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20724.

SIR,

313

No. 232.

ADMIRALTY to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received August 7, 1899.)

[Acknowledged August 10, 1899.]

Admiralty, August 4, 1899. I AM Commanded by my Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty to transmit herewith, for the information of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, copy of a letter from the Commodore at Hong Kong, dated the 24th May, together with copies of its enclosure, relative to the landing of a Naval Force to co-operate with the Military at the taking over of Sham Chun, Kowloon Territory.

Copy of the remarks of the Commander-in-Chief on the China Station, in forwarding the letter from the Commodore, is also enclosed.

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The duty was well and expeditiously performed, as I knew it would be whan entrusted to Captain Clarke.

Vice-Admiral

Sir E. H. Seymour, K.C.B.,

I have, &c.,

F. POWELL,

Commodore.

SIR,

Commander-in-Chief, China.

Government House, Hong Kong, May 10, 1899.

I HAVE the honour to request that you will afford assistance by co-operating in the occupation of Sham-Chun and Kowloon City, the details of which I leave to be arranged between you and Major-General Gascoigne.

Commodore F. Powell, C.B.,

H.M.S. "Tamar."

I have, &c.,

HENRY A. BLAKE,

Governor, &c.

I am, &c.,

H. J. VAN SITTART NEALE.

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :—

TREEC.O. 882

5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

Enclosure in No. 232.

COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, China, to the SECRETARY, Admiralty.

(No. 422/1912.)

Memoranda AND MINUTE.

SUBMITTED for information with reference to China letter, No. 26th May, 1899.

398, of

2. Sham Chun (or Chini Chun) is outside the territory originally leased, but appears to have been seized in consequence of the resistance of the Chinese to our occupation of the new territory. It is the largest town in the vicinity of the border, and might have given trouble if left in the hands of the Chinese. It is not included in the Admiralty Charts, but is situated about 6 miles west by north from the top of Starling Inlet, in Lat. 22° 32′ N. Long. 114° 6′ E.

June 5, 1899.

SIR,

(No. 549/519.)

ANNEXATION OF SHAM CHUN.

E. H. SEYMOUR,

Vice-Admiral.

"Tamar," at Hong Kong,

May 24, 1899.

HAVING received a requisition from His Excellency the Governor to co-operate with the Military at the taking over of Sham-Chun, the object being to send so over. whelming a force that resistance would be futile, I conferred with Major-General Gascoigne and agreed with him that the Naval portion of the force should land at Starling Inlet and advance from that direction, two Military columns advancing from Tai-po-hu and Deep Bay respectively, the whole to meet at 3. p.m. on Tuesday, May 16th. Having nominated Captain Clarke, of H.M.S." Undaunted," to the command of the Naval Brigade, I arranged for the following force to embark in "Swift" and "Firebrand" on Monday evening, May 15th.

#6 Undaunted," 100 Bluejackets. ]

"Undaunted," 30 Marines.

30 Marines.

"

Aurora," 100 Bluejackets.

"Aurora,"

"Tamar,"

"

30 Marines.

290

With rifles.

I enclore copy of his letter reporting proceedings, and one from Major-General Gascoigne.

SIR,

REPORTING Proceedings of Landing PARTY.

H.M.S. "Undaunted," at Hong Kong,

I HAVE the honour to report that in accordance with your orders I proceeded at

May 18, 1899. 10 p.m., the 15th, in H.M.S. "Swift,"

," "Firebrand" in company, to Starling Inlet, where the ships arrived at 5.45 a.m., the 16th.

The party commenced disembarking at 7.30, and the force marched off between 9.30 and 10.

A position about two miles to the E.N.E. of Sham Chun was reached by me at 12.55, and the whole force was there by 1.45 p.m. Leaving a company in charge of the baggage, the remainder proceeded to the east side of the city of Sham Chun, where I met General Gascoigne with about 150 of the Hong Kong Regiment. Later in the afternoon, and at various intervals, the army arrived.

The Union Jack was hoisted about 5.45 p.m. and a salute of 21 guns fired. Shortly after the force under my command marched back to its bivouac on the hills to the E.S.E. side of the city.

On the following morning the column left at intervals between 5.15 and 6.15, and returned to their ships.

Considering the great heat, the heavy weights to be carried (coolies being very scarce and hard to procure), I consider that the way the men marched was creditable to them.

Starling Inlet was left by both ships about 12.30, returning to this port, which was reached between 6 and 6.30 p.in., each having proceeded independently.

Commodore Francis Powell, C.B.,

Senior Naval Officer, Hong Kong.

I have, &c.,

A. C. CLARKE,

Captain.

From GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING in China and Hong Kong to the COMMODORE IN CHARGE.

SIR,

Hong Kong, May 20, 1899.

HAVE the honour to inform you that the Naval Contingent which you kindly lent for my assistance for the purpose of occupying the town of Sham Chun, on Tuesday, 16th instant, acquitted itself to my entire satisfaction. I had arranged with Captain Clarke, of H.M.S." Undaunted," that the column should meet me at Sham Chua at 3 p.m. on that day, and when I arrived the column was awaiting my arrival. Owing to the additional force lent to me, the display of strength was imposing, and quite precluded all chance of resistance, had there been any intention on the part of the natives

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