MEMORANDUM
Sir Claude MacDonald to Yamen Despatch No.12 of 13/2/ 1899. Yamen's reply Despatch No.9 of 19/2/ 1899.
Sir Claude Macdonald to Yamen Despatch No.16 of 15/2/ 1899.
sir Claude Macdonald to Yamen Despatch No.31 of 10/6/ 1898.
Mr. Bax-Ir on- side to Yamen Despatch No.30 of 6/4/99.
KOWLOON CITY: CHINE E JURISDICTION IN, SUMMARY OF POSITION.
The Convention for the Extension of Hongkong
signed on the 9th June, 1898, provided for the continuance
within Kowloon City of the jurisdiction of Chinese offi-
cials so far as was not incompatible with the military
requirements for the defence of Hongkong.
The appointment of officials on both sides for
the joint survey of the frontier of the new terri tory
was the subject of correspond ence between the Legation
and the Tsung Li Yanen in February 1899.
On the 15th of February sir C. Macdonald communi-
cated to the Yamen Majesty's Government's proposals
to implement the ir undertaking (given on 10th June 1898)
to prevent the leased territory from being used for smug-
gling into China. The methods proposed included the
withdrawal of Chinese Customs stations and officers from
the colony and leased territory and its immediate vicinity.
This at once aroused the opposition of the Yamen, which
expressed its objections in various interviews and des-
patches dated 1st march orwards. The Yamen's views were
reported to the Foreign Office who replied that they re-
gretted that they could not agree to the exercise of any
form of Chinese Customs jurisdiction in the Colony or its
extension. The Yamen was informed of this ruling on the 6th
April, and replied on 10th April requesting that "the cir-
cunstances which made it so hard for China to remove her
Customs stations be represented to His Majesty's Government".
On the 12th April His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires
informed the Yamen that His Majesty's Consul at Canton had
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