Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
PAPERS RELATING TO
square yards in extent; and huge granite boulders, descending from the heights, destroyed in three places the solidly built cut-stone conduit of the Tytam waterworks. Fortunately but few houses were destroyed or seriously injured, but roads, streets, sewers, and other Government property suffered greatly, costing, it is estimated, $112,783 for repairs. Some few lives were unhappily lost, principally by lightning; and it is matter for wonder that the number was not much larger; indeed when it is calculated how many millions of tons of water fell on the steep incline above the town, it is a subject of congratulation, and speaks well for the general solidity of work, that there was not a far greater aggregate of destruction. In the course of a few months reconstruction and repairs will have removed in most places all traces of the storm, but some of the damage is reparable only by time, and it will take years before Glenealy Ravine, hitherto remarkable for its abundant and luxuriant foliage, and other similar spots, can completely recover their former beauty.
62. Quite recently occurred an incident which at one time threatened a serious complication with China. Two Chinese were arrested in Kowloon, on territory belonging to this Colony, by a number of Chinese soldiers evidently acting under superior authority. There was at first much unwillingness to restore the prisoners on the ground that the place of arrest was not British. But on further investigation it became certain that the information at first received by this Government was correct, and the news having in the meantime arrived that the men were about to be executed, as actually happened in a similar case some years ago, there was immediately made a second and more energetic protest on behalf of this Government, which happily produced the desired effect. The men were delivered to Mr. Alabaster, Her Majesty's Consul at Canton, by the Viceroy of the Two Kuang and brought to this Colony.
63. The Viceroy had doubtless been misled by the reports of his officers as to the place of the arrest. They, it appears, had for some time previously been on the look-out for the chief prisoner, who lived on British ground close to the border; and at last, apparently losing patience, they crossed the line and seized him in his own house. I have not yet heard, however, that any of them have been punished either for the act or the subsequent mis-report of it.
64. The arrested men having, after their return here, been tried before a Magistrate on a charge of piracy and murder preferred on behalf of the Chinese Government, they were discharged from custody, the evidence against them being held insufficient to warrant extradition, and they forthwith left the Colony before their release became known to the Government. If, as there seems reason to believe, at least as regards one of them, they were really guilty of atrocious crime, this result is a matter for much regret; but the case will serve to accentuate the necessity of improvement in the testimony produced in connection with extradition charges; and, what is of more importance to this
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Hong Kong Annual Administration Reports, 1841-1941
PAPERS RELATING TO
square yards in extent; and huge granite boulders, descending from the heights, destroyed in three places the solidly built cut- stone conduit of the Tytam waterworks. Fortunately but few houses were destroyed or seriously injured, but roads, streets, sewers, and other Government property suffered greatly, costing, it is estimated, $112,783 for repairs. Some few lives were unhappily lost, principally by lightning; and it is matter for wonder that the number was not much larger; indeed when it is calculated how many millions of tons of water fell on the steep incline above the town, it is a subject of congratulation, and speaks well for the general solidity of work, that there was not a far greater aggregate of destruction. In the course of a few months reconstruction and repairs will have removed in most places all traces of the storm, but some of the damage is reparable only by time, and it will take years before Glenealy Ravine, hitherto remarkable for its abun- dant and luxuriant foliage, and other similar spots, can completely recover their former beauty.
62. Quite recently occurred an incident which at one time threatened a serious complication with China. Two Chinese were arrested in Kowloon, on territory belonging to this Colony, by a number of Chinese soldiers evidently acting under superior autho- rity. There was at first much unwillingness to restore the prisoners on the ground that the place of arrest was not British. But on further investigation it became certain that the information at first received by this Government was correct, and the news having in the meantime arrived that the men were about to be executed, as actually happened in a similar case some years ago, there was immediately made a second and more energetic protest on behalf of this Government, which happily produced the desired effect. The men were delivered to Mr. Alabaster, Her Majesty's Consul at Canton, by the Viceroy of the Two Kuang and brought to this Colony.
63. The Viceroy had doubtless been misled by the reports of his officers as to the place of the arrest. They, it appears, had for some time previously been on the look-out for the chief prisoner, who lived on British ground close to the border; and at last, apparently losing patience, they crossed the line and seized him in his own house. I have not yet heard, however, that any of them have been punished either for the act or the subsequent mis-report of it.
64. The arrested men having, after their return here, been tried before a Magistrate on a charge of piracy and murder pre- ferred on behalf of the Chinese Government, they were discharged from custody, the evidence against them being held insufficient to warrant extradition, and they forthwith left the Colony before their release became known to the Government. If, as there seems reason to believe, at least as regards one of them, they were really guilty of atrocious crime, this result is a matter for much regret; but the case will serve to accentuate the necessity of improvement in the testimony produced in connection with extradition charges; and, what is of more importance to this
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