CO129-288 - Public Offices & Others - 1898 — Page 142

19827 Secret

Copy.

Navy League,

141

Hong Kong Branch. 9th July, 1898.

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sir,

1

On the 11th ultimo this Branch of the Navy League

telegraphed their congratulations to your Executive

Committee as follows:-

"Congratulate Kowloon Extension. Insist Exclusion

"Chinese Jurisdiction."

This message was despatched on the strength of a

Reuter's telegram supplied by the Hong Kong General

Chamber of Commerce dated "London 10th June 1898."

Mill

"The Kowloon Hinterland leased to Great Britain."

*China has leased to Great Britain 200 square

"inches of territory around Hong Kong, including

"the mainland behind Kowloon to a line joining

"Mirs Bay and Deep Bay, besides the waters of

"these Bays and the island of Lantao."

Since that date no public information as to the

extension of the boundaries of the Colony has been

available, nor have any preparations, so far as we are

for the delimitation and administration of the

territory been made; but the announcement contained in

the "China Mail" of the 29th ultimo (Copy attached) of the appointment of the Colonial Secretary as Commissioner

aware,

"to investigate upon the new territory about to be "acquired"appears to this Branch of the League to

involve such deplorable and dangerous delay, that we hasten, as being those on the spot and therefore best acquainted with the situation, to warn you that the possible, nay probable, result of such procrastination will be that other Powers will formulate fresh demands on

with China as a set off against our Kowloon Extension,

The French are now establish ed

the object of thwarting us.

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