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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882

سل سلسا

TIT

5

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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determined to build mataheds as temporary quarters, so that when our flag is hoisted the large district shall not be left derelict, but that our police would at once take n their protective duties, and the other departments could enter upon their work of registration, road making, &c., &c., without any delay. If the erection of the matsbeds were resisted it would necessitate the postponement of all work until the territory had been taken over; the protection of working parties by British troops and armed police; or the continuance of the work with the active co-operation of the Chinese authorities. The last seemed to me by far the most desirable course; but instructions from Pekin, even if obtained without delay, have hitherto been carried out in a rather perfunctory manner, and I had been repeatedly informed by our Consul at Canton that it was use- less for him to try to get the Viceroy to move. Not to stamp out at once the first indi- cation of resistance would be to court grave trouble on the hoisting of our flag, and I felt that if I could secure the co-operation of the Viceroy, it would have an excellent effect. Therefore I went without delay. I am quite satisfied with the result. The Viceroy has done everything that I requested, and without an hour's delay. A proclamation has been sent by him warning the people against disorder or opposition. Six hundred soldiers have been sent into the district to prevent any attempt at disturbance, or re- sistance to the erection of sheds, and orders have been sent to arrest the author of the placard extensively posted, a translation of which was forwarded by me last Saturday.*

2. On the morning following the attack upon Mr. May and his party and the burning of one of the matsheds, one hundred men of the Royal Welsh Fusiners marched into the village of Tai-po-hui, where, having examined a number of inhabitants, Mr. Stewart Lockhart got the names of several ringleaders. The soldiers purchased tea, which was prepared for them in the village, and employed sampans to take them off to the ship, for all of which, of course, money was paid. Two hundred Chinese soldiers proceed to the villages of Tai-po-hui and its neighbourhood to-day, and I think that by the 17th, the people will heartily welcome the hoisting of our flag, which will relieve them of the presence of men who do not usually pay for what they require in the villages in which they are quartered.

3. I am not disposed to attach much importance to this atack upon Mr. May and his party. Such a sudden access of militant irritability is not uncommon in Ireland, and subsides as rapidly as it rises. There were two matsheds erected, a large one for the temporary barracks, and a small one for the workmen. The latter only was burnt. Had the destruction of the matsheds been previously determined upon, they would not have left the principal one intact, both being undefended at the time, as the police with the Chinese soldiers had retired over the hill.

I have, &c.,

No. 159.

HENRY A. BLAKE,

Governor, &c.

12275.

GOVERNOR SIR H. A. BLAKE to MR. CHAMBERLAIN.

(No. 93.) SIR,

(Received May 15, 1899.)

[Answered by No. 169.]

Government House, Hong Kong, April 15, 1899. REFERRING to my despatch, No. 88, of the 7th instant,† I have the honour to inform you that to the 12th instant everything appeared to proceed quietly in the Tai Po Hui, where the erection of matsheds was being proceeded with, neighbourhood of presumably under the protection ordered by the Viceroy after his interview with me on the 2nd instant.

2. On the 10th instant I received an intimation from the Secretary of Legation at Pekin that he had, in accordance with instructions received from Her Majesty's Govern- ment, informed the Chinese Government that their Customs could not function (sic) in the territory or waters of this Colony.

3. On the 11th instant I received from Her Majesty's Consul at Canton the despatch addressed to him by the Viceroy, of which, with my reply, I enclose a copy.

† No. 141.

• No. 135.

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A reference to my despatch, No. 87,* will show how extremely improbable it is that the viceroy could have misunderstood my statement about the Customs.

4. On Wednesday, the 12th instant, nine of the elders of the Tai Po Hui district came in to kow tow to me, and present a petition, a translation of which I enclose, praying for clemency. I said in reply that the property destroyed must be paid for, to which they agreed. I promised that if that were done I should accept their statement that the people had been led astray by some designing people, and were sorry for what had occurred, and that no further action would be taken in the matter. They ex- pressed themselves as being satisfied with the cession of the territory to England, and I explained to them fully the system of local government that I proposed to adopt, which seemed to please them. I also informed them of the proposed arrangements for hoisting the flag at Tai Po Hui on the 17th, and expressed a hope that the elders and people of the district would attend and hear what I had to say to them.

5. The reports from the district were that everything was quiet, the people civil, and the work of erecting the matsheds was progressing rapidly, so that they would be ready for occupation on Monday next.

6. I had arranged all the details of the force to be stationed in the new territory for the present, Major-General Gascoigne co-operating most cordially. The 20 police who are to be stationed at Tai Po Hui were to proceed to-day, and take up their quarters so as to be in readiness for Monday's ceremony, and a company of the Hong Kong Regiment was also to proceed to-day, and remain under canvas, while on Monday half the battalion will proceed and encamp in the neighbourhood on an excellent camping ground, where they will go through their annual military training.

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7. Yesterday morning the Director of Public Works had an intimation from one of the respectable inhabitants of the district that number of rowdy characters had collected in the valley, and as there was no protection at all now given to the matsheds he was afraid that if left unprotected they might be burnt before Monday. On hearing this, I at once despatched Mr. May, the Captain Superintendent of Police, with the party who are to be stationed at Tai Po Hui, to occupy the quarters, the Commodore kindly sending them to Mirs Bay by a torpedo destroyer. When they arrived they found but the smouldering remains of the matsheds, which some of the villagers declared were burnt during the morning by a number of bad characters from over the border. On the summit of the hills to the north Mr. May saw about 150 men, with two flags, one of them apparently a Japanese flag, who exploded bombs and crackers. Mr. May and the party returned.

8. Having obtained from the General the loan of the necessary number of tents, I have sent Mr. May and his party back to-day, with the Company of the Hong Kong Regiment, to encamp on the ground, and have the flagstaff erected. I have directed the Director of Public Works to proceed without delay with the erection of the permanent buildings. I do not think there is any probability that this force will be attacked. They will not take notice of any demonstration on the opposite hills, except an attack be made, pending the formal assumption of jurisdiction on Monday. After that we shall make our jurisdiction respected.

9. The Viceroy having undertaken to protect those matsheds, I submit that, the Chinese Government is responsible for the damage done, and should be called upon to make good the amount. The district is well known in Canton to be turbulent, that to the north-east of Mirs Bay being noted for piracy, and so ill-disposed that I am informed that no Customs official dares to land there except with the support of a revenue

cruiser.

10. I regret this occurrence very much, and I cannot help connecting it with the letter of the 11th instant written by the Viceroy to Her Majesty's Consul at Canton. Up to that date the relations with the people were most friendly. I apprehend that with the large population of Sham Chun and its neighbourhood marching with our borders and unrestrained by the Chinese officials, there may be difficulties ahead. We must only be patient and forbearing, at the same time suppressing at once any active opposition to our jurisdiction under the terms of the Convention of the 9th June, 1898.

I have, &c.,

HENRY A. BLAKE

Governor, &c.

I have the honour to enclose herewith a copy of a proclamation issued by me and circulated in the leased area.

• No. 140.

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