CO882-(4-5) — Page 670

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

wyimmim

Reference:

C.O. 882

5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC-

COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO

336

the enclosed copy of a letter from the War Office,* covering one received from the General Officer Commanding in China and Hong Kong.

3. It will be seen that in this letter it is recommended that an endeavour should be made to secure the possession of the Gap Rock, and the same point has been urged more than once by the Colonial Defence Committee.

4. The Gap Rock is understood to be a small bare rock, perfectly useless except as a lighthouse station. It is at a considerable distance from Hong Kong, but the lighthouse upon it, which, under an arrangement with the Chinese authorities, has been constructed and is maintained by the Hong Kong Government, lights the western approach to the harbour of Hong Kong, and the military advisers of Her Majesty's Government attach considerable importance to the rock being entirely ceded to Great

Britain.

5. The point is one which Mr. Chamberlain recommends for consideration solely on military grounds, but on those grounds he would suggest that the Chinese Govern- ment on receiving back Sham Chun might be pressed to cede a rock which is of no value to them, but a considerable factor in the security of the Colony of Hong Kong.

8. Your letter states that "no pledge has been given to the Chinese Government as regards allowing the resumption by Chinese officials of jurisdiction within Kowloon City, and that the Chinese Government have been warned that it is impossible to allow Chinese authority within the walls of the city to be resumed. Mr. Chamberlain trusts that this matter may be taken as finally settled and that under no circumstances or conditions whatever will Chinese authority in any form be revived in Kowloon City. 7. Your letter makes no reference to the question of compensation which has formed the subject of previous correspondence. The occupation of Sham Chun and the disturbances which led up to it have, as Lord Salisbury has been informed, caused con- siderable expenditure.

In a telegram of the 17th of June last,ta copy of which was sent to the Foreign. Office, in my letter of the 21st of June last, the Governor estimated the expenditure up to date at some $93,000, and that amount of course is now largely exceeded.

It is not clear at present what precise charges will be borne by military or naval funds, but it seems probable that unless other provision is made the Colony will be left to pay the greater part of the bill.

8. Such a course will be deeply resented by the Hong Kong community, who will in any case probably be discontented at the retrocession of Sham Chun. They will contend, and, in Mr. Chamberlain's opinion, justly contend, that they have been made to pay for an occupation from which they have derived no benefit, and which has been maintained in interests with which they have no direct, and little indirect, concern.

9. This financial aspect of the question has been sufficiently brought to the notice of His Lordship in previous letters from this Office, and it is a more or less serious question to the Colony which is otherwise involved in inevitable expense through its new acquisition. Mr. Chamberlain therefore is strongly of opinion that the Chinese Govern- ment should, in view of what has passed, be pressed for a moderate indemnity; but if this course does not commend itself to His Lordship, he must ask that the charges which have been incurred shall be defrayed from Imperial funds, and not from those of the Colony.

10. Lastly, Mr. Chamberlain would suggest that some pledge-if it only amounts to a form of words-should be obtained from the Chinese Government, that, after the retrocession of Sham Chun, order will be maintained in the district; that the British frontier will be respected, and that the inhabitants living outside the frontier, who may have shown friendliness to the troops in occupation, shall not be allowed to suffer when the troops are withdrawn. Lord Salisbury may think fit to point out to the Chinese authorities that it rests with them, by maintaining authority, giving security to life and property, and dealing with any frontier troubles in a friendly spirit, to prevent a second occupation of Sham Chun.

11. If Lord Salisbury will be good enough favourably to consider this letter, it will be advisable at once, and in advance of whatever further steps may be taken, to telegraph to the Governor that the troops should be withdrawn from Sham Chun as soon as possible.

I am, &c.,

26221

(No. 226.)

357

No. 255A.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN to GOVERNOR SIR H. A. BLAKE.

SIR,

Downing Street, October 10, 1899. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 196, of the 21st of July last, with enclosures, raising the question whether the Chinese inhabi- tants of the leased territory are British subjects.

2. I caused your despatch and its enclosures to be submitted to the Law Officers of the Crown, and I have to inform you that I am advised by them† that the persons in- habiting the new territory who were before the cession Chinese subjects are to be regarded as British subjects for all purposes as from the 16th April last, inasmuch as cession of territory effects a change in the nationality of the inhabitants, and as the territory in question has been ceded and is now British territory, the fact that the cession is for a term of years only does not affect the conclusion that by the cession the inhabitants become for that term British subjects.

3. I am further advised that persons born in the territory during the continuance of the lease must be regarded as British subjects.

27934.

No. 256.

I have, &c.,

J. CHAMBERLAIN.

FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received October 14, 1899.)

SIR,

Foreign Office, October 13, 1899. WITH reference to your letter marked 18614/99 of the 13th ultimo, I am directed by the Marquess of Salisbury to state, for the information of Mr. Secretary Chamberlain, that, so far as the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty are aware, all public property, either lands or buildings, which belonged to the Chinese Govern- ment in the territory leased to Her Majesty's Government at Wei-hai-Wei, have been taken over without payment.

25028.

(No. 234.)

F

No. 257.

I am, &c.,

FRANCIS BERTIE.

MR. CHAMBERLAIN to GOVERNOR SIR H, A. BLAKE. [Answered by No. 284.]

SIR,

Downing Street, October 13, 1899. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch, No. 224, of the 16th Augusts last, reporting on your recent visit to the new territory, which I have read with much interest.

2. As regards paragraph 4 of your despatch, I presume that your intention is that the steel sugar mills referred to shall be paid for by those to whom they are sup- plied, and that you do not propose to make their cost a charge upon Colonial funds.

I have, &c.

J. CHAMBERLAIN`,

C. P. LUCAS.

• 25950; not printed.

† No. 192.

‡ No. 194.

• No. 284.

† See No. 252.

‡ No. 239.

§ No. 243.