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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :--

EPLENIC.O. 882

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

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

(Translation.)

158

NOTIFICATION issued by the Governor-General of the Two Kwong and the Governor of the Kwong Tung Province.

For general information:

Whereas Kowloon has been leased under the instructions of the Emperor, and the boundary has been defined in accordance with the map sent by the Taung li Yamen, the following agreement has been come to with the foreign officials:-

(1) The people are to be treated with exceptional kindness.

(2) Houses and land cannot be bought by force.

The graves in the leased territory shall never be removed.

The local customs and habits shall all remain entirely unchanged, according to the wishes of the inhabitants.

Thus the villages and market towns of you who live in the leased territory, will be in exactly the same position as if they were in China.

Wherefore this notification is issued for the information of all. Know that what- ever occurs in the villages and market towns of China has now nothing to do with you (who live in the leased territory). You must not under any pretext upset or mislead people's minds. You people living in the villages and market towns of the leased territory must on the other hand follow your ordinary occupations, and abide by the law as before.

If you dare to disobey the Imperial Decree or stir up trouble in any way, there is now a large military force in the territory, and the guilty will be arrested and punished without mercy.

Let every one tremble and obey.

An important notice.

24th day, 2nd moon, 25th year of Kwong (4th April, 1899).

Enclosure 3 in No. 159.

THE KOWLOON EXTENSION.

PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR.

We have received from the Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, C.M.G., the following translation of the Chinese Proclamation issued by His Excellency Sir Henry A. Blake, G.C.M.G., Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Hongkong and its Dependencies, and Vice-Admiral of the same.

Whereas His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of China has leased to Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland as an extension of the Colony of Hong Kong, certain territory situated in the district of San On, and certain islands adjacent thereto, the boundaries of which are as hereunder stated, viz. :-

The northern boundary commences at the point of high water mark in Mirs Bay where the meridian of 114° 30′ east bisects the land, and follows that high water mark to a point immediately to the west of Sha Tau Kok, and then follows the road along the northern edge of this town till the middle of a stream becomes the boundary as far as the road to Kang Hau. From Kang Hau to about a quarter of a mile west of Kang To the northern edge of the road is the boundary. From this point to the mouth of the Sham Chun river the northern bank of the Sham Chun river forms the boundary. From the mouth of the Sham Chun river the boundary follows the high water mark along the coast of Deep Bay till the point where the meridian of 113° 52′ bisects the land.

The eastern boundary is 114° 30′ east longitude.

The western boundary is 118° 52' east longitude.

The southern boundary is 22° 9′ north latitude.

All the islands situated within those boundaries are within the lessed ares, as are

all the waters of Mirs Bay and Deep Bay.

And whereas Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to appoint me as Governor of the said territory, and whereas it is desirable that British and Chinese territory should

be clearly defined so that the friendly relations now existing between the two nations may be always maintained.

Now therefore I have fixed the 17th day of April, 1899, as the date on which the British flag shall be hoisted and the administration of the territory be taken over by duly authorised British officers.

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To remove any cause for suspicion in your minds as to the good intentions of the British Government and to prevent you from being deceived and misled through ignor- ance by false reports disseminated by lawless persons who may seek to further their own interests by thus causing trouble, it is right for me to warn you against such persons and to assure you that all the inhabitants residing within the limits of British territory will be permitted to follow undisturbed their lawful occupations, whatever they may be. I would also impress upon you that this territory having been leased by His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of China to Her Britannic Majesty the Queen, as sub- jects of Her Majesty's Empire, your commercial and landed interests will be safe- guarded, and that your usages and good customs will not in any way be interfered with. It is the wish of Her Majesty the Queen that all her subjects in every part of the world shall be prosperous and happy, and it will be my duty to assist you to improve your position by every means in my power. The most respected of your elders will be chosen to assist in the management of your village affairs, to secure peace and good order and the punishment of evil doers. I expect you to obey the laws that are made for your benefit, and all persons who break the law will be punished severely.

It will be necessary for you to register without delay your titles for the land ooou- pied by you, that the true owners may be known. Should any land be required for public purposes it will be paid for at its full value.

Remember that as subjects of the Great British Empire your perfect freedom from oppression is assured. Should you have any complaint to make the Governor will always be willing to hear it and to order what is right. There will be no injustice allowed, nor any laxity in the administration of justice. All must render implicit obedience.

12449.

No. 160.

GOVERNOR SIR H. A. BLAKE to MR. CHAMBERLAIN. (Received, 4.10 p.m., May 16, 1899.)

TELEGRAM.

[Copy to Foreign Office, May 17, 1899, L.F.] [Answered by No. 161.]

Sham Chan and Kowloon City occupied to-day without resistance. I shall retain Sham Chun in military occupation only pending receipt of full instructions,

12449.

No. 161,

MR. CHAMBERLAIN to Governor Sir H. A. BLAKE.

(Sent 12.5 p.m., May 17, 1899.)

TELEGRAM.

[Cepy to Foreign Office, May 19, 1899, L.F.] [Answered by No. 162.]

I have received your telegram of May 16," and congratulate you on very successful operations. Further instructions will be sent in due course. Please report further as to attitude of Chinese.

• No. 160.

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