10
gamblers, and criminals of all kinds, while its insanitary condition constitutes it a menace to the physical health of Hong Kong.
A further consideration, and one of no little importance, is the fact that if the city with its water frontage be allowed to remain in the hands of native officials, Chinese vessels could presumably claim the right to lie off its foreshore, and would thus afford a pretext for the Chinese revenue cruisers to exercise their powers within the limits of Hong Kong harbour.
It is therefore, as your Lordship will perceive, not without cause that the public of this Colony view with something like consternation the insertion of a provision in the Convention that can hardly fail to give rise to continual and vexatious complications. The retention of Chinese jurisdiction over the present seat of government of the leased territory, moreover, could not fail to exercise a malign influence on the minds of the natives, and would assuredly have a damaging effect on British prestige in South Chins.
Although my Committee have not, so far, been favoured with a perusal of the full text of the Convention, they have reason to fear that concessions may have been promised to the Imperial Maritime Customs, who at present, by means of their stations and cruisers, maintain a species of blockade of the junk trade of the port, which trade has been practically unprogressive since the establishment of their office in the City of Victoria some twelve years ago. There is, in the Committee's opinion, a well founded impression that the natural growth of the native distributing trade of the Colony is restricted by the action of the Customs, and they had hoped that, with the extension of the Colony's frontiers, the Customs station and their central office would have been relegated to the Chinese border, and thus leave Hong Kong in fact, as in name, a free port of trade.
Being persuaded that the question was one of urgent and pressing importance, my Committee deemed it advisable to despatch the following telegram to your Lordship on the
16th instant :-
"Marquess Salisbury, London. "Hong Kong Chamber Commerce strenuously urges Government insist absolute freedom from Chinese Customs and jurisdiction whole Kowloon extension territory including city. Anything less renders situation most unsatisfactory, leading to endless complications.
"GRAY, Chairman.”
In conclusion, my Committee venture to regret that, in a matter so nearly affecting the interests of this Colony, no opportunity has been hitherto afforded to the residents of learning the provisions of the Convention or of expressing an opinion thereon.
To the Most Noble the Marquess of Salisbury, K.G., Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State
I have, &c.,
R. M. GRAY,
Chairman.
(No. 61.)
SIR,
11
Enclosure in No. 17.
Her Britannic Majesty's Consulate,
Canton, July 18, 1898.
I HAVE the honour to enclose translation and copy of a despatch from the Viceroy of the Two Kuang, and, in accordance with the request contained therein, I have also the honour to enclose for the information of the Officer Administering the Government translation and copy of the Regulations affecting the new extension of territory at Kowloon.
I am sending copy of the despatch and its enclosure to Her Majesty's Minister.
I have, &c..
The Acting Colonial Secretary, Hong Kong.
Viceroy T'AN to Mr. Mansfield.
R. W. MANSFIELD,
Consul.
SIB,
Kuang Hsu, 24 y. 5 m. 27 d., July 15, 1898. SOME days ago I had the honour to receive your despatch with regard to the settlement at Hong Kong, in which you asked me to depute an officer to discuss matters with you.
I have accordingly, as a first measure, drawn up Regulations in eleven clauses on the lines of the despatch received from the Tsungli Yamen, and I have entrusted the manage- ment of this matter to my Foreign Deputy, Wang Ts'un-shan, a Taotai en disponibilité for Kuangtung.
I have, therefore, the honour to request you to transmit the Regulations to His Excellency the Governor of Hong Kong.
If, after perusal thereof, he finds he can arrange matters in accordance with these Regulations, I will, at an early date, despatch an Official to Hong Kong to determine the boundaries.
Enclosed is a copy of the Regulations,
I have, &c.,
(Seal of Viceroy).
G. D. PITZIPIOS,
(Translator).
PUBLIC RECORD
OFFICE
Reference :---
mimmim THELICO. 882
5
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH--NOT TO
18928.
(No. 209.)
for Foreign Affairs.
No. 17.
ACTING-GOVERNOR BLACK to MR. CHAMBERLAIN. (Received August 22, 1898.)
Government House, Hong Kong, July 22, 1898.
SIB,
I HAVE the honour to transmit for your consideration, copy of a letter and its enclosures, received from Her Britannic Majesty's Consul at Canton, and to invite particular attention to Clause 10 of the second enclosure, which relates to a question not touched on in the Convention.
These papers will be shown to Mr. Lockhart on his arrival.
I have, &c.,
W. BLACK,
Major-General, Administering the Government.
REGULATIONS WITH REGARD TO THE NEW SETTLEMENT at Hong Kong.
Regulations.
1. The boundaries, as shown in the map. are upon the authority of the Teungli Yamen's original map, and in delimiting the boundaries according to this map, there will be no need for discussion (as to its authority).
2. After the boundaries have been determined, boundary stones shall be erected, the Chinese incription on which shall read "Boundary of the New Settlement in extension of Hong Kong.” The English incription shall read "Boundary of the Settlement," and the expression" Boundary of the Colony" must not be used.
3. The officials of the City of Kowloon shall, as heretofore, exercise their several functions within the City, but they must not place any impediments in the way of military works connected with the defences of Hong Kong.
4. Chinese officials and people shall, as usual, make free use of the existing road between Kowloon and the Hsin An district without let or hindrance.
5. Chinese vessels of war, merchant ships, passage boats, and other craft of all kinds shall have free access to and liberty to anchor at the landing stages at Kowloon City, and the officials and people of the City shall make free use of the said landing stages.
6. Hereafter, when any railway line, constructed by China, approaches the boundary of the territory newly leased to England, each country shall depute officials to deliberate as to what action shall be taken.
7. The population resident in the new settlement shall continue in the undisturbed pursuit of their former occupations, and no pressure shall be brought to bear on them to make them remove. Their landed property shall not be confiscated to Government use,
69%
87
12
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.