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local authorities, and would have to deal locally with the matters at issue without re- ferring to the Government at Peking.

Mr. Bax-Ironside addressed a note in the above sense to the Yamen on the 1st inst. These repeated representations made to the Yamen led to no result, and after more than a week had elapsed, the Viceroy of Canton not having removed the Chinese troops from Kowloon City, and information having reached the Governor of Hong Kong of preconcerted plans for the invasion of the leased territory by large numbers of roughs from the northern boundary, the Governor was authorized to deal with the matter locally, and, with approval of Her Majesty's Government, Kowloon City and Shamchun were occupied by the British forces.

In view of the fact that the Chinese Government do not hold themselves respon- sible for attacks by local mobs on British troops, the obligation falls upon Her Majesty's Government of performing the duty which is usually performed by the Sovereign of the country, but which the Chinese Government decline. After the recent experience which they have had, not only of the worthlessness of the protection extended by the Chinese garrison at Kowloon but of the additional danger involved in its presence, it is impossible for Her Majesty's Government to allow the resumption of Chinese authority within the walls of that city.

As regards Samchun, the question of the permanent arrangements to be made in respect to it must be reserved for future consideration, but as it appears to have been the principal basis of the attacks on the British forces, it will be necessary that it should remain provisionally in British occupation for the protection of the leased territory and the maintenance of peace and order in the neighbouring districts.

Sir Chihchen Loh Fông-luh, K.C.V.O.,

&c., &c.,

&c.

I have, &c.,

14149.

SIB,

(No. 110.)

No. 180.

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

(Received June 5, 1899.)

[Answered by No. 189.]

Government House, Hong Kong, May 5, 1899.

I HAVE the honour to transmit, for the signification of Her Majesty's pleasure, the following Ordinance, entitled :--

"An Ordinance to exempt the territories comprised in the recent extension of the Colony of Hong Kong from the operation of certain laws, and for other purposes.' No. 10 of 1899.

2. The customary report by the Attorney-General is annexed.*

I have, &c.,

HENRY A. BLAKE.

Governor, &c.

Enclosure in No. 180.

No. 10 of 1899.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

T

بائسسسئيسيا

Reference :---

C.O. 882

5

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

13929 9.

(Confidential.)

No. 178.

FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE,

(Received June 1, 1899.)

[Answered by No. 182.]

SIR,

Foreign Office, June 1, 1899. I LAID before the Marquess of Salisbury, your letter of the 31st ultimo,* for- warding the paraphrase of a telegram from the Governor of Hong Kong, with regard to reports which had reached him as to possible further disturbances in the Kowloon district, and the danger to the Basle Mission Station at Li Long.

I am to state that although, according to the Governor's telegram, Li Long is situated somes miles to the north of the territory now in British occupation, it is, in Lord Salisbury's opinion, desirable, pending a definite settlement of the boundary, that steps should be taken by the Government of Hong Kong for the protection of the mission, and I am to suggest for Mr. Secretary Chamberlain's consideration, that instructions should be sent to Sir H. Blake in this sense.

13929

3.

No. 179.

I am,

&c.,

FRANCIS BERTIE.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN to GOVERNOR SIR H. A. BLAKE. (Sent 5 p.m., June 2, 1899.)

(Paraphrase.)

TELEGRAM.

Your telegram of the day before yesterday. Her Majesty's Government approve of your taking what steps you think necessary for protection of Basle Mission, pending definite settlement of boundary.

• No. 176.

† No. 175.

AN ORDINANCE to exempt the territories comprised in the recent extension of the Colony

of Hong Kong from the operation of certain laws, and for other

HENRY A. BLAKE,

(L.8.)

purposes.

Governor.

18th April, 1899.

WHEREAS, by a Convention dated the 9th day of June, 1898, between Her Majesty Preamble. Queen Victoria, and His Imperial Majesty the Emperor of China, it was provided that the limits of British territory in the regions adjacent to the Colony of Hong Kong should be enlarged under lease to Her said Majesty in the manner described in the said Convention : And whereas, by an Order of Her Majesty in Council, dated the 20th day of October, 1898, it was ordered that the territories within the limits and for the term described in the said Convention should be, and the same were thereby declared to be, part and parcel of Her Majesty's Colony of Hong Kong in like manner and for all intents and purposes as if they had originally formed part of the said Colony; and whereas it was further ordered that it should be competent for the Governor of Hong Kong, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council of the said Colony, to make laws for the peace, order, and good government of the said territories as part of the said Colony; and whereas it was further ordered that, from a date to be fixed by proclamation of the Governor of Hong Kong, all laws and Ordinances which should at such date be in force in the said Colony should take effect in the said territories, and should remain in force therein until the same should have been altered or repealed by Her said Majesty or by the Governor of Hong Kong, by and with the advice or consent of the Legislative Council:

And whereas the date so fixed by the proclamation of the Governor in pursuance of the said Order was the seventeenth day of April, 1899, and the said laws and Ordinances accordingly then so took effect and are now in force :

And whereas it is expedient to exempt the said territories from the operation of certain of the said Ordinances or parts thereof, and to prevent doubts as to the effect of the extension of the Colony upon existing grants and contracts:

Be it enacted by the Governor of Hong Kong, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, as followa :—

1. This Ordinance may be cited for all purposes as the Hong Kong Extension short title. Exemption Ordinance, 1899.

1

I

2. In this Ordinance the expression "New Territories " means the additional Interpreis- territories acquired under the Convention of the 9th day of June, 1898, which is in the tien. preamble to this Ordinance referred to.

• Not printed.