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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

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C.O. 882

5 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

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and Your Excellencies that the Governor of Hong Kong has been told to withdraw. British troops from Sham Chun within the boundary previously delimitated.

Sir Henry Blake has been also directed to clearly inform the Viceroy of Canton that he is expected to protect those Chinese outside the boundary who have shown friendliness to British troops during our occupation for maintaining law and order on the frontier, and for securing life and property.

I am instructed to obtain a pledge to this effect from the Tsungli-Yamen, and to add that failure on the part of the Viceroy of Canton to co-operate with the Colonial Government in this respect may lead to a second occupation.

On the 30th May last the Marquess of Salisbury addressed a note to the Chinese Minister in London stating the reasons why Her Majesty's Government cannot allow the resumption by Chinese authorities of jurisdiction in Kowloon City.

Copy of this note was doubtless forwarded to Your Highness and Your Excellencies by the Chinese Minister, and Her Majesty's Government adhere to the decision therein contained.

I have the honour to request Your Highness and Your Excellencies to favour me with a reply without delay containing the desired assurance with respect to Chinese who have shown themselves friendly to our troops during the occupation of Sham Chun in order that I may transmit the same by telegraph to Her Majesty's Government.

H. O. BAX-IRONSIDE.

(Translation.)

SIR,

I avail, &c.,

Enclosure 2 in Annexure.

The TSUNGLI-YAMEN to Mr. BAX-IRONSIDE.

Peking, November 15, 1899. On the 6th instant we received your despatch with respect to the withdrawal of the British troops from Sham Chun.

[Quoted at length.]

We have the honour to observe that it affords abundant evidence of friendly rela- tions that Her Majesty's Government have been able to fulfil their promise in connection with this affair, and have instructed the Governor of Hong Kong to withdraw the troope from Sham Chun within the previously determined boundary.

With regard to the protection of friendly Chinese outside this boundary we have telegraphed to the Governor-General of Canton to instruct the local authorities to act in accordance with the request.

It was, however, expressly stipulated by the Hong Kong Extension Convention that within the City of Kowloon the Chinese officials then stationed there should con- tinue to exercise jurisdiction. The international relations of China and Great Britain are naturally guided by the provisions of the Treaties, which should be carefully ob- served by both nations. It is therefore right and necessary, in order that there may be no infringement of the Convention, that the officials of China stationed in Kowloon City for the purpose shall continue to administer the affairs of the Chinese subjects within that town.

We have the honour to request Your Excellency to telegraph at once to Her Majesty's Government requesting that, in accordance with the Convention, consent be given to the exercise of jurisdiction in Kowloon city by Chinese officials.

Thus will good faith be manifested and cordial relations remain intact. We beg the favour of a reply.

7131.

(Seal of Yamen.)

393

Government on account of the public buildings taken over in the recently acquired terri- tory in the neighbourhood of Hong Kong.

Lord Salisbury is of opinion that it is not necessary for Her Majesty's Government to make any offer of the value of the buildings taken over, and that, in the event of any claim being put forward hereafter by the Chinese Government in respect of the build- ings either in the Hong Kong extension or at Wei-hai-wei, the matter might be further considered.

8092.

(No. 44)

SIR,

No. 305.

I am, &c.,

FRANCIS BERTIE.

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

(Received March 14, 1900.) [Acknowledged by No. 306.]

Government House, Hong Kong, February 9, 1900. I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 2, of the 4th ultimo,* in which you ask what expenses will probably be incurred in carrying out the scheme mentioned in my despatch, No. 327 of the 15th November,t relating to the purchase of one or two Chattanooga Sugar Mills for use in the New Territory, and whether that expense is to be met out of the vote for $10,000 under the head of "Mis- cellaneous Services " connected with the New Territory.

2. In view of my expectation that the mills will ultimately be paid for by the Chinese themselves, I do not consider it advisable to charge the amount to the vote of $10,000, but to debit it to Advance Account. This will simplify the repayment of the sum to the Colonial Funds.

3. The cost of each mill is under £10, and as the services of the Superintendent of the Botanical and Afforestation Department and other officers of the Government have been freely bestowed in explaining the mechanism of the machines to the Chinese, I do not anticipate that the total expenses incurred will exceed about £20.

4. I need hardly say that if the mills meet with only a very moderate degree of success, the small sum I have mentioned will not be ill-spent.

8092.

(No. 76.)

SIR,

I have, &c.,

HENRY A. BLAKE.

Governor, &c.

No. 306.

No. 304.

FOREIGN OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received March 5, 1900.)

SIR,

Foreign Office, March 3, 1900. I HAVE laid before the Marquess of Salisbury your letter 4031/1900 of the 17th ultimo.* relative to the question whether any payment should be made to the Chinese

MR. CHAMBERLAIN to Governor Sir H. A. BLAKE.

Downing Street, March 16, 1900.

I HAVE the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 44, of the 9th ultimo, explaining the manner in which it is proposed to meet the expenses in- curred in connection with the purchase of sugar mills in the New Territory.

I have, &c.,

J. CHAMBERLAIN.

• No. 300.

• No. 287.

† No. 284.

‡ No. 305.

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