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    {
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        "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案",
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        "document_key": "CO129-232 - Acting Governor Marsh Acting Governor Cameron - 1887 [4-5]",
        "page_number": 361,
        "title": "CO129-232 - Acting Governor Marsh Acting Governor Cameron - 1887 [4-5]",
        "content_text": "on which to hang the lanterns, and which, in consequence of Sunday being a dies non remained until Monday. These fixtures were thus unsightly for the whole of one day and parts of two others. The lanterns also necessitated the attendance of a number of men. To dispense with the unsightliness of the lantern fixings, the attendance of men on Sundays, the expense of the lantern illuminations, and the circumstance of the lanterns being subject to extinction of their lights by a sudden shower I had the honour to propose the introduction of gas for the purpose of illuminating the two terraces and entrances. The proposition was approved and the necessary vote for carrying out the work was placed at my disposal, when gas was at once laid on and the requisite fixings were made.\n\n45. At the request of the Colonel of the Regiment a Wooden Platform two feet high and 28 feet in diameter was constructed for the use of the Band when it performs in the Gardens.\n\nAt present there is only one situation where this platform can be placed. It has to be carried and put in position on Saturday, where it remains until Monday. When it is not in use the appearance of the platform does not add to the beauty of the terrace. It would be desirable to find another place for it, if this can be done without interfering seriously with the effect of the music, where the platform might be planted off from view.\n\n46. AL FRESCO FETE.-In November a large Fête in aid of the Alice Memorial Hospital was held in the Gardens on two nights. Very extensive preparations in the way of mat structures for theatre, fancy work stalls, refreshments, bar, and other things had to be made. I believe there were about 6,000 people admitted to the Gardens on each night. Considerable damage was done to the grass turf, and most of the flower beds which had just been filled for the winter season were so much trampled on that they had to be replanted after the fete was over, some shrubs and plants in pots were also destroyed. The staff for some time after the fête had to be withdrawn from their usual occupations in order to get the Gardens into respectable order again.\n\n47. HORTICULTURAL SHOW.-The Annual (15th) Flower Show was again held in the Gardens. The space required for the exhibits was greater than it previously had been. These shows have been productive of the greatest good in the cultivation of vegetables, in which, as is most desirable, the Chinese take more and more interest, which is a proof that to them the industry is a paying one.\n\n48. It would greatly enhance the value and interest of the shows if exhibitors would have each plant carefully and conspicuously named.\n\n49. A new interest was attached to the exhibition last year by the award of Silver and Bronze medals-called Belilios Medals-and Money Prizes provided for by a handsome Endowment Fund which was generously placed at the disposal of the Committee by Mr. E. R. BELILIOS.\n\nIt is hoped and expected that these prizes, which will be offered every year, will still further stimulate horticultural enterprise in the Colony.\n\n50. OFFICE. Since my return from leave I have devoted much time to the institution of an improved system of office work and arrangements, which were urgently needed, and of the working up of arrears in both ordinary routine, and correspondence. Improved furniture and conveniences were pressingly necessary, and they have been obtained. By these improvements work is greatly facilitated, and much time is saved.\n\n51. In consequence of the absence of the Superintendent for half the year correspondence, especially foreign, has not been so great. The average number of letters despatched from the office for the year was about 1,500, of which one-third was foreign correspondence.\n\n52. In addition to the general Administration of the Department the Superintendent either writes or drafts all of the Correspondence, directs and supervises the Forest work, and attends to the keeping and progress of the Herbarium with the aid of native assistance only. In both office and herbarium there is room and necessity for more skilful assistance than that which is available, as it is impossible to entirely keep up with the increasing demands of important subjects which are continually pressing for attention.\n\n53. The time of the Head Gardener is entirely taken up with the management of the native staff within the Botanic and Government House Gardens and the execution of the manifold operations therein, and with the sale of plants.\n\n54. HERBARIUM. More and more interest is being directed to the Botany of China, and it is a pity that this institution which in many respects is so conveniently situated for research in important and interesting subjects has not the means for extending and more completely fulfilling the work which still remains to be done in bringing to light the botanical treasures of the Chinese Empire. However, I acknowledge with pleasure the aid which the Government has so generously placed at my disposal so far for botanical research. Valuable results have been obtained for some years past, results which have met with the hearty acknowledgment of eminent scientific men in England, and the last year has, although there was so little time for scientific work, had a large share of good results.\n\n55. In this work I have to thank the Rev. B. C. HENRY, of Canton, for a large package of plants which he collected and dried during a journey across the island of Hainan. I named such plants of the collection as were known to me, and submitted the remainder, to Kew Gardens. The result of the investigation there proved the collection to be of unusual interest, and of richness in new species.\n\nCareful and intelligent travellers like Mr. HENRY are able to render great and valuable services to botany while on journeys undertaken for other purposes. I should always be glad to receive collections from travellers and also to give such advice and assistance as might be needed in indicating the best methods of collecting and preserving the specimens.\n\n56. To the Rev. E. FABER I am also indebted for a fine collection made in the neighbourhood of Ningpo and Shanghai. These plants are of much interest, but they have not, for want of time, been yet fully examined.\n\n57. Mr. WM. M. COOPER, Her Majesty's Consul at Ningpo, is also entitled to best acknowledgments for botanical specimens and information of much interest which has been communicated from time to time, as well as for consignments of seeds of useful plants.\n\n58. Mr. WESTLAND has been successful in the discovery and collection of several new plants on the mainland and islands close to Hongkong, on a few occasions when he was able to get away from his duties in the Gardens.\n\n59. The year has seen the commencement of the publication by the Linnean Society of the \"Index Flora Sinensis\" or an Enumeration of all the known Plants of China. This establishment has been of much service in contributing to Kew Gardens material and information for use in the production of this very important work.\n\n60. By the death at Amoy in June, of the late lamented Dr. HENRY FLETCHER HANCE, China lost not only its most learned and courteous botanist, but also the rich collection of dried plants, and an extensive botanical library. I at one time hoped that part of the herbarium might have been secured for Hongkong, but instead of this being so, the whole Herbarium has been purchased by the Trustees of the British Museum.\n\n61. There is immense work to be yet done in China, not only in the discovery of a vast number of plants which it is certain are yet unknown to science, but also in the introduction and collection of information on plants used in medicine and domestic economy. In the advancement of such work, this Department, with increased facilities, could render still more important services.\n\n62. LIBRARY.-My visit to England afforded a good opportunity to procure a number of books which were required to augment the library of the Department. With the aid which the Government was good enough to place at my disposal this opportunity was not lost.\n\n63. Following is a list of the titles of works, including the periodicals which are taken, that were added during the year :--\n\nA new Species of Cycas, Dyer.\n\nBalanophoreæ, Griffith.\n\nBotanical Magazine for 1885.\n\nBotany of the Voyage of the Herald, Seemann.\n\nCommelynace et Cyrtandraceæ, C. B. Clarke.\n\nCryptogamic Plants, Berkeley.\n\nDescriptive and Analytical Botany, Lo Maout and Decaisne.\n\nDr. Cantor's Plants, Griffith.\n\nEarly European Researches into the Flora of China, Bretschneider.\n\nEnumeratio Plantarum Chinæ; Bunge.\n\nFerns of British India, Beddome.\n\nFlora Adenensis, Anderson.\n\nFlora of British India, Parts XII. and XIII.\n\nFlora Capensis, Harvey and Sonder.\n\nFlora Cochinchinensis, Loureiro.\n\nFlora Japonica, Siebold.\n\nFlora Japonica, Thunberg.\n\nFlora Javica, Blume.\n\nFlora of India, Roxburgh.\n\nFlora of New Zealand, Hooker.\n\nFlora Vitiensis, Seemann.\n\nFlowers, Fruits and Leaves, Lubbock.\n\nForest Flora of British Burma, Kurz.\n\nForests and Moisture, Brown.\n\nGardeners' Chronicle for 1886.\n\nGardens of the Sun, Burbidge.\n\nGeographical Distribution of Ferns, Baker.\n\nGeography of Plants, Daubeney.\n\nHydrology of South Africa, Brown.\n\nIcones Plantarum Sponte Chinæ.\n\nIcones Selectæ Plantarum, Japan; Kaempfer.\n\nIllustrations of Natural Orders of Plants, Oliver.\n\nJournal of Botany, Vols. IX and XXIII.\n\nLatin Dictionary, Smith.\n\nLing Nam, Henry.\n\nLes Palmiers, de Kerchove.\n\nManual of Botany, Balfour.\n\nManual of Timber Trees, Gamble.\n\nMemoire sur la Famille Melastomacées.\n\nModern Forest Economy, Brown.\n\nNomenclature of Japanese Plants, Matsumura.\n\nOn Nepenthes, Hooker.\n\nOn the Movements of Climbing Plants, Darwin.\n\nPen Ts'ao Kang Mu.\n\nPeruvian Bark, Markham.\n\nPlantæ Davidianæ, Franchet.\n\nPreparation and Use of Rheea Fibre, J. Forbes Watson.\n\nReboisement in France, Brown.\n\nRemarks on Guettarda, Griffith.\n\nReports on Insects Injurious to Plants, Whitehead.\n\nResidence Among Chinese, Fortune.\n\nSea Weeds, Greville.\n\nSelect Extra-Tropical Plants, Mueller.\n\nSocial Life of Chinese, Doolittle.\n\nTea Districts of China, Fortune.\n\nTernstroemiaceous Plants, Champion.\n\nText Book of Botany, Sachs.\n\nWanderings in China, Fortune.\n\n64. The parts which have been published during the year of the \"Flora of British India,\" the \"Index Flora Sinensis\" (several copies), and some parts of \"Icones Plantarum\" have been generously presented by Mr. DYER, of Kew Gardens, for which donations I have to sincerely thank him.\n\n65. I have also to acknowledge with thanks, the various Reports of the Indian Forest Department, which have been generously contributed as they were published.\n\n66. In addition to these I am also indebted for various Annual Reports and Papers of the numerous Indian and Colonial Botanic Gardens with which we are in correspondence.\n\nPage 354",
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        "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案",
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        "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904",
        "page_number": 153,
        "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904",
        "content_text": "SOUTH-WEST CHINA.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n1 10130 [February 13.]\n\nshemox 2 MAR 041\n\nSir,\n\nNo. 1.\n\nIndia Office to Foreign Office.-(Received February 13.)\n\nIndia Office, February 12, 1904.\n\n151\n\nI AM directed by Mr. Secretary Brodrick to forward, for the information of the Marquess of Lansdowne, copy of a letter from Mr. Glass, of the Peking Syndicate, and of the letter from Colonel Manifold referred to therein,* on the subject of railway development in the basin of the Yang-tsze River. I am also directed to forward copy of a despatch which has been addressed to the Government of India on the subject of Colonel Manifold's recommendations as to the construction of mule roads in Yunnan, and also a copy of an earlier despatch, dated the 18th December, 1903, on the subject of a railway survey of the country between the Salween and the Mekong.\n\nIt will be seen that Mr. Brodrick attaches importance to the suggestion made by Colonel Manifold for the construction of mule roads for the purposes of the present trade between Burmah and Yünuan, and he would suggest, for Lord Lansdowne's consideration, that a copy of Colonel Manifold's Memorandum should be sent to Mr. Consul Litton for his information, with copies of the despatches to the Government of India inclosed herewith.\n\nI have, &c. (Signed)\n\nInclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\nMr. Glass to Sir A. Godley.\n\nA. GODLEY.\n\n110, Cannon Street, London, E.C.,\n\nDecember 16, 1903.\n\nMy dear Sir Arthur Godley,\n\nCOLONEL MANIFOLD asked me to send you a copy of a letter he wrote to Mr. Ritchie on the subject of railways in Szechuan and the attitude of the French in respect to them.\n\nA loan was recently put out in Paris for the construction of the Chengting-Taiyuan-fu Railway, and from the map which accompanied it, I see that the intention is to carry the line from Taiyuan down the valley of the Fen River, past Tungkwan, described by Colonel Mark Bell as the Gate of Central Asia, to Sian-fu, the capital of Shensi. It would seem probable that the Russians--though Chenting-Taiyuan Railway is a Russian line--intend approaching Szechuan from Sian-fu, and if so there will be the French from Yüunan and the Russians from Sian-fu endeavouring to get control in Szechuan and keep out British trade. Manifold's suggestion that British railways should be started in Szechuan--that is, say, a local line from Chentu to Chingking on the Yang-tsze--seems to me one that early action should be taken on.\n\nBelieve, &c. (Signed) J. H. GLASS.\n\nInclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nMr. Brodrick to the Government of India.\n\nMy Lord,\n\nIndia Office, February 12, 1904.\n\nIN continuation of my despatch dated the 18th December, 1903, on the subject of the survey of the country between the Salween and the Mekong, I forward, for the information of your Excellency's Government, copy of a Memorandum by Lieutenant-Colonel C. C. Manifold,* discussing the development by railways of the Szechuan basin, and the steps which can be taken in that province, and in Yüunan, to prevent British enterprise being forestalled by the action of other countries.\n\n* For inclosure, see Colonel Manifold's Report, printed separately.",
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        "id": 395258,
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        "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案",
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        "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904",
        "page_number": 595,
        "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904",
        "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\nFOOCHOW-ORENA.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nNo. 1.\n\n592\n\n[October 3.]\n\nSECTION 1.\n\nConsul-General Wilkinson to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received October 3.)\n\n(No. 9.) My Lord,\n\nYunnan, August 18, 1904.\n\nI HAVE the honour to inclose copy of a despatch which I have to-day addressed to His Majesty's Minister on the expediency of at once securing for British exploitation the concession of a railway from Burmah via Tali to Yünnan-fu.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) W. H. WILKINSON.\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\n\nConsul-General Wilkinson to Sir E. Satow.\n\n(No. 22. Confidential.)\n\nSir,\n\nYünnan-fu, August 18, 1904.\n\nI HAD the honour to receive, on the 13th instant, your telegram No. 16 in reply to my telegram No. 14 of the 29th June.\n\nYou tell me that His Majesty's Government could not authorize the application I had suggested for the concession of a railway from Burmah to Tali and Yunnan-fu because there is no present prospect of capital being forthcoming.\n\nI was aware of the position which His Majesty's Government have generally adopted, not to apply themselves for a Railway or other Concession in a foreign country, but to wait until their offices were requested by British capitalists. At the same time, I felt, and continue to strongly feel, that the present is a case where an exception should be made. To quote from the Memorandum respecting Railways (Inclosure No. 3 in Colonel Manifold's letter to the Foreign Office, copy of which was furnished to me in your despatch No. 4 of the 7th April last):\n\n\"The great importance of the Burmah line rests in the fact of its counter-balancing the French railway from Tonquin. When once the latter is completed, communication between Burmah and the Upper Yang-tsze will be cut off, and there will be a chance of Yunnan becoming practically a French province. A railway from Burmah, if constructed for the present up to Yunnan-fu, would save this.\"\n\nAgain (Major Davies' \"Military Report on Yunnan,\" Part I, p. 90): \"The French are just now (1899) going to begin the construction of a railway up to Yünnan-fu, and they expect to reach there in seven years. Any railway we may make from Burmah to the Yang-tsze must also pass near or through Yünnan-fu. The point is of vital importance to us, as a French occupation of Yunnan-fu would cut off Burmah from the Yang-tsze Valley and thus prevent the construction of a connecting line between India and China.\"\n\nIf we must describe a French railway from Tonquin to Yunnan-fu as a grave obstacle to the connection of India with our sphere of influence on the Upper Yang-tsze, what are we to say of a French railway to Tali? Though the French were to occupy Yunnan-fu, it is possible that we could still develop the old trade route from Burmah through Tali into the Chienchang Valley; but with Tali also under French domination, our sole remaining access from India into Szechuan would be Sarat Chaudra Das' suggested road from Sadiya to Batang, or the still more problematical passage via Lhassa to Tachienlu.\n\nThat the French contemplate an extension of the Laokai-Yunnan-fu Railway westward to Tali has been made evident by the insertion on their official railway maps of an \"embranchement vers Tali.\" Article 11 of their Agreement of the 28th October last gives them the right to construct \"des embranchements se rattachant à la ligne principale.\"\n\nIt is true that such construction cannot, according to the Agreement, be made until after the completion of the main line, and that it is dependent on an 'accord' with the provincial authorities of Yunnan and an 'entente' between the ...\n\n[2216 c-1]\n\n65",
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        "id": 422548,
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        "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案",
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        "document_key": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909",
        "page_number": 577,
        "title": "CO129-361 - Public Offices - 1909",
        "content_text": "## 66\n\nYour Excellency's notice the circumstance which led to a rupture of the negotiations for an Agreement which was about to be concluded between His Majesty's Commissioner at Wei-hai Wei and the Governor-General of Shangtung in connection with gold mining rights at a place known as Tiger Hill, situated on the boundaries of the territory leased to Great Britain under the Wei-hai Wei Convention.\n\nYour Excellency is doubtless aware that the conclusion of this Agreement was blocked by the action of the German Legation at Peking, who intervened on behalf of a German Company, the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Bergbau und Industrie im Auslande, who had obtained a Concession on the 24th August, 1899, granting them exclusive mining rights over an area of 250 li round Chefoo, which would include the whole of the leased territory of Wei-hai Wei.\n\nIn discussing this question with His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires, Baron von Mumm stated that a clause of the German Agreement excluded from the sphere of operations any places already conceded for the working of mines, &c., to merchants of other nations, and he considered that this applied to the leased territory, but not to the zone of influence bordering on it. The Imperial Minister repeated this contention in a subsequent conversation with His Majesty's Minister, urging that the action of the German Legation was justified by the judicial interpretation of the British lease of Wei-hai Wei.\n\nHis Majesty's Government are of opinion that no distinction between the leased territory and the sphere of influence contiguous to it, such as that claimed by Baron von Mumm, is to be inferred from the terms of the Wei-hai Wei Convention, and I have therefore been instructed by the Marquess of Lansdowne to represent to your Excellency that the presence of foreign miners is incompatible with the spirit of that Convention, and would clearly interfere with the right secured to Great Britain of erecting fortifications and taking such measures for defence as may be deemed necessary within the zone in question.\n\nI am further instructed to express the earnest desire of His Majesty's Government that the Imperial Minister at Peking may be instructed to withdraw his opposition to the proposed Agreement for the regulation of mining operations in Tiger Hill.\n\nI avail, &c.\n\n(Signed) **GEORGE W. BUCHANAN**\n\n## No. 74.\n\n67\n\n575\n\nBut you should strongly oppose French proposal, should it take form, in view of our recent agreement with Chinese Government.\n\nFull information was sent you by last mail with regard to Colonel Manifold's mission.\n\n## No. 76.\n\n**Memorandum communicated by Count de Lulaing, December 22, 1903.**\n\nAt the end of September last the Belgian Government empowered the Belgian Minister in China to suggest to his colleagues in Peking the following transactional proposal with a view to hasten the payment of the Chinese indemnity:-\n\nChina to sign, without further delay, the \"bons nationaux\" payable in gold, which had been sent to the Taotai of Shanghae in December 1902. On the other hand, the Powers to consent to China continuing the six monthly payments of the indemnity in silver, and to grant the necessary delay, until the entire debt should be paid.\n\nThis proposal maintained the principle of the gold payment of the indemnity, as prescribed by the Peking Protocol, but allowed China to pay off her debt, by instalments, in silver. By increasing, in this way, the number of annuities, the sum would amount to the total of the debt calculated on a gold basis.\n\nNearly all the States interested in the Chinese indemnity question have received this proposal favourably, but the Russian Government have not stated their views, with the result that the arrangement has been deferred, as several foreign Ministers in Peking had been instructed to support the proposal only in case of unanimity among the interested parties.\n\nSo as to hasten the signature of the \"bons nationaux d'indemnité,” it would be highly desirable that the interested Powers should exert, if possible, their influence at St. Petersburgh with a view to obtaining the adhesion of the Imperial Government to the proposal.\n\nWould the British Government feel disposed to send instructions of this nature to His Majesty's Minister in Russia?\n\nThe result to be obtained is an important one, for there is no doubt that China would agree to the proposal were it formulated by the unanimous interested States.\n\nLondon, December 22, 1903.\n\n## Sir E. Satow to the Marquess of Lansdowne.--(Received December 22.)\n\n(No. 273.) (Telegraphic.) P.\n\nPeking, December 22, 1903.\n\nPROJECTED French railway. Your Lordship's telegram No. 196 of the 4th instant.\n\nI was informed some time ago by French Minister that the French were thinking of such a line. In reply to inquiries the Foreign Board deny that he has mentioned it to them, but I think, nevertheless, that he has probably done so.\n\nThe whole course of the suggested line has not yet been examined, but the Intelligence Department at Tien-tsin inform me that Captain Hunter examined the Tsing-kiang portion of it, and reported it impracticable for railway construction.\n\nSubject to your Lordship's approval, I will send the Commercial Attaché with a Royal Engineer officer and two Indian surveyors, whom I hope to obtain through the General at Tien-tsin, to investigate.\n\n## No. 77.\n\n## The Marquess of Lansdowne to Sir E. Satow.\n\n(No. 212.) (Telegraphic.) P.\n\nForeign Office, December 25, 1903.\n\nINDEMNITY bonds and conversion of indemnity payments. Your telegram No. 271 of the 19th instant. The suggestion made by Belgian Government that we should join in representations at St. Petersburgh is being considered.\n\nYou should act at once on instructions conveyed in my despatch No. 281 of the 21st September unless you see strong objections. It is possible that action of Commission with regard to conversion of next instalment may be affected by a formal representation to the Diplomatic Body.\n\n## The Marquess of Lansdowne to Sir E. Satow.\n\n(No. 209.) (Telegraphic.) P.\n\nSUGGESTED French railway from Ichang.\n\nForeign Office, December 22, 1903.\n\nIt would be as well, before taking action suggested in last paragraph of your telegram No. 273 of the 22nd instant, to consult Colonel Manifold, who, with two other officers, has started for China to conduct further surveys for a line to Szechuan on behalf of British and Chinese Corporation and Peking Syndicate.\n\n## No. 78.\n\n## The Marquess of Lansdowne to Sir E. Satow.\n\n(No. 215.) (Telegraphic.) P.\n\nForeign Office, December 26, 1903.\n\nON the 7th instant, German transport left Port Said bound for Hangchow Bay, with 212 troops on board.\n\nPlease refer to `page 280` of North China Intelligence Diary for period ending the 27th October.",
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