking, 3rd July, 1935. Following is translation of telegram from Waichiaopu, 1st July. Begins:- Your Excellency, it is reported by representatives of persons resident within Kowloon City that the Hong Kong Government, on the grounds that six of the new houses at Koushihling are now completed, has through the new territories District Office, Southern District, notified Wu Hsieng and five other persons that they are to move in within a week, while the remainder are all to move in as soon as the new houses are built. Owing to this intimidation, the residents are unable to live in peace. Moreover the houses are too far from the market and it is difficult for the inhabitants to seek a livelihood. They have, therefore, telegraphed imploring assistance. It is hoped Your Excellency will refer to the Waichiaopu's memorandum dated 7th September, 1934, and telegraph with all speed to the Hong Kong Government moving them to consider the matter in the light of equality and immediately withdraw or suspend the order issued relative to persons resident within Kowloon City, so as to strengthen friendly relations, and the favour of reply is requested. Waichiaopu. Ends.

F 5822/4264/10/1935

His Majesty's Ambassador, Peking, to Chinese Ministry for Foreign Affairs Sir,

Peking, 5th August, 1935.

I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that I duly brought to the notice of the Officer Administering the Government of Hong Kong the contents of the telegram, addressed to me by the Wai Chiao Pu on 29th June, which alleged intimidation of certain residents of Kowloon City in the matter of their removal to new houses which were stated to be situated at such a distance from the market as to render difficult the livelihood of the occupants.

In reply I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that there has been no intimidation by the Government of Hong Kong who point out that the residents in question were offered very generous terms which they accepted, and that they are now expected loyally to adhere to their acceptance. As regards the situation of the new houses I have the honour to inform Your Excellency that they are only just over one mile from Kowloon City and are on a road which can be used by motor traffic.

I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to Your Excellency the assurance of my highest consideration.

(Signed)

ALEXANDER CADOGAN.

Minister for Foreign Affairs a.i., Nanking.

His Excellency Monsieur Wang Ching-Wei,

F 7716/4434/10/1936

Chinese Ministry for Foreign Affairs to His Majesty's Ambassador Peking

26th October, 1936.

Sir,

I have the honour to inform your Excellency with reference to the enforced removal by the Hong Kong Government of the residents of Kowloon City that I have received a report from the Special Delegate for Kwantung and Kwangsi to the following effect :—

According to an oral statement made at this office by representatives of the residents of Kowloon City the District Office, Southern District, Hong Kong, has altered the place to which they have to remove to Ya Ch'ien Wei and has fixed the end of the present year as the date before which all the residents must remove. and they accordingly request that the matter be taken up with the appropriate authorities."

efer to

In this connexion I have the honour to refer to Sir Alexander Cadogan's Note of 5th August, 1935, communicating the contents of the reply received by him from the Hong Kong Government. On receipt of that Note my predecessor