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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference -

MTINC.O. 882

5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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Hong Kong Government that smuggling shall be prevented as far as possible; how many additional police will be required, and what steam launches or other equipments of water police.

b. By what means revenue can in the first instance be best raised from the new territory, without exciting the suspicions or irritating the feelings and prejudices of the Chinese inhabitants. This point is very important, as the existing revenues of Hong Kong must not be unduly strained to pay for the cost of the new territory, which should be from the first, as far as possible, self- supporting. In connection with this it may be necessary to consider what taxation is at present borne by the population of the district, and how it is raised.

c. What lands will be available as Crown Lands.

d. How best to deal with the question of the administration of justice, especially in regard to the circumstances of Kowloon city. In considering the case of Kowloon city, it must be borne in mind whether the area thus described cannot be held to be strictly limited by the city walls.

e. Whether there are any pressing questions, e.g., native prisons, &c, likely to create a scandal if not summarily dealt with as soon as British control comes into being.

6. The above will serve as a general guide to you in prosecuting your enquiries, and you will use your own discretion as to any other question upon which you may consider it desirable to report. You will be careful to keep the Officer Administering the Government informed on any points on which you propose to make recommendations. You will take instructions from him in all ordinary matters, and will consult with him in any question as to which you may be in doubt.

7. You will receive your usual full salary, payable in Hong Kong, from the date of your departure from this country until the date of your return, and during your stay in Hong Kong you will not revert to any of your ordinary duties as Colonial Secretary or Registrar-General, but will devote yourself entirely to the objects of your special mission. You will be at liberty on your return to avail yourself of the balance of your leave of absence, on full or half salary as the case may be.

8. The Officer Administering the Government has been requested to afford you every facility in his power for conducting your enquiries, and you will render to him an account of your expenses. The War Office and the Admiralty have also been invited to co-operate with you to any extent in their power.

9. The Crown Agents for th Colonies have been instructed to provide a free first-class passage for you by the steamer leaving vid the Vancouver route on the 25th inst., and the Hong Kong Government will provide the return passage.

10. It seems probable that about a month will be sufficient for you to obtain all the information that may be necessary for the purposes of your report; and as Mr. Cham- berlain is anxious that you should return to this country before the departure of Sir H. Blake in October, you should make it your endeavour to accomplish your mission as quickly as possible. Should you, however, find that circumstances will not admit of your obtaining the necessary information within a month's time, you should communi- cate with the Officer Administering the Government at once, so that Mr. Chamberlain may be informed by telegraph.

11. It is desirable that, if possible, you should take with you on your visit or visita to the territory in question some one with scientific knowledge, an R.E. officer, for instance, if there is one at Hong Kong who can be spared, in order that some knowledge may be gained of the geology, the water supply, and the possible resources of the land so far as they are not already known. But your mission must not be delayed for the purpose of obtaining information of this kind, and if by the end of a month from your arrival in Hong Kong the research into these subjecta is still incomplete, its completion must be postponed until a further opportunity.

I am, &c.,

C. P. LUCAS.

13111

8.

SIB,

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No. 3.

COLONIAL OFFICE to ADMIRALTY.

[Answered by No. 8.]

Downing Street, June 23, 1898. I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to acquaint you, for the information of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, that he has directed Mr. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, C.M.G., Colonial Secretary and Registrar-General of Hong Kong, at present on leave of absence in this country, to visit and report upon the territory on the main- land adjacent to Hong Kong about to be leased by the Chinese Government to Her Majesty.

2. It is proposed that Mr. Lockhart shall leave this country by the Vancouver route on the 25th inst., arriving at Hong Kong on the 2nd August, and it is anticipated that his visit to the new territory will occupy about a month.

3. The district to be traversed by Mr. Lockhart presents considerable difficulties

in the way of locomotion, and it would materially advance the objects of his mission if gunboat or other vessel could be placed at his disposal, so as to enable him to land, if desired, at various points along the coast. Mr. Chamberlain would therefore be very glad if it should be in their Lordships' power to co-operate with him to this extent, and to issue the necessary instructions by telegraph to the naval authorities at Hong Kong. Mr. Chamberlain thinks, moreover, that in view of the information to be gained respect- ing the new territory their Lordships may possibly think it desirable, for their own purposes, to direct a naval officer to accompany Mr. Lockhart.

10111

S.

SIR,

No. 4.

COLONIAL OFFICE to WÁR OFFICE.

[Answered by No. 9.]

I am, &c.,

C. P. LUCAS.

Downing Street, June 23, 1898. I AM directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to acquaint you, for the information of the Secretary of State for War, that he has directed Mr. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, C.M.G., Colonial Secretary and Registrar-General of Hong Kong, at present on leave of absence in this country, to visit and report upon the territory on the mainland adjacent to Hong Kong, about to be leased by the Chinese Government to Her Majesty. 2. It is proposed that Mr. Lockhart shall leave this country by the Vancouver route on the 25th inst., arriving at Hong Kong on the 2nd August, and it is anticipated that his visit to the new territory will occupy about a month. It would materially assist Mr. Lockhart in his enquiries into the nature of the country if an officer of the Royal Engineers could be instructed to accompany him, and report upon the geology and resources of the territory; and if Lord Lansdowne should see no objection to this, Mr. Chamberlain would be glad if the necessary instructions could be sent by telegraph to the General Officer Commanding at Hong Kong.

I am, &c.,

No. 5.

C. P. LUCAS

MR. CHAMBERLAIN to ACTING-GOVERNOR BLACK.

13111 S.

(Secret.)

Downing Street, June 24, 1898.

SIE,

You will have learned from my cypher telegram of the 10th inst that the con vention for the extension of the boundaries of Hong Kong, a copy of which has singe been forwarded to you by Her Majesty's Ambassador at Pekin, was signed on the preceding day.

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• 13111 S. not printed.

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