562
8
Inclosure in No. 5.
Extracts from Canton Intelligence Report for June Quarter.
(Separate and Confidential.)
Political Summary: False Reports.
IT was hardly to be expected that the occurrences attendant upon the taking over of the new territory should not have given rise to a number of exaggerated rumours here, and such has, indeed, been the case.
At one time it was reported that the foreign troops were going to march overland to Canton to take the city, which was to be shelled from batteries constructed upon the White Cloud Hills, distant about 7 miles from the city walls. As a counterblast to this, during the time when the fighting was going on in Kowloon, leaflets, the composition of which betrayed their very low origin, giving particulars of the severe losses inflicted upon the British forces, were hawked about the city, and stories were circulated as to how the slain were removed from the battle-field at night and conveyed hastily to Hong Kong, where the gas and electric light were extinguished, so that they might be hurried to their graves under cover of darkness. Stories of this kind are readily believed by an ignorant and badly-informed population.
Nor is this ready credence of unsifted statements confined to the people alone. A despatch, as received from the Viceroy, embodying a report from the San On Magistrate, based upon a Petition from the Shamchun gentry, complaining of the conduct of the British troops quartered in that neighbourhood. They were accused of robbery, molestation of women, forcing the natives to labour, and ill-treating them in case of non-compliance, compelling them to sell at reduced prices, and forcibly entering their houses. In his despatch, the Viceroy indorsed these accusations by adding his own unfavourable comments, and requests that the despatch should be communicated to the Governor of Hong Kong. This was done, and in due course a reply was received, covering a communication from the Commander-in-chief, for transmission to the Viceroy; herein it was shown that the charges preferred were a tissue of falsehoods. The greatest cordiality had existed between the troops and the natives, who had not been molested in the slightest degree, and the expedition had been more like a pleasure excursion than the advance of an army of occupation. To this the Viceroy made no further reply; and the next time the San On Magistrate sent in a report on similar lines he received a rather sharp reprimand from the Viceroy, and was told that he should satisfy himself as to the truth of such charges by visiting the places incognito, instead of merely accepting them on the strength of the Petitions in which they were made. He was also told that persons who considered that they had a grievance, could have access to the British military authorities to state their case.
Attitude of the Authorities towards the recent Disturbances.
It is, of course, impossible to tell how far the Chinese authorities may have been cognizant of, or in sympathy with, the disturbances incident upon the hoisting of the British flag in the new territory, but it seems only fair to state all indications seem to point to the fact that the Viceroy had no foreknowledge of what was in contemplation. True it is that the teeth of the insurrectionary movement might have been drawn if he had energetically adopted the proposal, made some time beforehand by the Governor of Hong Kong, advocating the complete disarmament of the inhabitants of the new territory. This proposal, however, he saw fit to ignore completely.
Occupation of Shamchun and Kowloon: Attitude of San On Magistrate.
When reporting upon the occupation of Shamchun and Kowloon, the San On Magistrate called the Viceroy's attention to the fact that some of the foreign troops were stationed at a distance of only 20 li from the district city, and stated that he had called out the militia and made ready munitions of war for its defence. He asked for a reinforcement of 200 or 300 regular troops for garrison duty.
9
New Territory at Kowloon.
Kowloon Commandant to Viceroy.
The Kowloon delimitation has proved a source of repeated difficulties. Your Excellency having fortunately procured a capable official to conduct the delimitation, it passed off without trouble. I am not the only one who is personally pleased at this. Unfortunately, the British have been throughout in too much of a hurry with regard to this settlement extension, and the suspicions of the people have been roused. For instance, there have been lately a large number of people surveying in the neighbourhood of Kowloon, and I, fearing that some trouble might be occasioned by the action of the ignorant populace, have instructed my subordinates to send troops to take all precautions against disturbance. But a large portion of my jurisdiction borders on the sea, and, although I have a steam-launch under my orders, it has been a long time out of repair, and so steps should be taken to have it put in order. But as I may be at any moment placed in a quandary by some unforeseen emergency, I beg that a launch may be temporarily placed at my disposal, so that the public interests may not suffer. As soon as the territorial questions are settled, the launch can be withdrawn.
Reply of the Viceroy.
A launch will be detailed for temporary service, and it will be withdrawn as soon as matters are settled. There is, at present, a sufficient force in the district to maintain order. I have recently received a despatch from the British Consul, fixing the 17th April as the day for taking over the territory. Deputy Wang will again have to proceed, and the local officials, civil and military, will exhort the people, as enjoined in my Proclamation, and co-operate in the maintenance of order and the prevention of disturbance.
April 9, 1899,
Kowloon Disturbances.
Viceroy's Instructions to Weiyuans (Deputies).
I am informed that, after the delimitation of the Kowloon boundary, an affray arose between natives and British troops at Ta Pu Hsu. I therefore require the following particulars to be thoroughly ascertained and reported for my information:-
What were the actual occurrences at Kowloon? Whether the aggressors were people living within the boundary or people from the other side? Whether in the course of the daily occurring affrays there were any casualties? Whether the assailants have by this time been dispersed? Whether the Kowloon Customs stations are levying duties as usual? What is the amount of revenue collected by the Customs since the 16th instant?
For this purpose I hereby instruct Prefect Fu Shun to make his preparations at an early date and proceed to Kowloon. I also direct Magistrate Chang Yun-wu to proceed to San On and Ta Pu Hsu to institute secret and careful inquiries and send in truthful reports from time to time. Let there be no carelessness or misleading statements, or blame will be incurred. These are urgent instructions.
April 20, 1899.
Instructions to the San-On Magistrate.
Whereas in connection with the Kowloon extension a joint Proclamation has been issued for general information, and two detachments of troops have been sent to preserve order, I now hear that on the 16th instant about 1,000 natives came into collision with British troops at Ta Pu Hsu.
[2178 b-5]
562
8
Inclosure in No. 5.
Extracts from Canton Intelligence Report for June Quarter.
(Separate and Confidential.)
Political Summary: False Reports.
IT was hardly to be expected that the occurrences attendant upon the taking over of the new territory should not have given rise to a number of exaggerated rumours here, and such has, indeed, been the case.
At one time it was reported
that the foreign troops were going to march overland to Canton to take the city, which was to be shelled from batteries constructed upon the White Cloud Hills, distant about 7 miles from the city walls, As a counterblast to this, during the time when the fighting was going on in Kowloon, leaflets, the composition of which betrayed their very low origin, giving particulars of the severe losses inflicted upon the British forces, were hawked about the city, and stories were circulated as to how the slain were removed from the battle-field at night and conveyed hastily to Hong Kong, where the gas and electric light were extinguished, so that they might be hurried to their graves under cover of darkness. Stories of this kind are readily believed by an ignorant and badly-informed population. Nor is this ready credence of unsifted statements confined to the people alone. A despatch, as received from the Viceroy, embodying a report from the San On Magistrate, based upon a Petition from the Shamchun gentry, complaining of the conduct of the British troops quartered in that neighbourhood. They were accused of robbery, molestation of women, forcing the natives to labour, and ill-treating them in case of non-compliance, compelling them to sell at reduced prices, and forcibly entering their houses. In his despatch, the Viceroy indorsed these accusations by adding his own unfavourable comments, and requests that the despatch should be communicated to the Governor of Hong Kong. This was done, and in due course a reply was received, covering & communication from the Commander-in-chief, for transmission to the Viceroy; herein it was shown that the charges preferred were a tissue of falsehoods. The greatest cordiality had existed between the troops and the natives, who had not been molested in the slightest degree, and the expedition had been more like a pleasure excursion than the advance of an army of occupation. To this the Viceroy made no further reply; and the next time the San On Magistrate sent in a report on similar lines he received a rather sharp reprimand from the Viceroy, and was told that he should satisfy himself as to the truth of such charges by visiting the places incognito, instead of merely accepting them on the strength of the Petitions in which they were made. He was also told that persons who considered that they had a grievance, could have access to the British military authorities to state their case.
Attitude of the Authorities towards the recent Disturbances.
It is, of course, impossible to tell how far the Chinese authorities may have becu cognizant of, or in sympathy with, the disturbances incident upon the hoisting of the British flag in the new territory, but it seems only fair to state all indications seem to point to the fact that the Viceroy had no foreknowledge of what was in con templation. True it is that the teeth of the insurrectionary movement might have been drawn if he had energetically adopted the proposal, made some time beforeband by the Governor of Hong Kong, advocating the complete disarmament of the inhabi tants of the new territory. This proposal, however, he saw fit to ignore completely.
Occupation of Shamchun and Kowloon: Attitude of San On Magistrate.
When reporting upon the occupation of Shamchun and Kowloon, the San On Magistrate called the Viceroy's attention to the fact that some of the foreign troops were stationed at a distance of only 20 li from the district city, and stated that he had called out the militia and made ready munitions of war for its defence. He asked for a reinforcement of 200 or 300 regular troops for garrison duty.
9
New Territory at Kowloon.
Kowloon Commandant to Viceroy.
Your
The Kowloon delimitation has proved a source of repeated difficulties. Excellency having fortunately procured a capable official to conduct the delimita- tion, it passed off without trouble. I am not the only one who is personally pleased at this. Unfortunately, the British have been throughout in too much of a hurry with regard to this settlement extension, and the suspicions of the people have been roused. For instance, there have been lately a large number of people surveying in the neighbourhood of Kowloon, and I, fearing that some trouble might be occasioned by the action of the ignorant populace, have instructed my subordinates to send troops to take all precautions against disturbance. But a large portion of my jurisdiction borders on the sea, and, although I have a steam-launch under my orders, it has been a long time out of repair, and so steps should be taken to have it put in order. But as I may be at any moment placed in a quandary by some unforeseen emergency, I beg that a launch may be temporarily placed at my disposal, so that the public interests may not suffer. As soon as the territorial questions are settled, the launch can be withdrawn.
Reply of the Viceroy.
A launch will be detailed for temporary service, and it will be withdrawn as soon as matters are settled. There is, at present, a sufficient force in the district to maintain order. I have recently received a despatch from the British Consul, fixing the 17th April as the day for taking over the territory. Deputy Wang will again have to proceed, and the local officials, civil and military, will exhort the people, as enjoined in my Proclamation, and co-operate in the maintenance of order and the prevention of disturbance.
April 9, 1899,
Kowloon Disturbances.
Viceroy's Instructions to Weiyuans (Deputies).
I am informed that, after the delimitation of the Kowloon boundary, an affray arose between natives and British troops at Ta Pu Hsu. I therefore require the following particulars to be thoroughly ascertained and reported for my informa- tion:-
What were the actual occurrences at Kowloon ? Whether the aggressors were people living within the boundary or people from the other side? Whether in the course of the daily occurring affrays there were any casualties? Whether the assailants have by this time been dispersed ? Whether the Kowloon Customs stations are levying duties as usual? What is the amount of revenue collected by the Customs since the 16th instant?
For this purpose I hereby instruct Prefect Fu Shun to make his preparations at an early date and proceed to Kowloon. I also direct Magistrate Chang Yun-wu to proceed to San On and Ta Pu Hsu to institute secret and careful inquiries and send in truthful reports from time to time. Let there be no carelessness or misleading statements, or blame will be incurred. These are urgent instructions.
April 20, 1899.
Instructions to the San-On Magistrate.
Whereas in connection with the Kowloon extension a joint Proclamation has been issued for general information, and two detachments of troops have been sent to preserve order, I now bear that on the 16th instant about 1,000 natives came into collision with British troops at Ta Pu Hsu.
[2178 b-5]
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