222
impower the Governor-in-Council to direct that byelaws, etc., made under an Ordinance which does not for the time being apply to the new territories shall themselves apply to the new territories. It must be understood that the power which appears to be thus conferred upon the Governor is under no circumstances to be exercised.
3. I observe that some of the Ordinances which I directed in my despatch of the 6th January should not apply to the new territories, viz., the Stamps Ordinance (No. 16 of 1886), the Rating Ordinance (No. 15 of 1888), the Gambling Ordinance (No. 7 of 1891), and the Probate Ordinance (No. 3 of 1897), seem to be omitted from the Schedule to this Ordinance. I should be glad to be informed of the reasons for this omission, which are not apparent from your despatch, or from the Attorney-General's report.
I notice that the Merchant Shipping Ordinances, 26 of 1891, and 9 of 1892, are also omitted from the Schedule.
I have, &c.,
15712.
SIR,
No. 190.
ADMIRALTY to COLONIAL OFFICE
(Received June 20, 1899.)
[Acknowledged by No. 214.]
J. CHAMBERLAIN.
Admiralty, June 16, 1899.
I AM commanded by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit for the information of the Secretary of State, copies of correspondence as marked on the enclosed schedule, respecting the opposition of the Chinese to the taking over of terri- tory at Kowloon leased to Great Britain on 1st July, 1898.
2. A copy of the remarks of the Commander-in-Chief, made in forwarding the report, is also enclosed.
3.
A similar letter has been addressed to the Foreign Office.
(No. 326/1912.)
223
Enclosure in No. 190..
April 30, 1899. SUBMITTED for information. It was arranged by the Governor of Hong Kong that the territory should be taken over with some ceremony, which was to take place on 17th April at Tai-po-hu, at the head of Tolo Harbour, but when the Superintendent of Police was sent there with a few constables to make some preliminary arrangements he unexpectedly met with determined opposition from the villagers.
2. The Governor thereupon went (in the "Fame") to Canton to interview the Viceroy, and request him to send Chinese troops to keep order and guard the matsheds being erected for the ceremony.
3. I am not aware of the terms of the Viceroy's reply, but it was apparently satis- factory, as further trouble was not expected: whatever his words may have been, the increased opposition to our occupation afterwards experienced shows that he was either powerless in the matter or else made no effort to allay it, and the rioters seem to have received his silent, if not active, support, as Chinese troops were engaged in the attack on the 15th April. The Viceroy, whom I saw last January, is old and infirm, but full responsibility for it must, from our point of view, rest with him, because he is the Viceroy.
4. The hitherto peaceful state of the Kowloon peninsula has led no one to anti- cipate any trouble, but, as more than nine months have elapsed since the Convention leasing the territory to us came into force, the Chinese Authorities had perhaps come to regard it as practically non-existent, and took advantage of the friction with the police to stir up the natives against us.
5. The Commodore has been active in the assistance he has given to the Governor and military authorities, and the officers and men employed have carried out with good judgment, cheerfully, and well, whatever duties were required of them.
E. H. SEYMOUR,
Sub-Enclosure 1.
Vice-Admiral.
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
PEPEC.O. 882
பப்பல்
5
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
Date.
From.
1899.
30 April
10
Commodore
SCHEDULE.
To.
Commodore C. in C.
I am, &c.,
EVAN MACGREGOR.
Subject.
Un
Proceedings: Tolo Harbour. Further report on affairs at Tolo
Harbour.
C. in C,
Admiralty
C, in C. ...
5
"
21
Whiting Commodore
"
Reporting attack of Chinese
Colonial Police in Tolo Harbour, and action taken thereon. Proceedings: Tolo Harbour. Circumstances attending taking over of new Territory at Kowloon, and action of Chinese.
15
Fame
Commodore
"
15
Commodore
་་
17
Commodore
**
19
18
19
Humber
Commodore Humber...
Commodore
11
20
"1
Lieut.-Col. Command-
ing Field Forces,
Humber
18
"
18
11
20
"
19
20
* * * 28
Fame
Fame
Peacock
Commodore
Pingshan.
D.A.A.G.B., Hong Kong Commodore
Commodore ...
Lieut. Goodenough,
Hermione.
Fame
Officer Commanding
Troops, Hong Kong.
***
D.A.A.G.B., Hong Kong
Hermione
Commodore
Commodore
Further report on affairs at Tolo
Harbour.
Proceedings: Tolo Harbour.
Orders as Senior Naval Officer at
Tolo Harbour.
Proceedings and state of affairs at
Tolo Harbour.
Thanking for assistance.
Asking him to co-operate in surprise
expedition.
Informing him of party detailed to
co-operate.
Reporting proceedings in launches to-
Ngan How with troops. Proceedings: Castle Peak Bay. Thanking for assistance rendered.
SIR,
(No. 443/190.)
44
Tamar," at Hong Hong, April 10, 1899. I HAVE the honour to report that at 12.30 a.m. on 4th instant I received an urgent message from His Excellency the Governor of Hong Kong to the effect that the Captain Superintendent of Police with six Sikhs and six Chinese constables were in imminent danger of their lives at Tolo Harbour, Mirs Bay. His Excellency wished to send some troops to the spot with the least possible delay, and requested the services of one of Her Majesty's ships for the purpose.
2. Her Majesty's ship "Whiting" was therefore detailed and proceeded at 3.30 a.m., having embarked His Excellency, Major-General Gascoigne, and 100 officers and men of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and Her Majesty's ship "Fame" followed at day- light with instructions to act as despatch vessel, and to render the military authorities every assistance.
3. The Police party returned to Hong Kong early in the day, and another body of 50 men of the Hong Kong Regiment were despatched in a commissariat launch to recall those sent in the" Whiting," or to reinforce them if necessary. The launch, how- -ever met the "Fame" and " Whiting" returning with the troops and returned herself.
4. I also ordered the torpedo boats running for instructional purposes to proceed to Tolo Harbour, considering that their services might be useful in disembarking and embarking the troops.
5. Lieutenant and Commander Kelly's report of proceedings enclosed.
6. I regret to state that the "Whiting" took the ground for a moment at Fung Head. A report of the circumstances, together with the proceedings of a Court, which i ordered to enquire into them, are being forwarded separately.
7. The cost of the coal expended by the "Whiting" and "Fame" on this service will be recovered from the Colonial Government. As the torpedo boats were running in any case for routine instruction, I do not propose to make any claim for the coal ex- pended by them.
Vice-Admiral
Sir E. H. Seymour, K.C.B.,
Commander-in-Chief, China.
1
I have, &c.,
F. POWELL,
Commodore.
• No. 62.
1
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