CO129-294 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [10-12] — Page 158

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SPEECH OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR (SIR HENRY ARTHUR BLAKE, G.O.M.G.,) AT THE RE-ASSEMBLING OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF HONGKONG, 11TH OCTOBER, 1899.

HONOURABLE GENTLEMEN OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL,

I have the honour to submit for your consideration the Estimates for the coming year, and in doing so I venture after the usual custom to make a few observations on the position of the Colony. But first, I take this earliest public opportunity that has presented itself to express my acknowledgments for the cordial manner in which Lady BLAKE and I have been received by the community of this important Colony.

The ten months that have elapsed since my assumption of the government have been months fraught with exceptional anxiety and responsibility. Under the Convention between Her Majesty the QUEEN and His Majesty the Emperor of China, the area of twenty-nine square miles that has hitherto been the extent of the Colony was increased by a lease for ninety-nine years of an area of four hundred square miles, with an estimated population of 100,000.

It was assumed that the knowledge of the just treatment of the Chinese inhabitants of Hongkong and British Kowloon would induce the population of the leased area to accept the jurisdiction of Great Britain with equanimity, if not with pleasure. Had it been possible to take over the possession immediately this assumption might have been verified. But there were unavoidable delays. The question of delimitation had to be settled, and when a tenta- tive arrangement had been arrived at it was found that there was an unfortunate misconcep- tion on the part of the Chinese Government as to the effect of the Convention upon position of the Chinese Imperial Customs authorities who had hitherto exercised jurisdiction within the leased area. At the earnest request of Her Majesty's Minister in Peking I deferred the taking over of the Territory until the 17th April, completing in the meantime the neces- sary arrangements for the carrying out of Executive functions.

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Unhappily, the interval was taken advantage of by agitators who disturbed the minds of the people by statements that their lands would be forcibly taken from them and their most cherished customs forbidden. The first symptoms of hostility were shown on the 31st March when the building of a matshed at Táipó-hü was prevented, and the men engaged in erecting boundary posts were stopped from working. I saw the Viceroy on the 2nd April at Canton and pointed out that if protection was not afforded to working parties and surveying parties I could not adhere to my undertaking not to take over the Territory until the 17th. The necessary protection was promised, and surveying parties were not molested, nor was the rebuilding of the inatshed prevented. What took place on The resistance the 15th of April and following days has already been laid before you. having been overcome I have endeavoured to satisfy the people that they may safely depend upon British justice, and that no man's property will be confiscated, and I have no doubt that the people will soon recognize this.

Apart from the question of resistance to our occupation, it;was found that the inhabitants suffered from frequent attacks by armed bands of robbers against whom the village watch- men were powerless, and there was a general indication of lawlessness not uncommon in South China. This necessitated a reconsideration of the Police Force necessary to secure that protection that we are bound to afford. The original estimate has been largely increased, and stations have been established at important points of sufficient strength to repel armed attack and furnish the necessary patrols. I am glad to say that the efforts of the Police have so far shewn satisfactory results, for of the twenty-seven cases of armed robbery reported from the New Territory twenty-two persons have been convicted and are suffering long terms of imprisonment. I hope to see a salutary change of conditions within a short time and to be in a position to reduce the strength of the various police stations.