ال
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
لسلسلسلة
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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the East River includes the most turbulent portion of all China. It contains the head- quarters of the Triad Society, and the districts are composed of practically robber clans. Such a district as even Sam Chum to the summit of the hills would entail an additional regiment and so large an increase of the police force as to create a serious addition to the expenses of the Colony. In my opinion, the river boundary as already settled is the best for the Colony, and so far as Colonial necessities are concerned I do not consider further extension desirable.
4. From the same point of view the change from a lease of 99 years to a grant in perpetuity would of course be very valuable, as it cannot be expected that capital will be invested to any great extent on a tenure of 99 years with the possibility of reversion to China, but I see the overwhelming political reasons for abstaining at present from such a demand.
5. I submit that the Viceroy is personally responsible for all that has taken place, and that an indemnity for the expenditure necessitated by his action, or inaction, ought to be demanded. I believe that he has twice requested permission to retire, which was refused. A demand for his recall would be an evidence that the country expects good faith to be kept-especially where such pains were taken to avoid the slightest breach of international courtesy and usages. I foresee probable troubles in the future from over the border that may be prevented by now insisting on a suitable reparation for breach of faith. Should that be exacted, future Viceroys will take care to watch the border.
6. In looking into the statements made to Mr. Stewart Lockhart, I find more than one allusion to the operations of a Chinese company which appears to have purchased a large quantity of land from the people at a fraction of its value, by assuring them that when the British Government took over the territory the land would be confiscated, so they had better sell to them for what they could get. Such a statement, if believed, would account for the belief that their land would be taken, and their determination to resist the occupation. I have heard this statement now from several quarters, and I greatly fear that Mr. Stewart Lockhart may have been misled by the members of the syndicate, as all his information as to the district has been derived from them, and one of the syndicate at least accompanied him last August during his visit, and is now with him. I have written a minute to Mr. Stewart Lockhart on the subject, and directed him to inquire into the allegations. I have little doubt that any person ac- companying Mr. Stewart Lockhart, if a Chinese, could, if he wished, have made the people believe that he had power with the Government, and the fraud could easily have been carried out. I am determined to sift this matter to the bottom, and to see if, in the event of the statements being true, anything can be done to restore to the people the property sold by them under such mischievous and fraudulent representations.
7. The Viceroy has written to the Consul that all his troops have been removed from Kowloon City, but Mr. May, the Captain Superintendent of Police, having re- ported to me yesterday that there were over 200 men still there, I directed him to get the fact in writing if possible from the Chinese officer in charge of the city. I attach a letter from that official to Mr. May that shows how much faith can be placed in the statements of the Viceroy. On making some inquiry into the operations of the "Com- pany," on which Mr. May stated that he had reported last October, I found, on calling for those papers, statements made during the inquiry into a demand for the extradition of the leader in a rebellion last year in the district north of Sam Chun. Those state- ments, copies of which I enclose, show that with nearly a quarter of a million of Chinese living in Hong Kong, the majority of whom are Chinese subjects, and thousands of whom belong to the secret societies, there is always a possibility that grave danger might be stirred up by either Chinese officials or the leaders of secret societies beyond our borders. In such an event the presence of a body of Chinese soldiers in Kowloon might constitute a real danger. I have already informed you of the advent of an ad- ditional 300 soldiers on the 18th instant. On their arrival I wrote to Major-General Gascoigne. I attach his reply. Kowloon City is absolutely worthless to China, but it may be made a means of serious embarrassment to this garrison.
8. I attach some reports from Mr. Stewart Lockhart, with my minutes on them that I do not think it advisable to attach to an open despatch. I do not approve of the burning of the houses of those persons stated to have been engaged in the murder, nor do I see how Mr. Lockhart's order as to money payment could be enforced; but his action appears to have had for the moment a beneficial effect. I have urged him to devote himself now to getting the local executive into working order, and I hope to hear in a
my
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short time that something has been accomplished. In the meantime the strain upon me and
staff and the attenuated staff of the Colonial Secretary's Office is very great.
I have, &c.,
HENRY A. BLAKE. P.S.-On reading over my last paragraph, I fear that it does not convey my ap- preciation of the energy shown by Mr. Stewart Lockhart in dealing with the turbulent condition in which he found the district. I think that he has acted with great energy and I have no doubt that now that he has visited the entire district as shown by his report received since this despatch was written, the arrangements of the details of the administration will be carried out without delay.
H. A. BLAKE.
Copy of further correspondence with the Viceroy through Her Britannic Majesty's Consul, Canton, is enclosed.
CAMERON A. SOMERVILLE, Maj.,
April 29, 1899.
Private Secretary.
ENCLOSURES.
Extract from "Weekly Press" of October 8, 1898.
2.
Letter from A.C.S. to C.S.P. and R.G., October 6, 1898.
3.
Report by C.S.P. to A.C.S., October 15, 1898.
4.
Inspector Hanson's Report, October 11, 1898.
5.
Letter from C.S.P. to Ag. C.S., October 17, 1808.
6.
Rough translation of Ho Tung's report, October, 1898.
7.
Extract from letter Ag. R.G. to Ag Col. Secy., October 31, 1898.
8.
Report of G.O.C. to Governor, April 20, 1899.
Do.
Do. April 22, 1899.
Do. Do
9. Hon. Col. Secretary's report, April 21, 1899.
10.
11. H.E. the Governor's instruction to Col. Secy, April 23, 1899.
12. Hon. Col. Secretary's report, April 28, 1899.
19.
14.
Do. Do.
15. Governor to Col. Secretary, Minute, April 26, 1899.
April 24, 1899. April 28, 1899.
16.
Do.
Do.
April 26, 1899.
17. Correspondence with Consul,
Canton, April 15, 1899.
18.
Do.
Do.
April 16, 1899.
19.
Do.
20.
Do.
Do. Do.
April 17, 1899.
April 18, 1899.
21. C.S.P. to Private Secretary, April 28, 1899.
Enclosure 1 in No. 172.
“Weekly Press,” October 8, 1898.
Extension of THE COLONY.
DUPLICITY OF THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES.
INCITEMENT of Natives to Rmort Extendx BɑRICE.
SUBSCRIPTION Bamed Fox PURCHASE oF Árms in Cantón.
(By a Correspondent.)
The Chinese Authorities, proceeding with their old, time-honoured taction, are souretly inciting the natives to resist the foreigner after they find open opposition by themselves useless, caring little how manh punishment the ignorant tools of their machinations may suffer so long as they can breed bad blood between the foreigner and those of their subjects who are to come under his rule, and thus render the teak of government troublesome.
1
After the cession of the strip of territory on the opposite mainland to the Colony of Hong Kong, the Provincial Authorities, acting apparently on instructions received from Faking, issued orders to the Sing da Magistrate-the territory ceded having formed part of the district of Sun-on-to turn over his land register, semporarily, to Mr. Stewart Lockhart, the British Commissioner, to enable him to copy it, and thus have a registar of the real owners of the land in the new territory, 6.8%, thom who paid the land tax to the Government, this being necamary to prevent disputes and fraud as to the titleship to the land.
The Provincial Authorities, further, while openly issuing the instructions nessomry to the Bus-en Magistrate, the principal official in the district affected, have given usaret orders, probably instigated from
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