CO129-544-14 Proposed public park in Kowloon- question of Chinese jurisdiction in city area 9-8-1933 - 9-8-1933 — Page 13

Mr. Bax-Irm- side to Yamen. Red letter No.47 of 4/4/99, asks Viceroy be or- dered to pre- vent obstruc- tion, and Ye- men's reply (Red letter No 49 of 6/4/99) agreeing to issue orders.

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reported that he had received a despatch from the

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Viceroy of Canton to the effect that "on account of

the Chinese Customs having to be removed" he would not

hand over the new territory on April 17th. His Majesty's

Chargé d'Affaires requested that immediate telegraphic

instructions be issued ordering the Viceroy to hand over on

the date named. Again on April 15th the request was re-

peated, with the additional statement that the Governor

of Hongkong was prepared to allow certain of the Customs

stations to continue to function pe nding other arrange-

ments, though their withdrawal was not to be delayed be-

yond October at the latest.

Un

In the meantime local opposition to the transfer

of the new territory was becoming more intense.

April 3rd an officer of the Hongkong Government was at-

tacked at Taipohu where mat-sheds had been erected for

the accommodation of police and officials of the Hongkong

Government who were to be sent to keep order in the new

territories. This outrage lead the Governor of Hongkong

to invite the Viceroy of Canton to give protection to

the mat-sheds and preserve the peace of the territory

until taken over. The Viceroy accordingly sent soldiers

into the territory but the protection given was clearly

inadequa te, as on 14th April the mat-sheds were burnt

down. Representations were then made by His majesty's

Chargd d'Affaires impressing upon the Yamen the necessity

of taking adequate precautions against further traibles.

Fearing an outbreak on the 17th (the date for taking over

originally fixed), the territory was taken over by the

Hongkong Government on the 16th. On the same day the

/Governor