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I have trustworthy information that Nos. 1 and 2, at whose instigation the crime was committed, are at the present time in Nam Tau city, in the San On District, and that the 3rd and 4th move about between Nam Tau City, Sa Tau, and Sham Chun, all of which are in the San On District.

I can produce men who will undertake to lead any Chinese soldiers who may be sent to arrest them to where the men are.

I have therefore to recommend that the Viceroy be urgently requested to issue immediate instructions to the San On magistrate to effect. the arrest of these men. Upon my being informed that such orders have been issued, I will send men to Nam Tau to assist the official there in the search for the men, but if the Chinese authorities are in earnest they will have no difficulty in arresting these men, for the country around Nam Tau is ringing with the news of the murder, and the population with one voice de- nounces these men as responsible for the crime.

I recommend that the Viceroy be called upon to bring the men to justice, and informed that when they are arrested this Government will forward the witnesses to the Chinese court to give evidence.

283

[41.]

Viceroy T'AN to Consul MANSFIELD.

SIR,

May 14, 1899. I HAVE received your despatch, informing me of the murder of Tang Cheung, an employé of the Hong Kong Government, who had been sent to post the Governor's pro- clamation, and whose murderers had absconded into Chinese territory.

In reply I have the honour to state that if these murderers have absconded into Chinese territory, the local authorities must be made responsible for their arrest and punishment. As the Hong Kong authorities are acquainted with their names and whereabouts, I would ask you to obtain these particulars for my information, so as to enable me to supply them to the local authorities in giving orders for the arrests, con- cerning which I have sent preliminary instructions.

(Seal of Viceroy.)

(No. 55.)

SIR,

[39.]

I have, &c.,

F. H. MAY.

(No. 64.)

STR,

British Consulate, Canton, May 9, 1899.

I HAVE the bonour to acknowledge receipt of your despatch, No. 46, of yester- day's date, with regard to the murder of a messenger named Tang Cheung Hing, in the leased territory on the 17th April last.

In view of the dilatoriness which has been shown on former occasions by the San On Magistrate, I have thought it best to inform the Viceroy of what has taken place, and to ask him to appoint a special Weiyuan for the purpose of effecting the arrest of the murderers, who should come to this office and consult with me as to the best means of effecting the arrests.

I would suggest for the consideration of His Excellency the Governor the expedi ency of offering a reward for the arrests or information leading to them, as a former experience has shown me that this is an almost certain way of arriving at the end desired.

I have, &c.,

R. W. MANSFIELD,

Consul.

[42.]

Colonial Secretary's Office, Hong Kong, May 20, 1899. WITH reference to your letter, No. 62, of the 16th instant, and previous corre- spondence relative to the murder of the messenger Tang Cheung, I am directed to inform you that the Captain Superintendent of Police has sent for some informers who know the men concerned in the murder, and can track them. Those informers are expected to arrive in Hong Kong on Monday next, the 22nd instant, and it is proposed to send them with a reliable Chinese detective to the San On Magistrate to render assistance.

I am accordingly to request you to move the Viceroy to instruct the San On Magis- trate to send his police with the detective and informers immediately on their arrival at his yamen on Thursday next to effect the arrest of the supposed murderers.

Mr. May is of opinion that if prompt co-operation is accorded, there is every chance of a satisfactory result being arrived at.

Her Britannic Majesty's Consul,

Canton.

J. G. T. BUCKLE,

I have, &c.,

pro Colonial Secretary.

The Honourable

The Colonial Secretary, Hong Kong.

[43.]

(No. 62.) SIR,

[40.]

British Consulate, Canton, May 16, 1899. IN continuation of my No. 55 of the 9th instant, I have now the honour to enclose translation of a despatch from the Viceroy, in reply to mine requesting him to depute a special Weiyuan to deal with the case of the murder of the messenger, Tang Cheung,

gather that the Viceroy considers that the arrest and punishment of the mur- derers should be left to the local authorities, and I have accordingly furnished him with, translations of all the documents bearing on the case, and requested him to strictly enjoin upon them to exert themselves to effect the arrests as soon as possible. I have, however, pointed out that the entrusting of the case to the local authorities, who are already overburdened with business, is not such a satisfactory course as that of placing it in the hands of a special Weiyüan, who has no other affairs on hand.

I have, &c.,

The Honourable

The Colonial Secretary,

Hong Kong.

R. W. MANSFIELD,

Consul.

(No. 53.)

SIR,

May 18, 1899.

I AM directed by the Governor to inform you that, in accordance with instructions received from Her Majesty's Government, the towns of Sham Chun and Kowloon were occupied yesterday by Her Majesty's troops. The forces employed were so consider- able that opposition by the Chinese troops was palpably impossible, and would have simply led to useless sacrifice of life. The officers in command, however, refused to give up their posts, so the regiments were disarmed, and the men have been removed from Kowloon. The officers have not had their personal liberty curtailed, but I request that you will inform the Viceroy of Canton that if they are not recalled by him by the 20th instant they will be forcibly removed.

The arms and ammunition collected at both towns are at present in the possession of this Government, and will be sent either to Canton or Namtao, as the Viceroy may desire, or will be handed over to any Chinese ship of war or revenue cruiser that may be directed to receive them.

Her Britannic Majesty's Consul,

Canton.

I have, &c.,

J. G. T. BUCKLÈ,

pro Colonial Secretary.

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