CO882-(4-5) — Page 505

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :--

C.O. 882

5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

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has 119 embrasures. It is approached by four flights of stone steps. (See Sketch Plans of Kowloon City and Neighbourhood, Maps VIII. and IX., and photographs.)

According to a return (see Appendix 10) furnished by the Deputy Magistrate, the total population of Kowloon city is 744; the garrison amounts to 544; the civil population to 200. The officials stationed within the city are, with the exception of one civil officer, a Deputy Magistrate, military officers, the head of whom is the Colonel Commanding. This officer is the chief military officer in the district of San On; is immediately subordinate to the T'i Tu, or General in Command of all the land forces in the province of Kwong-tung. The Colonel's jurisdiction is purely a military one, ex- tending over the whole district of San On and the islands adjacent thereto. His original headquarters were at Taipang (see Map VII., showing residences of officials), and his official designation is still Taipang Hip, or Colonel stationed at Taipang, at which place he has a yamên, or official quarters. The reason for his having taken up a resi- dence within the city of Kowloon was to place him in closer relations with the Colony of Hong Kong.

As the garrison now under the command of the Colonel is maintained for the defence of the district of San On and the adjoining islands, and as the larger portion of that district and most of the islands are to be leased by the British Government, most of the soldiers now supposed to exist under the Colonel's command will be disbanded or transferred elsewhere, whilst the services of those retained will be required not within, but outside the territory referred to in the Convention. The residence, therefore, of the Colonel Commanding and of his troops within the city of Kowloon is entirely unneces sary. But even if it were necessary, the military requirements for the defence of Hong Kong must surely render it impossible to allow the retention in the very heart of the territory of a garrison of soldiers belonging to a foreign power, however friendly that power may be.

The only civil officer resident within the city is a Deputy Magistrate. He is appointed not to control the 200 civilians resident within the city, who are really subject to the military, but to exercise a somewhat extensive jurisdiction outside the city, throughout a large portion of the new area. When that area has been taken over, there appears to be no reason why this office of Deputy Magistrate should continue to exist, as the jurisdiction now exercised by him will be merged in the ailministration of the territory under British rule.

The civil population within the city of Kowloon, amounting to 200, lives there simply because it is dependent on the military. It does not engage in trade, there being no shops of any kind within the city. If the military remove from the city, the civil population is sure to follow, so there will be no one remaining over whom a Chinese officer could exercise jurisdiction.

In any case it appears to be entirely inconsistent with the military requirements for the defence of Hong Kong to allow a garrison town like Kowloon to be occupied per- manently by Chinese military officers and troops. If that view be accepted, there seems to be nothing to justify the retention of Chinese jurisdiction in any shape or form within the city, for without the garrison the population will, it is certain, be reduced to nothing.

Should

any

civilians remain after the removal of the military, they might be allowed to establish a native tribunal presided over by the elders and gentry, but subject, of course, in the same way as the other native tribunals throughout the territory, to the control of the travelling magistrate, and possessing the right of appeal to the Council of the Tung, and finally to the Commissioner.

CONCLUSION,

In conclusion, it may, I trust, be gathered from the account of the new territory that it will form a valuable extension of Hong Kong. It is favourably situated, has good harbours with safe anchorages, possesses a rich soil, and is inhabited by an indus- trious, hardy, and frugal race. Under Chinese rule enterprise has been at a discount, and

has been at a standstill for centuries. The San On district of to-day must progress be much the same as it was four or five hundred years ago. But when British rule is established, and the people realise that justice prevails, that they are allowed to pursue their avocations in peace and freedom from illicit extortions, and that there is no unnecessary interference with their manners and customs, the spirit of enterprise will soon manifest itself, capitalists will be attracted to a region whore their capital is not liable to official "squeezes," the resources of the country will be developed, and its prosperity will continue to increase.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART.

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Appendix No. 1.

CONVENTION.

Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong.

Whereas it has for many years past been recognized that an extension of Hong Kong territory is necessary for the proper defence and protection of the Colony

It has now been agreed between the Governments of Great Britain and China that the limits of British territory shall be enlarged under lease to the extent indicated generally on the annexed map. The exact boundaries shall be hereafter fixed when proper surveys have been made by officials appointed by the two Governments. The term of this lease shall be 99 years.

It is at the same time agreed that within the City of Kowloon the Chinese officials now stationed there shall continue to exercise jurisdiction except so far as may be inconsistent with the military requirements for the defence of Hong Kong. Within the remainder of the newly leased territory Great Britain shall have sole jurisdiction. Chinese officials and people shall be allowed as heretofore to use the road from Kowloon to Hsinan.

It is further agreed that the existing landing place near Kowloon City shall be reserved for the convenience of Chinese men-of-war, merchant and passenger vessels, which may come and go and lie there at their pleasure; and for the convenience of movement of the officials and people within the city.

When hereafter China constructs a railway to the boundary of the Kowloon terri- tory under British control, arrangements shall be discussed.

It is further understood that there will be no expropriation or expulsion of the inhabitants of the district included within the extension, and that if land is required for public offices, fortifications, or the like official purposes, it shall be bought at a fair price. If cases of extradition of criminals occur, they shall be dealt with in accordance with the existing treaties between Great Britain and China and the Hong Kong Regulations.

The area leased to Great Britain, as shown on the annexed map, includes the waters of Mirs Bay and Deep Bay, but it is agreed that Chinese vessels of war, whether neutral or otherwise, shall retain the right to use those waters.

This Convention shall come into force on the 1st day of July, 1888, being the 13th day of the 5th moon of the 24th year of Kuang-Hsu. It shall be ratified by the Sove- reigns of the two countries, and the ratifications shall be exchanged in London as soon as possible.

In witness whereof the undersigned, duly authorised thereto by their respective Governments, have signed the present agreement.

Done at Peking in quadruplicate (4 copies in English and 4 in Chinese) the 9th day

of June in the year of our Lord, 1898, being the 21st day of the 4th moon of the 24th year of Kuang-Hsu.

(Sd.) (Sd.)

CLAUDE M. MACDONALD.

LI (HUNG-CHANG). Hsu (YING-KUEI). '

Appendix No. 1a.

(L. S.)

Seal of

Trangli Yamen.

REPORT ON THE HARBOURS IN MIRS BAY, by COMMANDER DE HORSEY, R.N.

1. Starling Inlet. Good anchorage in 4 fms. Head of bay too shallow for purposes of navigation. If road be brought down to either side of bay on parallel 114 14' 30" E. ships drawing 21 feet of water could lie alongside a short pier.

2. Crooked Harbour.

3.

Good protected anchorages in 6 to 7 fms. Useful only Double Haven. for fishing requirements.

4. Anchorage under Pingchau Island. Good anchorage in 7 fms., but much taken up with fishing stakes and unimportant for line of communication.

route.

5. Plover Cove. Very good anchorage in all weathers in 44 fms., but out of trade