CO882-(4-5) — Page 615

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

PLEC.O. 882

5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

Tang Kok Lam states:—

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Heung Tsun Village, April 18, 1899.

I am a native of the Kam Tin district in the Pin Sha Wai village. I am a graduate of the 3rd degree. Men of my village have taken part in the resistance; the reason of the resistance is that there were rumours that there would be an increase of taxation, numbering of houses, and taxes on fruits and houses. About 80 men of our district took part in the fight. I do not know whether any of them have been killed. I have come here to-day to beg for pardon; I come by myself. The other elders have run away with arms. There are no arms now in the Kam Tin district; there are only women now in the Kam Tin district. The inhabitants are all scattered. They will not dare to fight. They wish to submit. I hand in a list of the names of the leaders in the movement in the Kam Tin district. The leaders have all fled into Chinese terri- tory. The movement did not originate with Kam Tin, but with Ping Shan and Ha Tsun. Kam Tin made a mistake last year, and was not anxious to cause any more trouble. Tang King Shik wanted to come with me. He is sick, so could not come; King Shik and I consulted together, and I decided to come.

The idea in coming is my I come to pray that our village may not be burnt, as it is under British protec- tion. The Governor's proclamation was posted in our district. I saw it myself; I had no power to stop the people. Tang Chub Sam did not tell them to desist, nor did Tang Lai Wan. They belong to the most powerful portion of the clan. They have property in the territory; I have land worth about 2,000 dollars and six houses; Kam Tin is not going to resist. All have run away; Un Long has no persons prepared for resistance. Ping Shan has a large number, over 100. Ha Tsun has about 80.

own.

TANG KOK LAM.

List of Leaders of the Anti-British Movement in the Kam Tin Sub-District :-

Tang Lai Wan, of Shui Tan village.

Tang A Li, of Fui Sha village.

Tang A Chun, of Shui Tan village.

Tang Nga Tsun, of Wing Lung village.

Tang Chuk Sam, of Shui Tan village.

Tang Kok Lam, of Kam Tin market town.

YOUR EXCELLENCY,

[11.]

Taipo, April 30, 1899.

THE reports forwarded by me daily during the last fortnight have shown that the inhabitants of the newly-leased territory have returned to their usual occupations, and I trust that it will now be possible to make arrangements for the administration of the new territory. I think it right, however, to point out that the attitude of the in- habitants as a whole is not so respectful as one would have anticipated after the experiences through which they have just passed, and whilst an armed force is still stationed in the territory, I am of opinion that a military force should be retained in the territory for some time to come, if not permanently, and should be stationed some- where near the frontier. An excellent camping ground exists at the head of the Lung Kwat Tau valley, which would be a suitable place for locating troops. As regards the policing of the territory, I understand that Your Excellency has decided to erect police stations at Taipo, Un Long, and Ping Shan. I am of opinion that there should also be a station at Fu Ti Au in the Sheung U Division, on the site which I have described in the previous minute, an opinion which I believe is also shared by Mr. May. As I have previously pointed out, police stations should be erected without delay, other- wise it is not improbable the old cry of interference with Fung Shui will be raised, and lead to further trouble. Nothing has been done as yet.

I trust it is Your Excellency's intention to deal in some way with the ringleaders in the anti-British movement. They have not suffered in any way. The real sufferers

are the people who have been the dupes of the ringleaders, and who would be only too glad to see those who have misled them punished. It will, I fear, tend to shake the belief of the people in British justice if the rascals who have created all the trouble are allowed to escape unpunished.

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As Your Excellency is aware we are at present living here in tents, but as it does not seem probable that the quarters of the executive will be ready for some consider- able time, I am inclined to think it would be better to give up living in tents, and to have a matahed erected capable of temporarily accommodating the officers of the executive staff and of the police.

I have not yet received copies of the Ordinance passed by Legislative Council which deal with the new territory.

J. H. STEWART Lockhart,

HON. COLONIAL SECRETARY,

Colonial Secretary.

May 1, 1899.

THE annexed report by the Captain Superintendent of Police will show what has been done as to the complaint to the Bishop. This was the best course to take, and you will observe that the presence of the police was in the usual course of their ordinary duty, which is the way in which the people of the district had best be approached. There was no trouble and no incident. Now that you have visited the whole district, the sooner that you can approach the question of the division of the leased area into the districts and sub-districts the better.

If you send to the elders to meet you at a given place, I have no doubt they will do so. Except those engaged in the murder, it is not my intention to exact any punish- ment for the events of the 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th, and 20th. Those who opposed the troops got a severe lesson that will, I hope, be sufficient to prevent any further attempt at resistance.

In your arrangement for the future with the people, I should advise you to ignore what has passed, and utilise the best material you can find in recommending the per- sonnel of the local councils. Until this has been done, no practical administration work can be accomplished. In moving about I think it will be better not to take troops. You have a large force of police, and it is well that the people should be accus- tomed to seeing them.

I do not consider that it will be necessary to have military in that district after the police stations have been completed.

The troops will be within easy reach as soon as the road is completed to Tai Po Hui, and in the meantime we have the telephone at work, which can be extended to other stations. We have not yet got at the bottom of the determination to combine to resist our occupation of the territory, and it is absolutely necessary that this shall be thoroughly investigated. I shall probably issue a commission on the subject. Get the districts arranged as soon as possible.

I shall order the Ordinances to be published in Chinese.

YOUR EXCELLENCY,

[12.]

H. A. B.

Flagstaff Hill, Taipo, April 28, 1899.

WE left Wo Hang yesterday morning, and proceeded to Starling Inlet, to the point where the British boundary begins. I found that the peg driven in by me at that point to mark the commencement of the boundary had been interfered with, but the stakes driven in by the Chinese Commissioner had been removed. One of the pegs driven in by me a little distance away from the first peg had been shifted. I had it put back in its proper place. If there is to be no further rectification of the boundary, I think it would be well to have the present boundary properly marked in a permanent manner. This could be done by the Director of Public Works, who is acquainted with the exact limits of our territory, as he accompanied me when I was delimiting the frontier with the Chinese Commissioner. We found everything peaceful in the district between Wo Hang and Starling Inlet.

From Starling Inlet we crossed in boats to the Luk King district, where I was met by the elders, and handed them copies of Your Excellency's Chinese proclamation and speech, and translations of the Local Communities Ordinance. From all I can gather the inhabitants of this district did not take any part in the recent movement against British authority.