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།།།།།

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882

5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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

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2. I have, however, to point out that the estimate for the completion of this work exceeds the estimate given in your despatch on this subject of the 27th May last,* by about 84,500. I should be glad if it were found possible to complete the survey for the earlier estimate. You will, however, doubtless see that it is carried out with all possible economy.

I have, &c.,

26166/8.

(Secret.)

SIR,

No. 248.

J. CHAMBERLAIN.

COLONIAL OFFICE to WAR OFFICE.

Downing Street, September 22, 1899. WITH reference' to the letter from this Department of the 27th July last, † I am directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to transmit to you, for the information of the Marquess of Lansdowne, copies of further correspondence as noted in the enclosed schedule relative to the temporary occupation of Sham Chun.

I am, &c.,

Enclosure in No. 248.

C. P. LUCAS.

Colonial Office to Foreign Office, November 30, 1898 (23608); Foreign Office to Colonial Office, December 10, 1898 (27906); Colonial Office to Foreign Office, December 13, 1898 (27906); Governor to Colonial Office, Telegram, March 23, 1899. (7340); Governor to Colonial Office, Telegram, April 1, 1899 (8260); Foreign Office to Colonial Office, April 4, 1899 (8440); Governor to Colonial Office, March 11, 1899 (9509); Governor to Colonial Office, Telegram, April 16, 1899 (9824); Colonial Office to Foreign Office, April 17, 1899 (9624); Director of Military Intelligence to Colonial Office, April 21, 1899 (10214); Governor to Colonial Office, March 24, 1899 (10053); Colonial Office to Governor, May 9, 1899 (11845); Governor to Colonial Office, May 10, 1899 (11783); Governor to Colonial Office, May 11, 1899 (11789); Colonial Office to Governor, May 14, 1899 (11789); Governor to Colonial Office, May 16, 1899 (12449); Governor to Colonial Office, May 21, 1899 (12913); Foreign Office to Colonial Office, May 22, 1899 (12964); Governor to Colonial Office, May 26, 1899 (13478); Governor to Colonial Office, April 28, 1899 (13623), minute; Foreign Office to Colonial Office, May 27, 1899 (13692); Governor to Colonial Office, May 31, 1899 (13845); Colonial Office to Foreign Office, May 31, 1899 (13845); Foreign Office to Colonial Office, June 1, 1899 (18928); Foreign Office to Colonial Office, June 1, 1899 (13929); Colonial Office to Governor, June 2, 1899 (13929); Colonial Office to Foreign Office, June 5, 1899 (13692); Foreign Office to Colonial Office, June 8, 1899 (14680); Colonial Office to Foreign Office, June 9, 1899 (14880); Foreign Office to Colonial Office, June 12, 1899 (15073); Governor to Colonial Office, May 13, 1899 (15079); Governor to Colonial Office, June 18, 1899 (15670); Colonial Office to Foreign Office, June 21, 1899 (15583); Colonial Office to Foreign Office, June 21, 1899 (15670); Colonial Office to Governor, June 23, 1899 (13623); Foreign Office to Colonial Office, June 28, 1899 (18282); Governor to Colonial Office, June 24, 1899 (18312); Foreign Office to Colonial Office, June 24, 1899 (16463); Governor to Colonial Office, May 27, 1899 (16557); Governor to Colonial Office, June 28, 1899 (16649); Foreign Office to Colonial Office, June 28, 1899 (18742); Governor to Colonial Office, May 31, 1899 (17043); Governor to Colonial Office, July 6, 1899 (17494); Colonial Office to Governor, July 8, 1809 (17494); Governor to Colonial Office, June 9, 1899 (17754); Governor to Colonial Office, June 9, 1809 (17781); Foreign Office to Colonial Office, July 13, 1899 (18270); Foreign Office to Colonial Office, July 19, 1899 (19000); Foreign Office to Colonial Office, July 28, 1899 (19873); Governor to Colonial Office, July 20, 1899 (22304); Foreign Office to Colonial Office, September 8, 1899 (24081): Colonial Office to Foreign Office, Sep- tember 13, 1899 (24081); Governor to Colonial Office August 19, 1899 (25097): Foreign Office to Colonial Office, September 18, 1899 (25100); Colonial Office to Foreign Office, September 22, 1899 (25168).

• No. 203.

† L.F. transmitting copy of No. 202.

25166/S.

(Secret.)

SIR,

No. 240.

COLONIAL OFFICE to FOREIGN OFFICE.

[Answered by No. 251.]

FAM directed by Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to acknowledge the receipt of your

Downing Street, September 22, 1899. letter of the 18th instant, relative to the occupation of Sham Chan, and I am to for- ward, for the consideration of the Marquess of Salisbury, copies of enclosures to the confidential despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong of the 20th July last, which, through an oversight, were not enclosed in the letter from this Department of the 18th instant

2. I am also to enclose copy of a despatch from the Governor of Hong Kong, relative to the relations of Russia and Japan, and also to the occupation of Sham Chun. 3. Mr. Chamberlain desires again to impress upon Lord Salisbury the importance of arriving at an early decision of this matter; and I am to point out that, apart from the mischief and scandal caused by leaving Sham Chun in its present state of lawlessness, it is impossible that a part of the troops, which are not more than sufficient for garrison- ing Hong Kong, should be kept at Sham Chun for an indefinitely protracted period.

I am, &c.,

C. P. LUCAS.

25797.

SIR,

(No. 245.)

No. 250.

GOVERNOR SIR H. A. BLAKE to MR. CHAMBERLAIN. (Received September 26, 1899.) [Acknowledged October 13, 1899, No. 229 ; not printed.]

Government House, Hong Kong, August 24, 1899. In continuation of my despatch, No. 212, of the 4th instant, I have the honour to inform you that the trial of three men named Ng-Ki-Cheung, Ng-Tung, and Lui-Tab- Lap, for the wilful murder of Chun-Kwai-Shu-Tsai at Un-Long on the 18th April laat, was concluded at the Supreme Court on the 5th instant, when the accused were all found guilty, the second prisoner being recommended to mercy on the ground that, although actually present at the murder, he took no responsible part in the proceedings. 2. I considered these cases in Executive Council on the 17th instant, when, in accordance with the advice of the majority of the members, I decided to deal with them in the manner stated in the enclosed extract from the minutes.

I have, do,

Enclosure in No. 250.

HENRY A. BLAKE,

Governor, &e.

August 17, 1899.

The cases of the three condemned prisoners, Ng Ki Cheung, Ng Tung, and Lui Tak Lap, were considered this day in the Executive Council.

Mr. Goodman, Acting Chief Justice, having been asked by His Excellency to attend the Council, gave his opinion in detail as to the verdict of the jury and the ad visability of carrying out the death sentences. On his withdrawal the Council pro- ceeded to consider the cases, when the majority advised that the sentences passed on the prisoners should be commuted in the following manner (the Colonial Secretary was of opinion that the second prisoner should suffer a term of imprisonment).

The first prisoner, Ng Ki Cheung, to be imprisoned for life with hard labour. The second prisoner, Ng Tung, to be pardoned and liberated. The third prisoner, Lui Tak Lap, to be imprisoned for 10 years with hard labour.

R. F. JOHNSTON,

August 18, 1899.

Acting Clerk of Councils.

• No. 245.

No. 253.

‡ No. 240.

§ 35007; not printed.

No. 237.

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