[ { "id": 224583, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-018 - Others - 1846", "page_number": 489, "title": "CO129-018 - Others - 1846", "content_text": "REPORT ON\n\nThe constant garden cropping—the deep green of the large rice plains, and the cultivation climbing the hills—give great beauty to the scenery. And at early morn, the singing of the birds in the groves; the murmuring rivulets through the valleys; and the fresh breeze from the mountains, enhance the charms of the landscape, and renovate the health of the debilitated resident of a tropical climate.\n\nWere Chusan a British colony, its hills and vales would be adorned by charming villas, rich orchards, and luxuriant pasturages. English town, with all the advantages of modern civilization, would become an example to the Chinese; and in the improvement of our own position, we should materially aid in the social advancement of the imitative nation contiguous to our shores.\n\nTinghae city, in length from north to south about 1200 feet, and in breadth about 1000, is surrounded by a stone wall of two miles and three-quarters in length, nearly fifteen feet in height, thirteen feet in thickness, surmounted by a strong brick parapet of four feet and a half high, and two feet thick, with small embrasures for matchlocks or arrows. The gateways, four in number, east, west, north, and south, are double, and placed zigzag as in India. The walls are strengthened by square bastions well placed. At intervals around the city, the wall ascends a steep mound, now called the Cameronian Hill (the 26th Regiment being encamped there after our first attack on the island); part of this hill is therefore included within the city bounds. A canal (see map), thirty-three feet wide by three deep, runs parallel to the city wall, about thirty yards distant, except on the western side where it ascends the Cameronian Hill, and enters near the south gate. The level space at each side of the city walls is covered with rice fields, almost continually under water, and of difficult passage to an invading force. The flat country around is a succession of rice fields, bordered with the lofty Barbadian millet, which rises ten feet in height.\n\nThe city of Tinghae is extensive, and, like all Chinese towns, the streets are narrow (about twelve to fourteen feet), irregular, and flagged with large slabs of different kinds of stone. Almost every street has a covered drain, which communicates with a canal. For a Chinese city, it is kept extremely clean; the houses are generally of one story, but the tenements of the richer classes are very extensive, and form three sides of a square, with a lofty wall in front. Sometimes there are two or three inner courts. The shops are numerous, and there is a minute division of employment. In many respects, there is a resemblance to the tradesmen of Europe; persons of the same trade frequently congregate in the same street or neighbourhood. The shops have a long and broad counter, effectually separating the purchasers from the shopmen, with a money-till at one end; there are neatly-labelled drawers, or commodious shelves, and back warehouses for the careful disposition of the goods; a reel of twine hangs from the ceiling, close to wrapping-paper cut of various sizes ready for use. Various articles of such goods as may attract the notice of customers, with the prices affixed on labels, are hanging partly on the outside, in some instances in such characters as are only known to the shopmen. Everything is sold by weight. Silversmiths in Tinghae now make spoons, forks, goblets, branch candlesticks, and various other articles of domestic use. The artisans are extremely expert. The tailors are excellent and cheap workmen, and to the English, are known by their respective cognomens of Stultz, Nugee, &c. The supply of every article of provision, including meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, fruit, groceries, &c., is most abundant, and not one-half the price of very inferior articles at Hong Kong, where, indeed, it is often impossible to get beef or mutton of any description. Let but a European want be known in Chusan, and it will be very extraordinary if it be not supplied by a Chinaman.\n\nA European or Indian soldier is stationed at each gate of the city, but no difficulty is interposed, and no tax levied on perfect freedom of ingress or egress to or from the city. Many of the European officers, including that distinguished soldier, Brigadier Campbell, the Commandant of Chusan, reside in various parts of the city, perfectly isolated from each other, and with as much confidence and security as if they were residing in an English town. The 2nd Madras Native Infantry are quartered in the city, and their place d'armes is a remarkable temple, filled with numerous human figures, of full size, admirably carved in wood, painted, and representing the human countenance and form in every expression and attitude of passion and affection—of grief and joy, of sensibility and intelligence. I have seen nothing equal to the artistic skill and true taste exhibited in this temple in any other part in China. The inhabitants do not seem to take umbrage at its occupation by our troops, who scrupulously preserve it from injury.\n\nHer Majesty's 18th Regiment are quartered outside the city, in some two-storied houses which face the sea close to an extensive bund or embankment, which was erected with marvellous rapidity during the period which intervened between our first and second occupation of the island in 1840-1. This bund extends for nearly three miles along the sea front of Tinghae and Chusan harbour, and forms a fortified earth wall, pierced at short and regular intervals for cannon; and during our second attack on the island, about 150 pieces of artillery of various calibre (many of them however unserviceable) were placed in the embrasures. The bund now forms an excellent promenade for the garrison. The parade of the 18th Regiment is large, dry, level, and in the midst of the barracks, officers' quarters, commissariat and naval stores. Contiguous to the parade, our Government have built an excellent two-storied hospital facing the sea, at an expense of about 10,000 dollars. The European artillery are quartered in comfortable barracks on Joss-House Hill (see map), where a few guns command the whole harbour, the city, and the surrounding plain.\n\nGeology—Chusan appears to have been upheaved by a submarine convulsion, or to have been left dry by the receding ocean. A porphyritic clay-stone, assuming in some places a columnar and in others a laminated structure, appears to constitute the main portion of the island. Occasionally, a compact porphyritic stone of coarse conglomerate, capable of being split into large slabs, or formed into pillars, is found and quarried for various purposes. The soil in the valleys is a rich, dark, alluvial mould. There is no limestone on the island. None of the rotten granite found at Hong Kong or Amoy, and which yields such a deleterious gas, is perceivable at Chusan. About the centre of the island, and at a height of 700 feet, our surveyors found the com-", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-018 - Others - 1846.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 233230, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-042 - Sir Bonham - 1853 [1-6]", "page_number": 137, "title": "CO129-042 - Sir Bonham - 1853 [1-6]", "content_text": "Despatch 128 571853.\n\nEnclosure N/ in\n\nReturn of Reports of Piracies Committed from 16th March 1849, to 12th April, 1853.\n\nIn 6502 53\n\nList of Piracies communicated by the Commandant of Cowloong to the Chief Magistrate of Police.\n\n \n Date\n Locality\n Nature of Piracy\n \n \n 1851. Dec. 25.\n Capringmoon passage.\n A large sea-going junk attacked by two vessels containing more than 50 men - 2 seamen killed and 2 wounded; the junk, clothing, and cargo taken away, and the rest of the crew made prisoners.\n \n \n 1851 Dec. 27.\n The west coast of Lema island.\n \n \n \n 1852 Jan. 6.\n Lyemoon passage.\n A large sea-going junk attacked by Pirates, the cargo plundered, and 4 of the crew were made prisoners.\n \n \n 1852 Jan. 7.\n Mook moon.\n A large sea-going junk attacked by three piratical lor vessels; Low Ahhock killed, many wounded, the cargo plundered.\n \n \n 1852 June 29.\n For ning.\n A small junk attacked by 2 piratical lor vessels; money, clothing and other property plundered, and 3 of the crew made captives.\n \n \n 1852 July 1.\n The great lyvere.\n A boat attacked by a large salt junk; 4 of the crew and 4 women made prisoners, and the boat and property taken away.\n \n \n \n Lema island.\n 2 fishing boats chased by 2 piratical lor vessels; one escaped, the other was taken, together with her crew and property.\n \n\n1", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-042 - Sir Bonham - 1853 [1-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 236587, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-051 - Sir Bowring - 1855 [7-9]", "page_number": 68, "title": "CO129-051 - Sir Bowring - 1855 [7-9]", "content_text": "that in April 1847 \n\nApril 1847 on the withdrawal \n\nof the main body of the troops for the Expedition up the Canton River I was appointed by General D'Aguilar to the Commandantship of this Garrison post which I held till his return a few days after.\n\nAnd \n\nnow \n\nSir I come to the \n\nobject of this application.\n\nI am at present filling the high appointment of Lieutenant Governor of \n\nthis Colony, and while many useful \n\nchanges being made to accelerate the \n\npromotion and better the condition of the Officers of the Army, I beg with all respect to point out that an opportunity will soon occur for adopting the following suggestion which with all deference I \n\nsubmit.\n\nPage 66\n\nsubmit, as it will not only advance my \n\ninterests but will I hope benefit the \n\npublic service.\n\nColonel Griffin the present Commandant of this Garrison expects \n\nhis relief in June next and as his successor I offer myself to \n\nthe consideration \n\nof Lord Hardinge. My proposition \n\nis, that I be made a Colonel on the \n\nStaff with pay of a Lieutenant Colonel, and a Colonial or Staff allowance both amounting to £700 with quarters.\n\nThis \n\narrangement would be a saving of £1100 in the Military Expenditure as the present Commandant \n\nreceives above £1800, and a further \n\nsaving of £250, in Department, this latter being \n\nthe civil or Colonial \n\nallowance now", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-051 - Sir Bowring - 1855 [7-9].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 241633, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-063 - Sir Bowring - 1857 [4-7]", "page_number": 59, "title": "CO129-063 - Sir Bowring - 1857 [4-7]", "content_text": "57\n\nHe wrote to the effect that he believed everything had been restored.\n\nOn the 28th I was astonished to find that my private note to Colonel Dunlop (with many particulars connected with the proceedings at Kowloon), was published in a local Newspaper of which I enclose a copy.\n\nI had written another private note to Colonel Dunlop expressing my regret that he should have shown my former communication to any of the officers concerned, but that note contains no such passage as that quoted in the Hongkong Register.\n\nIn this state of matters, I requested the Acting Colonial Secretary officially to address the Military Commandant on the violation of confidence exhibited by the publication of my private letter.\n\nI have the honor to send you a copy of my communication to Colonel Dunlop, dated 28th instant, and of Colonel Dunlop's reply dated yesterday.\n\nI have to add that I desired Mr. Caldwell to...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-063 - Sir Bowring - 1857 [4-7].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 243015, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-065 - Sir Bowring & Public Offices - 1857 [11-12]", "page_number": 411, "title": "CO129-065 - Sir Bowring & Public Offices - 1857 [11-12]", "content_text": "## Inclosure 6\n\nIt is now said that the barbarian merchants of the different nations have deputed some one to England to denounce the English devil Governor (or Admiral).\n\nThe devils are, in my opinion, in a bad way, and have made this attack on Tung-chung because they could not vent their spleen elsewhere. Cowloon is so close that it is easy to watch them thence, and it will be impossible not to have everything ready (for its defence) in good time.\n\n(Applies for arms and ammunition, &c., &c.)\n\n(Translation.)\n\n## Inclosure 7\n\nChan-tsze-tin to Chan-kwei-tsih.\n\nFebruary 21.\n\nMAN-HING'S* nephew returned to the Committee yesterday to report the state of things in the camp.\n\nThis morning the English barbarians sent a note to the office of Cheung (Commandant of Tai-pong, residing at Cowloon).\n\nAt noon a steamer, towing 6 or 7 devil-boats, with 300 devil-soldiers, brought over several tens of outlaws. A hundred or more devils, all armed with muskets, and several tens of traitorous Chinese, came to the beach of Cowloon, but did not venture to enter the streets. Some of the elderly people of the place spoke to them, and then a military mandarin went out and conferred with the devils. To him the English barbarians handed over the outlaws, and they were imprisoned in the fort. There were also three English devils and two traitorous Chinese who came into the military station; what passed with them I do not know. After about two hours' stay, they went on board and sailed away.\n\nThe Cowloon people were in great alarm, expecting that there would be a fight. The neighbouring villages also made ready, and my braves turned out and lay in their camp waiting to march out.\n\nIn the afternoon, one (or some) of my braves came to report what he had seen, and I thus knew that the English devils had sailed away. What their purpose (or meaning) may be, it is indeed difficult for any one to divine.\n\nA man, or men, named ... came to Sha-tin after breakfast, and said that the Indian (\"Molo\") devil-soldiers who had come were very miserable wretches, and unfit for service. They looked as if they were ill. Five or six-tenths of them have no breeches to put on, and they are all wrapped or swathed in ragged blankets and coverlids. They are now building mat-sheds on the parade-ground by the barracks.\n\nIt has been said, lately, that 3,000 devil-troops are coming, and for some days they have been embarking guns and other arms; it is said, first to attack Nam-ton, and afterwards Canton. The police (lit. green jacket) devils say that there is to be this one fight more, by which they are to stand or fall; if they are beaten, they will be willing to sue for peace; if they cannot obtain peace, then they will go home to England.\n\nHe also reports that there are 100 persons or more engaged in supplying Hong Kong from different points of this (the central) division of the coast, all along the neighbourhood of Tsin-wan. Six vessels had been seized by the Tsin-wan braves, and had been ransomed for 72 dollars. I think it would be best to send an active gentleman to enforce the interdict at Tsin-wan, or the practice of supplying (Hong Kong) will go farther.\n\nKi-nin says the Tsin-wan flour-shop has opened again, and advises me to take a party of braves thither, and shut it up. I request your instructions on this point.\n\nI shall be obliged to you to give to the two braves, Leung and Wan-a-tsei, sent herewith, some thirty or forty catties of powder and twenty catties of bullets, to bring back with them.\n\n* Otherwise mentioned as Man-tsap-shin, who gave notice beforehand of the destruction of Duddell's bakery, and had himself undertaken to fire Victoria.-See Inclosure No. 9.\n\n(Translation.)\n\n## Inclosure 8\n\nMan-hing to Chan-tsze-tin.\n\nFebruary 21.\n\nI reached San-on yesterday evening at 6, and reported all that you desired. The General Committee of San-on had desired Tong-tsze-ki, who had brought in another devil's head, to take it on to Canton and report his service (i.e., claim his reward). The head of the devil in question was taken by some other vessel (not Tong's). She fell in with a devil's boat of Kap-shui-mun; Pai-wan (Aberdeen is probably meant); the devils took to the land, and so she only got this one head, which was brought to the Committee.\n\nThe Canton Committee are giving now only thirty taels for devils taken, whether dead or alive (interlined); for a devil's head, they will perhaps give thirty dollars, but I am not sure. The San-on Committee (consequently) do not now much prize devils' heads. The money that was sent to reward the captors of the devils taken some days ago caused several days' discussion. Tsu-kwei and the rest then consented to receive it.\n\nIf you, my uncle, wish the braves of your camp to set about this service of taking devils' heads, it would be well that you told them plainly (what they will get); there will be no occasion (I think) to be very eager about it from this time forth (i.e., because it does not pay).\n\nMy uncle, Chan-kwei-tsih, and Tse-fung are much pleased with the proposition to destroy houses (viz., Hong Kong).\n\nA reduction of the braves is contemplated, as there are too many, &c.\n\n(Translation.)\n\n## Inclosure 9\n\nYu-ki-nin to Chan-tsze-tin.\n\nFebruary 25.\n\nI write in haste to say that, with reference to the undertaking proposed by the (San-on) Committee some time since, and which Man-tsap-shin engaged at your place to carry out on the 23rd February, he has come to me to say that the attempt was made on the night in question in rear of the Tung-li mat-buildings establishment, but that other persons (?) coming to the rescue, it failed. He therefore begs for more time, and engages between the 3rd and 6th of the moon to fire all the line of hongs to the left of the police-station at the Kung-sze in the Ha-wan (Commissariat), or else to try the Canton Bazaar, or both it and the others. I will inform you of the result, &c.\n\n(Translation.)\n\n## Inclosure 10\n\nSu-ting-kweit to Chan-kwei-tsih and Tse-tsok-ko.\n\nMarch 4.\n\nI received a letter from you yesterday. Your proposition to reduce the braves, for the sake of economy, is evidence of your thoughtfulness, which is grateful to his Excellency.\n\nBut as there is a report (or, we have news) that the English barbarians are going to acknowledge their transgression, and that the different nations are united in their entreaties for trade; the net being thus open on one side, attacks and captures would be inexpedient. It will be better, therefore, to suspend the execution of your projects of incendiarism and seizure of vessels, and I intimate as much to you, that we may be on our guard against a struggle such as beasts make when surrounded, as this would give some trouble to his Excellency the Governor-General.\n\nPage 409", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-065 - Sir Bowring & Public Offices - 1857 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 244731, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-068 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12]", "page_number": 473, "title": "CO129-068 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12]", "content_text": "470 \n\n\"% \n\ninfluence over the case. \n\n(36) \n\n1 \n\nody. \n\n(37) \n\nFrom the Central Police Station the books, &c., were taken to the Police Court, under the memoranda as referred to the second charge, which were found in the house. The Acting Colonial Secretary \n\nup, I do not know by whom. I do not know anything about their transmission up to the Government Offices. To the best of my knowledge all the books, &c., found in the house, were sent from the Station to the Police Court, to be transmitted to Government Offices. I am not certain that when so sent they were sealed.\n\n[The Commission then proceeded to take secondary evidence tendered by Mr May, of the contents of these memoranda to the best of his recollection, reserving for after consideration the question of the admissibility of such evidence.]\n\nI replied that I did not see that we could legally hold the charge of Jarman, and they were still in his charge when I saw them. I should like to recall to his recollection a similar case, in which an influential man had been in custody on a charge of munitions of war, including gunpowder, shot, guns, muskets, shields, stinkpots, &c., as could by no possibility have been employed for any purpose but that of piracy, and which were examined by Mr Stace, Mr Caldwell, and an interpreter, and remained so, I believe, until the time they were sent to the Magistracy for transmission to the Government. I believe, of confederation with pirates, when he was Acting Attorney General, and in which he had insisted that the Police should retain possession of the shop. In consequence, it was arranged that one shop, which was considered more as the family residence of the prisoner, should be given up, but that the remainder of his premises should remain in the hands of the Police. I was Acting Assistant Magistrate at this time. My belief is that Dr Bridges interested himself because of the movement of Mr Caldwell in the matter.\n\nAfter the prisoner, Ma-chow Wong, was committed for trial, application was made that he should be admitted to bail. The Committing Magistrate refused to accede to the application, and an application was then made to the Judge in Chambers for the admission of the prisoner to bail. The prisoner was bailed, and I saw Mr Caldwell come with the bail to the Police Court, I think at the time it was accepted by the Chief Magistrate.\n\nAfter the trial and conviction, the memoranda remained in my possession. I heard that appeals had been made to His Excellency the Governor in Council to pardon the prisoners. I firmly believed that the existence of the memoranda was then known to the Acting Colonial Secretary because the existence was known by the Chief Magistrate and Acting Attorney General, to whom I knew the Acting Colonial Secretary had spoken on the subject of the prisoner's pardon. I did not make a direct communication to the Government on the subject of those memoranda. I thought it certain that a communication would be made to me by the Acting Colonial Secretary on the subject of the prisoner's pardon, when of necessity the memoranda would have been exhibited. No such communication was made to me until the appearance of an article in the China Mail newspaper, which article adverted to the existence of the information contained in these memoranda.\n\nI was summoned to attend a meeting of the Executive Council and found that Mr Dixson, Mr Lane, and some other civilian, had also been summoned to the Council. When I was called into the Council room, His Excellency the Governor said he had noticed certain statements in the China Mail and asked me if I had in any way authorised those statements. His Excellency the Governor said he would take the statement as they appeared seriatim, and reading the first charge asked me if I had authorised that. I do not now know what the first charge was. I said \"No, I had not authorised it;\" the Governor then read the second, and to the same query I answered in the affirmative. His Excellency asked for proof I had, and I then produced the memoranda referred to. It was apparent to me that His Excellency up to that time had not known of the existence of the memoranda.\n\nWith the permission of the Council I read such portions of the memoranda and I could not help observing that the reading of these memoranda produced a considerable effect on the Council. The Acting Colonial Secretary said he did not know of the existence of the memoranda till that time, and His Excellency the Governor was very angry that papers of such importance had not come to his knowledge before.\n\nI handed to the Acting Colonial Secretary the papers containing the memoranda, saying when I did so, \"I leave these in your hands.\" I have not seen the memoranda since. With regard to the original books and papers, I know that in obedience to an order from the Acting Colonial Secretary, all the papers and books of consequence, including those from which the memoranda had been taken, were sent up to the Government Offices; but whether to the Acting Colonial Secretary's office or to the Chinese Secretary's office, I do not know. To the best of my knowledge they passed from the hands of the Police to the Chief Clerk in the Magistracy, and from him to the Government Offices.\n\nMy impression at the time was that these memoranda did not contain evidence of matters which formed the subject of either of the two pending inquiries, or which could have been adduced in evidence on the trial on either of the indictments before the Supreme Court. I believe that all the books, papers, and writings seized in the house and shop of Ma-chow Wong were taken possession of by Inspector Jarman because the warrant was directed to him. Those found in the Kwong-yik Loong shop related exclusively to the two cases under investigation; those found in the house are those from which alone the memoranda were extracted, and these were taken from the house to the Central Station in an iron chest, of which Mr Jarman had the key. They remained, to the best of my knowledge, in his custody until examined by Tong Ait in my presence, after which they still remained in Jarman's custody.\n\n### Memoranda Contents\n\nNo. 1.-There were about 15 items, with dates of purchases of guns, gunpowder, stinkpots, shot, and muskets. I cannot say within what years. There were some single payments of as much as 50 taels for powder and 600 taels for cannons. The books bore on them the seal, and some the name, of Ma-chow Wong.\n\nNo. 2.-One item of delivery of a large quantity of saltpetre or sulphur, to a man—a manufacturer of gunpowder—at Shek-tong-tsui, a village beyond West Point.\n\nNo. 3.-There were about a dozen entries of payments of very considerable quantities of cash—called \"ancient\" cash, as much as 200,000 or 300,000 cash each entry, paid for articles of consumption.\n\nNo. 4.-Three or four covers of books, the leaves being torn out, and on the back of the books was written \"Monthly payments from such and such a gambling house to Ma-chow Wong.\"\n\nNo. 5.-There were two or three entries of payments made to Ma-chow Wong, for and on account of the Sunon people.\n\nNo. 6.-Was a book shewing an account of monies received by Ma-chow Wong, a lessee of the village of Cheem-sha-tsui, on the opposite shore, and an entry of a payment of so many dollars to Kowloong Police runners, on some business connected with Cheem-sha-tsui.\n\nNo. 7.-A page of a book, an account of receipts either for or from Mr Caldwell, amounting altogether in different amounts to more than 600 taels. It did not say in respect of what.\n\nNo. 8.-A paper which was written to this effect, \"An agreement between some man in the lower bazaar, Ma-chow Wong, and Mr Caldwell, that if the lower Bazaar man was successful in an ejectment case, the property was to be sold to Mr Caldwell for a certain sum of money, I think $1000—of which certain sum $500 were to be allowed as expenses of the suit, the remainder of the purchase-money going to the vendor.\"\n\nNo. 9.-There were some papers in English in Mr Caldwell's hand-writing, receipts for wages paid to a man named Beaver, for his services on board a lorcha: some of them said \"received from Mr Caldwell\" and some \"from Wong Akee.\" Other receipts for sums paid to other Europeans for similar services; one was to the best of my recollection for a sum paid to Graham. There was one paper directed to a European shipwright—\"Please deliver the Hongkong—I think Mr Ross—bearer some spars, and place the same to my account,\" signed by Mr Caldwell, dated 1856 or 1857.\n\nNo. 10.-A letter from the Commandant at Kowloong to Wong Akee's partner—a Chinese name—thanking him for his services with reference to certain property which had been taken from Kowloong when the military went over there, and had been restored, and requesting this man to thank Mr Caldwell for his services.\n\nNo. 11.-A cover of a letter from a man who was known as a pirate—I forget his name—who, in 1856, escaped from the Police through the aid of Ma-chow Wong from Ma-chow Wong's house, and who was at the time of writing the letter in the service of Chan Kwei-tsik. The cover said \"from so and so, at such a place, to Wong Akee.\" I do not know whether the cover stated that he was in Chan Kwei-tsik's service, or whether the interpreter inferred this from the locality whence it came, or other circumstances.\n\nNo. 12.-There was a money account between Ma-chow Wong and some one at Singapore, relative to what in my memo. was described as the \"slave trade,\" the buying of persons and reselling of them at Singapore.\n\nNo. 13.-There were about ten entries of payment to lawyers, most of them mentioning Mr Stace's name, but not in respect of what business.\n\nNo. 14.-An entry of a receipt of money—it was a money account, and therefore I conclude a receipt—of a sum of money for service rendered by Wong Akee in obtaining the assistance of an English man-of-war, to recover a vessel from pirates.\n\nNo. 15.-There must have been also an entry shewing him to have been connected in some measure with the robbery of silk from Messrs Gibb, Livingston & Co.'s godowns, but what the entry was I do not recollect.\n\nNo. 16.-A paper shewing the number of guns fired at different places.\n\nNo. 17.-A memo. shewing the division of some money as shares in a Chinese boat transaction. There were twelve shares.\n\nNo. 18.-There was some paper, but I cannot recollect what it exactly was, shewing Ma-chow Wong's connection with the Sunon Wo, a house belonging to the people of the Sunon district, and under the management of Ma-chow Wong.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-068 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 244735, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-068 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12]", "page_number": 477, "title": "CO129-068 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12]", "content_text": "(45)\n\n474\n\n(44)\n\nshall, in the course of the investigation, endeavour to bring before the Commission persons who will testify to the facts I mention.\n\nAdjourned till 12 o'clock to-morrow.\n\n## FOURTEENTH DAY\n\nThursday, 24th June, 1858, at 12 o'clock Noon.\n\nPresent, All the Members, except the Honourable Mr Cleverly, whose place in the chair was taken by the Honourable Mr Davies.\n\n### ANGUS FLETCHER\n\n—Called and examined.\n\nI formerly had a partner named Innes, who has been dead many years. I believe Mr Caldwell was once in Mr Innes's employ. I do not know of my own knowledge why Mr Caldwell was discharged. I am one of the oldest residents in China, and have known about Mr Caldwell, otherwise than as employed by Mr Innes, for some time. I did not know anything of him beyond that he was a little thoughtless; this was nearly twenty years ago. I do not recollect having ever heard any accusation brought against him.\n\nI do not know under what circumstances Mr Caldwell left my late partner; he left before I joined him. I believe he was Clerk or Book-keeper with him. I never heard a word from Mr Innes, nor from any one else, as to the circumstances under which Mr Caldwell left Mr Innes's employ.\n\n[The Attorney General having been informed that neither to himself nor to any of the public could printed copies of the evidence be furnished, but that he was at liberty to inspect them in the room, and that copies of his own evidence would be furnished, requested that a minute might be made that he had not had any of the fasciculi since the third, and had therefore had no opportunity, and now should have none, of correcting in his own copy, and suggesting to the Commission for correction in theirs, such of the errors in the evidence as taken as he was able to correct, as well as of offering suggestions for examination of witnesses.]\n\n### CHARLES MAY\n\n—Recalled.\n\nGrand-Pré in conversation; and, I was then told, that the European Constable who had charge of Ma-chow Wong had immediately before made known that certain large bribes had been offered him by Ma-chow Wong. One of the bribes was offered to induce the Constable to allow the prisoner interview with Mr Caldwell. I did not consider the prisoners secure at the Police Station as I thought necessary, and him up to the Gaol.\n\nI did not know that the papers which had been sent to Government Office had not been returned to the Police until I heard of their destruction at Government Office, therefore the papers given up could only have been those belonging to the Kwong Yik Loong [Ma-chow Wong's] shop. I recollect that Mr Grand-Pré said that Mr Caldwell had, by, I think, a note which he had in his hand, applied for the papers of Ma-chow Wong, and I am not quite so certain, but I think Mr Grand-Pré said something about Dr Bridges having authorised their being given up.\n\nI am certain that some property remained in the hands of the police, and I have no doubt this property was given up by Mr Grand Pré, who therefore can give evidence upon it. I have asked both Inspectors, but they can give me no information upon this. I do not know whether I was at that time Acting Assistant Magistrate, or Acting Superintendent of Police. I endeavoured to find out who gave up the property at the Police Station, and the Inspectors have told me that they did not, and that therefore it must have been Mr Grand-Pré.\n\nI am certain that those papers given up were the Kwong Yik Loong papers, because the others have been destroyed. It now strikes me that I have heard that some of the papers, which were deposited at the Supreme Court, were given up, upon this head Mr Masson can give evidence.\n\nI think I can produce a witness who saw the first wife of Ma-chow Wong go into Mr Caldwell's house within the last two months. I did hear that Ma-chow Wong's wife had found a refuge in Mr Caldwell's house. I heard it from more than one; amongst others, from Tong Aku the Interpreter.\n\nAbout the notoriety of the pirate Po-pak Shing, Assow, that Police Court Interpreter, who told me more than twelve months ago that this man was a notorious pirate, can give evidence. As to the connection between Po-pak Shing and Ma-chow Wong, and the buying off of the witnesses, I hand in the name of a witness who can give evidence.\n\nI saw Mr Caldwell go into the Chief Magistrate's room with the bail, on the occasion of Ma-chow Wong's being bailed by order of the Chief Justice; this is the extent of my knowledge. I do not recollect how many bail there were, and do not know if the Chief Magistrate desired Mr Caldwell to be present on the occasion. I heard that the Chief Magistrate had had a communication with Mr Caldwell on the subject, but did not know what it was. On the night of Ma-chow Wong's apprehension on my warrant, I gave special orders as to his custody, and that he should be under the special care of a European Constable, to the exclusion of the usual Chinese Constables who watch the cells. At half-past ten o'clock at night or later, I went incidentally to the charge room, and saw Mr Caldwell and Mr...\n\nMr Caldwell himself told me that the boat of which he had command was manned by Chinese, he did not say by Europeans and Indians, I know from what he told me.\n\nCross-examined.—A man deposed at the Supreme Court that Ma-chow Wong had offered him $1,000, to abstain from giving evidence so far as it referred to the identification of the prisoners, the Captain of the boat I think. He had command at different times of two boats, one of which was decked, and I should think a schooner, because he told me of his having been nearly drowned in the cabin.\n\nI taxed my memory as far as I possibly could with regard to the memoranda, and I cannot recollect more minutely than I stated. The memorandum number 8 in Mr Caldwell's report does not agree with number 8 in my evidence; there was only one paper, as I have stated with regard to No. 9. There might have been one Johnson, but there was a Graham. I remember about Graham, because he was subsequently imprisoned for felony. He was Sheriff's Officer and robbed a boat. Now I recollect, there were two letters from the Kowloong Commandant, one to Ma-chow Wong, and one to his partner.\n\nI have not the slightest doubt that I told the Honourable the Attorney General what my impression was prior to my knowledge that the books and papers had been destroyed, that the books and papers of Ma-chow Wong which were at the Police Station had been given up. I remember the sailing of the Phoebe Dunbar with the deported persons. I was the Acting Sheriff at the time, and sent in a list to Government of all persons who were then in Gaol under warrants of Justices of the Peace or Stipendiary Magistrates, coming under Ordinance 2 of 1857, viz., persons dangerous to the peace and good order of the Colony. I have no copy of the list, and know that it is in the records of the Gaol.\n\nThere were other names on the list, put on by order of the Government, quite certain that I must have told other persons, but I cannot recollect whom. At the time of the taking of the memoranda, and up to the time of my knowledge of the destruction of the papers, I had not any idea that the memoranda would be a subject of import. The memoranda were written in a style in which I would write a draft for a letter; they were scribbled. It was singular that the memoranda were not destroyed. I am sure that Roberts told me that he had found about 36 guns on board the supposed Alma. I am not sure whether he said that Mr Caldwell told him that the lorcha belonged to him then, or had belonged to him.\n\nI do not recollect Mr Caldwell searching with me for the security papers in the gold dust affair. I have not the slightest recollection of his doing so. I had the general management of the deportation, being Acting Sheriff at the time. The list of persons to be deported was made out by me or by persons under my orders. I believe the list to comprise all prisoners of the classes before mentioned. I had no knowledge of any one fact relating to one prisoner more than to another.\n\nI made the seizure on Bonham Strand; those who could not find security, and were included in the list, were very likely beggars, but I can't say that they were. I do not think that Mr Caldwell was present when I searched for the security papers, after the petition had been presented. I think it was Roberts who apprehended the men.\n\nPage 474", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-068 - Sir Bowring - 1858 [5-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 247129, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-073 - Lieut. Governor Caine & Sir Bowring - 1859 [1-5]", "page_number": 432, "title": "CO129-073 - Lieut. Governor Caine & Sir Bowring - 1859 [1-5]", "content_text": "M. May's Memoranda\n\nA receipt by Tang a book of brown rent from Wing \" Thum Kee, a bill from Kee kee to Shun loong of tur bulle ut Patna and some cross, showing that he trad sold opium ..\n\nA prom state prom. thing hin-ching kee horrowed off 10 to pay to Pabine Court for debet.\n\n25 day\n\nA enemo :\n\n1 mo. 1884.\n\nof gmoney due by to the to blank, from Jany to June 1885. Eitems including 246 key. 90 interest 24\n\nExplanatory Remarks Mr. Mayo Momaranda\n\nthu Nut recollected by eriky shures me that he dealt i opium althe combated do. do 2 do & paper bit of Harmen gunner and seamen sent! to lee tee long pooann le Kec. Kee Kee\n\nUn envelope of a lette addressed to Wong kem ther hom the Magistracy of\n\nAn envelope of a letter Miss Loong and Wong rom the Military Defore! bowlving. A letter from Cheong the present d commandant- Cowloong to the Loung th Kees Clerk) relative to the scals and other things taken away by Military when they he\n\nExplanatory Remarks\n\nNot recollected As decorulary 429 tem 11. erdline item 11 and prereris note herein 10. Ker beenday eveolince. Items", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-073 - Lieut. Governor Caine & Sir Bowring - 1859 [1-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 247674, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-074 - Lieut. Governor Caine & Sir Robinson - 1859 [6-12]", "page_number": 348, "title": "CO129-074 - Lieut. Governor Caine & Sir Robinson - 1859 [6-12]", "content_text": "CAL\n\n344\n\n(36)\n\nColonial Secretary replied, that he did not see that we could legally hold the shops and that he did not see the utility oranda as referred to the second charge, which was, that the books and papers would shew the purchase of such immense quantities—thousands of dollars' worth of munitions of war, including gunpowder, shot, guns, muskets, shields, stinkpots, &c., as could by no possibility have been employed for any purpose but that of piracy, and His Excellency was evidently staggered, as were also the members of the Council, as I proceeded reading the different items. His Excellency did not refer to any more charges. I read some other extracts from other portions of the memoranda, and I could not help observing that the reading of these memoranda produced a considerable effect on the Council. The Acting Colonial Secretary said he did not know of the existence of the memoranda till that time, and His Excellency the Governor was very angry, that papers of such importance had not come to his knowledge before.\n\nHis Excellency said that he had relied very much on a report as to the examination of the books furnished him by Mr Mongan, which report clearly stated that the books and papers shewed only such purchases of munitions of war as any respectable trader might have dealt in. Mr Mongan was desired to attend at the Council, and did so, and in reply to the Governor's questions said that he had not made a very close examination of the books, that he had been assisted in the examination by Mr Caldwell, and that he had had no data and no particular information, and that he had made his report from his cursory examination.\n\nThe Council broke up, and in the Council room after the trial and conviction, the memoranda remained in my possession. I heard that appeals had been made to His Excellency the Governor in Council to pardon the prisoners. I firmly believed that the existence of the memoranda was then known to the Acting Colonial Secretary, because the existence was known by the Chief Magistrate and Acting Attorney General, to whom I knew the Acting Colonial Secretary had spoken on the subject of the prisoner's pardon. I did not make a direct communication to the Government on the subject of those memoranda. I thought it certain that a communication would be made to me by the Acting Colonial Secretary on the subject of the prisoner's pardon, when of necessity the memoranda would have been exhibited. No such communication was made to me until the appearance of an article in the China Mail newspaper, which article adverted to the existence of the information contained in these memoranda.\n\nI was summoned to attend a meeting of the Executive Council, and found that Mr Dixson, Mr Lane, and some other civilian, had also been summoned to the Council. When I was called into the Council room, His Excellency the Governor said he had noticed certain statements in the China Mail, and asked me if I had in any way authorised those statements. His Excellency the Governor said he would take the statements as they appeared seriatim, and reading the first charge asked me if I had authorised that. I do not now know what the first charge was. I said \"No, I had not authorised it,\" the Governor then read the second, and to the same query I answered in the affirmative.\n\nHis Excellency asked what proof I had, and I then produced the memoranda referred to. It was apparent to me, that His Excellency up to that time had not known of the existence of the memoranda. With the permission of the Council I read such portions of the memoranda as I thought fit.\n\nAfter the prisoner, Ma-chow Wong, was committed for trial, application was made that he should be admitted to bail. The Committing Magistrate refused to accede to the application, and an application was then made to the Judge in Chambers, for the admission of the prisoner to bail. The prisoner was bailed, and I saw Mr Caldwell come with the bail to the Police Court, I think at the time it was accepted by the Chief Magistrate.\n\nIn consequence, it was arranged that one shop, which was considered more as the family residence of the prisoner, should be given up, but that the remainder of his premises should remain in the hands of the Police. I was Acting Assistant Magistrate at this time. My belief is, that Dr Bridges interested himself because of the movement of Mr Caldwell in the matter.\n\nI handed to the Acting Colonial Secretary the papers containing the memoranda, saying, when I did so, \"I leave these in your hands.\" I have not seen the memoranda since. With regard to the original books and papers seized in the house and shop of Ma-chow Wong, were sent up to the Government Offices; but whether to the Acting Colonial Secretary's office, or to the Chinese Secretary's office, I do not know. To the best of my knowledge they passed from the hands of the Police to the Chief Clerk in the Magistracy, and from him to the Government Offices.\n\nMy impression at the time was, that these memoranda did not contain evidence of matters which formed the subject of either of the two pending inquiries, or which could have been adduced in evidence on the trial on either of the indictments before the Supreme Court, because the investigation, those found in the house are those from yik Loong shop related exclusively to the two cases under which alone the memoranda were extracted, and these were taken from the house to the Central Station in an iron chest, of which Mr Jarman had the key.\n\nI believe that all the books, papers, and writings, taken possession of by Inspector Jarman, remained to the best of my knowledge in his custody, until they were examined by Tong Aku in my presence, after which they still remained in Jarman's custody. From the Central Police Station the books, &c., found in the house, were taken to the Police Court, under charge of Jarman, and they were still in his charge when examined by Mr Stace, Mr Caldwell, and an Interpreter, and remained so I believe until the time they were sent to the Magistracy for transmission to the Government.\n\nI believe, but am not certain, that when so sent they were sealed up, but when or by whom I do not know. I do not know anything as to their transmission up to the Government Offices after they were sent to the Magistracy. To the best of my knowledge all the books, &c., found in the house, were sent from the Station to the Police Court, to be transmitted to Government Offices.\n\n(37)\n\n[The Commission then proceeded to take secondary evidence tendered by Mr May, of the contents of these memoranda to the best of his recollection, reserving for after consideration the question of the admissibility of such evidence.]\n\nNo. 1.—There were about 15 items, with dates of purchases of guns, gunpowder, stinkpots, shot and muskets. I cannot say within what years. There were some single payments of as much as 50 taels for powder and 600 taels for cannons. The books bore on them the seal and some the name of Ma-chow Wong.\n\nNo. 2. One item of delivery of a large quantity of saltpetre or sulphur, to a man—a manufacturer of gunpowder at Shek-tong-tsui, a village beyond West Point.\n\nNo. 3.—There were about a dozen entries of payment of very considerable quantities of cash—called \"ancient\" cash—as much as 200,000 or 300,000 cash each entry, paid for articles of consumption.\n\nNo. 4.—Three or four covers of books, the leaves being torn out, and on the back of the books was written \"Monthly payments from such and such a gambling house to Ma-chow Wong.\"\n\nNo. 5.—There were two or three entries of payments made to Ma-chow Wong, for and on account of the Sunon people.\n\nNo. 6—Was a book shewing an account of monies received by Machow-Wong, a lessee of the village of Cheem-sha tsui, on the opposite shore, and an entry of a payment of so many dollars to Kowloong Police runners, on some business connected with Cheem-sha-tsui.\n\nNo. 7.—A page of a book, an account of receipts either for or from Mr Caldwell, amounting altogether in different amounts to more than 600 taels. It did not say in respect of what.\n\nNo. 8.—A paper which was written to this effect, \"An agreement between some man in the lower bazaar, Ma-chow Wong, and Mr Caldwell, that if the Lower Bazaar man was successful in an ejectment case, the property was to be sold to Mr Caldwell for a certain sum of money, I think $1000—of which certain sum $500 were to be allowed as expenses of the suit, the remainder of the purchase-money going to the vendor.\"\n\nNo. 9.—There were some papers in English in Mr Caldwell's hand-writing, receipts for wages paid to a man named Beaver, for his services on board a lorcha: some of them said \"received from Mr Caldwell\" and some \"from Wong Akee.\" Other receipts for sums paid to other Europeans for similar services; one was to the best of my recollection for a sum paid to Graham. There was one paper directed to a European shipwright of Hongkong—I think Mr Ross. \"Please deliver the bearer some spars, and place the same to any account,\" signed by Mr Caldwell. These were dated 1856 or 1857.\n\nNo. 10.—A letter from the commandant at Kowloong to Wong Akee's partner—Chinese name—thanking him for his services with reference to certain property which had been taken from Kowloong when the military went over there, and had been restored, and requesting this man to thank Mr Caldwell for his services.\n\nNo. 11—A cover of a letter from a man who was known as a pirate—I forget his name—who, in 1856, escaped from the Police through the aid of Ma-chow Wong from Ma-chow Wong's house, and who was at the time of writing the letter in the service of Chan Kwei-tsik. The cover said \"from so and so, at such a place, to Wong Akee.\" I do not know whether the cover stated that he was in Chan Kwei-tsik's service, or whether the interpreter inferred this from the locality whence it came, or other circumstances.\n\nNo. 12. There was a money account between Ma-chow Wong and some one at Singapore, relative to what in my memo. was described as the \"slave trade,\" the buying of persons and reselling of them at Singapore.\n\nNo. 13. There were about ten entries of payments to lawyers, most of them mentioned Mr Stace's name, but not in respect of what business.\n\nNo. 14. An entry of a receipt of money—it was a money account, and therefore I conclude a receipt—of a sum of money for service rendered by Wong Akee in obtaining the assistance of an English man-of-war, to recover a vessel from pirates.\n\nNo. 15. There must have been also an entry shewing him to have been connected in some measure with the robbery of silk from Messrs Gibb, Livingston & Co.'s godowns, but what the entry was I do not recollect.\n\nNo. 16. A paper shewing the number of guns fired at different places.\n\nNo. 17. A memo, shewing the division of some money as shares in a Chinese boat transaction. There were twelve shares.\n\nNo. 18. There was some paper, but I cannot recollect what it exactly was, shewing Ma-chow Wong's connection with the Sunon Wo, a house belonging to the people of the Sunon district, and under the management of Ma-chow Wong.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-074 - Lieut. Governor Caine & Sir Robinson - 1859 [6-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 247678, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-074 - Lieut. Governor Caine & Sir Robinson - 1859 [6-12]", "page_number": 352, "title": "CO129-074 - Lieut. Governor Caine & Sir Robinson - 1859 [6-12]", "content_text": "TIL\n\n348\n\n( 44 )\n\nyour to bring before the Commission persons who will Grand-Pré in conversation; and, was then told, that the testify to the facts I mention.\n\nAdjourned till 12 o'clock to-morrow.\n\nFOURTEENTH DAY.\n\nThursday, 24th June, at 12 o'clock, Noon.\n\nEuropean Constable who had charge of Ma-chow Wong had immediately before made known that certain large bribes had been offered him by Ma-chow Wong. One of the bribes was offered to induce the Constable to allow the prisoners an interview with Mr Caldwell. I did not consider the prisoner so secure at the Police Station as I thought necessary, and sent him up to the Gaol.\n\nI did not know that the papers which had been sent to Government Office had not been returned to the Police until I heard of their destruction at Government Office, thereafter the papers given up could only have been those belonging to the Kwong Yik Loong [Ma-chow Wong's] shop. I recollect that Mr Grand-Pré said that Mr Caldwell had, by, I think, a note which he had in his hand, applied for the papers of Ma-chow Wong, and I am not quite so certain, but I think Mr Grand-Pré said something about Dr Bridges having authorised their being given up. I am certain that some property remained in the hands of the police, and I have no doubt this property was given up by Mr Grand-Pré, who therefore can give evidence upon it. I have asked both Inspectors, but they can give me no information upon this. I do not know whether I was at that time Acting Assistant Magistrate, or Acting Superintendent of Police, I have endeavoured to find out who gave up the property at the Police Station, and the Inspectors have told me that they did not, and that therefore it must have been Mr Grand-Pré.\n\nPresent,-All the Members, except the Honourable Mr Cleverly, whose place in the chair was taken by the Honourable Mr Davies.\n\nANGUS FLETCHER,-Called and examined.\n\nI formerly had a partner named Innes, who has been dead many years. I believe Mr Caldwell was once in Mr Innes's employ. I do not know of my own knowledge why Mr Caldwell was discharged. I am one of the oldest residents in China, and have known about Mr Caldwell, otherwise than as employed by Mr Innes, for some time, I did not know anything of him beyond that he was a little thoughtless; this was nearly twenty years ago. I do not recollect having ever heard any accusation brought against him.\n\nI do not know under what circumstances Mr Caldwell left my late partner; he left before I joined him. I believe he was Clerk or Book-keeper with him. I never heard a word from Mr Innes, nor from any one else, as to the circumstances under which Mr Caldwell left Mr Innes's employ.\n\n[The Attorney General having been informed that neither to himself nor to any of the public could printed copies of the evidence be furnished, but that he was at liberty to inspect them in the room, and that copies of his own evidence would be furnished, requested that a minute might be made that he had not had any of the fasciculi since the third, and had therefore had no opportunity, and now should have none, of correcting in his own copy, and suggesting to the Commission for correction in theirs such of the errors in the evidence as taken as he was able to correct, as well as of offering suggestions for examination of witnesses]\n\nCHARLES MAY,-Recalled.\n\nI saw Mr Caldwell go into the Chief Magistrate's room with the bail, on the occasion of Ma-chow Wong's being bailed by order of the Chief Justice; this is the extent of my knowledge. I do not recollect how many bail there were, and do not know if the Chief Magistrate desired Mr Caldwell to be present on the occasion. I heard that the Chief Magistrate had had a communication with Mr Caldwell.\n\nAbout the notoriety of the pirate Po-pak Shing, Assow, the Police Court Interpreter, who told me more than twelve months ago that this man was a notorious pirate, can give evidence. As to the connection between Po-pak Shing and Ma-chow Wong, and the buying off of the witnesses, I hand in the name of a witness who can give evidence.\n\nThere was no written order given by me for the delivery of the gold dust to Mr Caldwell, I do not recollect whether I was Superintendent of Police, or Acting Sheriff; I rather think it was as Acting Sheriff. Achak, a clerk in the Registration Office, can say who were the securities in the gold dust affair. I do not know whether the petition referred to in the gold dust affair is in existence, and do not remember whether I gave it back, or whether it was filed.\n\nMr Caldwell himself told me that the boat of which he had command was manned by Chinese, he did not say by Europeans and Indians. I know from what he told me that Ma-chow Wong had offered him $1,000, to abstain from giving evidence so far as it referred to the identification of one of the prisoners, the Captain of the boat I think.\n\nCross-examined.-A man deposed at the Supreme Court that he had command at different times of two boats, one of which was decked, and I should think a schooner, because he told me of his having been nearly drowned in the cabin. The threat of personal violence was deposed to in the Supreme Court. I was not Mr Dixson's informant as to Mr Stace and Mr Caldwell having got permission to take away the books and papers, excepted as I now state. I told Mr Dixson that Mr Caldwell and Mr Stace had examined the books and papers at the Police Station, and that my impression was that Mr Caldwell had received the books and papers from the Police Station.\n\nI taxed my memory as far as I possible could with regard to the memoranda, and I cannot recollect more minutely than I stated. The memorandum number 8 in Mr Caldwell's report does not agree with number 8 in my evidence; there was only one paper, as I have stated with regard to No. 9. There might have been one Johnson, but there was no written order given by me for the delivery of the gold dust to Mr Caldwell.\n\nI did not tell Mr Dixson, what he states in papers.\n\nI remember about Graham, because he was a Graham. He was subsequently imprisoned for felony. He was Sheriff's Officer and robbed a boat. Now I recollect, there were two letters from the Kowloong Commandant,-one to Ma-chow Wong, and one to his partner. I have an impression in my mind that there were very many more important matters not referring to Mr Caldwell, only shewing the bad character of Ma-chow Wong, in my memo.-I placed the memo. in the Chief Magistrate's hands, and read it to the Acting Attorney General. I had given it up before the Attorney General returned, but I told him of it since his return.\n\nOn Saturday the Prisoner was apprehended, on Monday the Attorney General was in the Police Court for the last time, and then only one-sixth of the memoranda had been extracted. I have not the slightest doubt that I told the Honourable the Attorney General what my impression was prior to my knowledge that the books and papers had been destroyed, -that the books and papers of Ma-chow Wong which were at the Police Station had been given up. I remember the sailing of the Phoebe Dunbar with the deported persons. I was Acting Sheriff at the time, and sent in a list to Government of all persons who were then in Gaol under warrants of Justices of the Peace or Stipendiary Magistrates, coming under Ordinance 2 of 1857, viz., persons dangerous to the peace and good order of the Colony. I have no copy of the list, and know that it is in the records of the Gaol, There were other names on the list, put on by order of the Government, and these persons were those who had been summarily convicted, and it was by the Colonial Secretary's order-I believe a verbal one, that these were included in the lot.\n\nAt the time of the taking of the memoranda, and up to the time of my knowledge of the attempt to obtain a pardon of Ma-chow Wong, inasmuch as the memoranda did not refer to the cases for which the prisoner was tried, I had not any idea that the memoranda would be a subject of import. The memoranda were written in a style in which I would write a draft for a letter; they were scribbled. It was singular that the memoranda were not destroyed. I am sure that Roberts told me that he had found about 36 guns on board the supposed Alma. I am not sure whether he said that Mr Caldwell told him that the lorcha belonged to him then, or had belonged to him.\n\nI do not recollect Mr Caldwell searching with me for the security papers in the gold dust affair. I have not the slightest recollection of his doing so.\n\nI believed the list to comprise all prisoners of the classes before mentioned. I had no knowledge of any one fact relating to one prisoner more than to another.\n\nI, myself, had the general management of the deportation, being Acting Sheriff at the time. The list of persons to be deported was made out by me or by persons under my orders.\n\nThe list was made out, and an order given by the Governor for their deportation. Mr Caldwell did not make out the list, nor did he take the men off to the Phoebe Dunbar. I think I reported to the Government that the persons named in the list came within the meaning of Ordinance 2 of 1857, and the Government approved the list. I don't think that I had any letter of instructions from the Governor as to the making out the list.\n\nI made the seizure on Bonham Strand; those who could not find security, and were included in the list, were very likely beggars, but I can't say that they were. I do not think that Mr Caldwell was present when I searched for the security papers, after the petition had been presented. I think it was Roberts who apprehended Beaver.\n\n( 45 )", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-074 - Lieut. Governor Caine & Sir Robinson - 1859 [6-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 253822, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-086 - Sir Robinson - 1862 [5-6]", "page_number": 448, "title": "CO129-086 - Sir Robinson - 1862 [5-6]", "content_text": "It appears that Brigadier General Gordon \nChina had signified \nin the Commandant-at \nMany Long his efferral \nof the prounding's \nthe \nheart the Comsa and cart at Hong \nin sanctioning \ntroming \nLoan \nArms to the Volunteers \nwillet \nSterry, allowing \nthem to use \nArms. \nArnoudy \n200 in \nthe \nBarracks. \nor \ncant- \nMilitary \nYong \n\nThe Duke of \n443 \nRevcavlle cannot but \nBrigadier \nappeal to the Rapid \nGeneral should have \nfelt himself called \nupon \nto uphold his reputation in proportion \nbrairewally worthy \ndevote \nthe inhabitants of \nHong Kong, & form \nCorps with \nVolunteer Corps, this \nthe force thanks thel", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-086 - Sir Robinson - 1862 [5-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 254918, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-089 - Public Offices - 1862", "page_number": 72, "title": "CO129-089 - Public Offices - 1862", "content_text": "69 \n\nsaterpi under the immediate superintendence Water, a series of the most flagrant outrages had occurred, many Chinese lives had been sacrificed, within Chimen territorial jurisdiction; and great cruelties perpetrated \n\nJurvinon: \n\nin that this state of things threatened the most serious consequences to the relations existing between European Courts and that of China, and especially to British and French interests: the French Commandant at Canton, becoming aware of what had happened in connection with the Ville d'Isigen proceedings, did promptly intervene, and applied to the Authorities of Chimen on the subject, and upon full investigation being satisfied of the facts of the case and of the Ville d'Isigen that thing here on his requisition delivered of", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-089 - Public Offices - 1862.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 258302, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-096 - Others - 1863", "page_number": 303, "title": "CO129-096 - Others - 1863", "content_text": "hand in regard -\n\nhave not been able 2.\n\nencourage\n\nanthe\n\nthe\n\nCommandant often\n\nSamson for the service\n\nof Military Guard,\n\nbut-under this arrangement\n\nspecial.\n\nDue\n\nanxious (the lot long)\n\nand\n\nI shall enter into full communication with him,\n\nan endeavour to secure\n\nan increase to the foreman\n\n299\n\nas well as attention to\n\nMilitary guard many\n\ndetailed for\n\nthe simil\n\nfor what I can see\n\nAt a so my\n\nso seriously require.\n\nCC. 4 April 1869", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-096 - Others - 1863.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 260823, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-103 - Others - 1864", "page_number": 50, "title": "CO129-103 - Others - 1864", "content_text": "EXTRACT from General Orders by the Hon. Major-General D'Aguilar, Č.B.\n\nHead Quarters, H.M. steam-frigate \"Vulture,\"\n\noff Whampoa, April 2, 1847.\n\nWith the concurrence of his Excellency Sir John Francis Davis, Baronet, &c., the Major-General Commanding gladly avails himself of the services of the Honourable Major Caine, and appoints him Commandant of Hong Kong, during the absence of the Major-General, and the main body of the troops on service at Canton.\n\nBy order, J. BRUCE, Captain,\n\nAssistant Adjutant-General.\n\nIt will be seen by one of the documents furnished by one of our Chinese correspondents at Canton, that the population there anticipated that Hong Kong would be \"attacked and plundered\" during the absence of the fleet and the main body of the forces. The opportunity was tempting, and rumours reached Canton that it had actually been taken advantage of. Supposing them to have originated with the Chinese themselves, we were inclined to lend them an incredulous ear; but since our return, we learn that an organized attack for the purpose was really apprehended by Triads and pirates by water and land. We have no means of ascertaining whether the reports were well founded, but have endeavoured to inform ourselves of their import.\n\nIt was said that several thousands of lawless ruffians were to fall upon the town, fire the houses at several points, so as to distract attention, when the Treasury, the Bank, Spring Gardens, and Messrs. Jardine, Matheson, and Co.'s premises were to be attacked simultaneously. It was further stated that the Triads of this quarter had called upon the brethren in the adjoining districts; and many of the more peaceably disposed Chinese residents were alarmed that some danger was impending.\n\nAt Heong-Kong, south of this island, an assemblage of Triads took place; and information having been received to that effect, a body of police, under Mr. Caldwell, was dispatched, and succeeded in apprehending five persons as they were returning from the meeting, who have since, however, been discharged, on finding security for good behaviour.\n\nPage 17\n\nWe have little doubt that the reports were greatly exaggerated, and that many of them may have been utterly unfounded; but Major Caine, by making every disposition in his power, and carrying them out with the most commendable activity, seems to have effectually frustrated any hostile intentions; and, charged as he was with the civil and military government during the absence of his Excellency and the Major-General, he contrived, with the small force under his command, not only to prevent any combined attack, but to overawe the common depredators, the number of offences being unusually small during the week. Having been absent at Canton, we must depend upon the information of others as to the arrangements made at Hong Kong, but we believe the following to be a pretty correct account. A central military post of thirty men was established at Keying House, with instructions how to act in case of alarm. At Mr. Edgar's house a corporal and six men were placed to keep up communication with the naval stores and the western police station, and a similar force was posted at the Seaman's Hospital to watch the Gap, and keep clear the communication with the Eastern Stations.\n\nAt Spring Gardens there was another corporal's guard, and the men in the barracks were held to turn out at a moment's notice. Besides these military precautions, it would appear that the police arrangements were equally efficient, the force being scattered all over the town to prevent any assemblage of Chinese, and watch such suspicious persons as might be seen lurking about; a reserve was held in readiness at the Central Station; the guards at the jail and Government offices were reinforced, patrols ranging from West Point to Sookunpoo, were sent out at uncertain periods; the Government gun-boat, well armed, rowed guards all night, visiting the \"Minden\" and \"Alligator\" at intervals; and effective signals were arranged for giving the alarm, either by day or night. The military patrols were placed under the military direction of Captain Burton, whose activity is highly spoken of, and the acting Governor, we humbly think unnecessarily, in person repeatedly inspected the arrangements, both in the harbour and on shore. It was quite proper that he should see that the arrangements were made; but unless especially summoned, they might very well have been left—those on shore to the military and police officers, and those in the harbour to the marine magistrates: by all of whom the duties, so far as we can learn, were most efficiently performed. As a further precaution, the Chinese inhabitants were prohibited from stirring out between the hours of ten at night and four in the morning, and those of them who possessed arms were directed to lodge them in the police office, to be returned on the arrival of the troops from Canton.\n\nPage 48", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-103 - Others - 1864.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 260833, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-103 - Others - 1864", "page_number": 60, "title": "CO129-103 - Others - 1864", "content_text": "36 \n\nChina Mail, No. 471, February 23, 1854. Hong Kong, \n\n\"Dr. Bowring, as we announced six weeks ago, has been appointed Plenipotentiary and Superintendent of Trade, and as the separation of the offices would involve the 'fash' of new Act of Parliament, Order in Council, and Colonial Charter, he will likewise hold the appointment of Governor of Hong Kong; but the duties of the office will probably be intrusted to Colonel Caine, with the title of Lieutenant-Governor, to which, if economy and efficiency were really desired, might be added Commandant of the Garrison, after the departure of General Jervois, the present holder of these two offices.\" \n\nChina Mail, No. 479, April 20, 1854. Hong Kong. \n\n\"We have long thought Colonel Caine would make a good Governor, but unfortunately his commission as Lieutenant-Governor is effective only in the absence of Sir John Bowring. No doubt it is proposed that the Colonel shall, as we announced two months ago, administer the affairs of the colony in which Sir John Bowring will not interfere, unless when his supreme authority is indispensable; but such division of duty and responsibility must impair the efficiency of the office, and cases may arise in which important, but not very palatable measures may be suffered to drop between the two stools of Governor and Lieutenant-Governor, the one refusing to interfere, and the other holding that he has not the actual power.\" \n\nChina Mail, No. 495, August 10, 1854. \n\n\"The appointment of Lieutenant-Colonel Caine to the Lieutenant-Governorship of Hong Kong would appear to have been received as favourably in India as here.” Bengal Hurkaru remarks-\"We are glad to remark that Lieutenant-Colonel Caine, who served in India for upwards of a quarter of a century before he proceeded with the Cameronians to China in 1840, and who must be well known to many of our readers, has been raised to the dignity of Lieutenant-Governor of Hong Kong, an honour and a reward to which his long and meritorious services well entitle him.” \n\n(No. 709.) Sir, \n\nColonial Secretary's Office, Victoria, \n\nHong Kong, September 26, 1856. I am directed to forward the accompanying address from \n\n37 \n\nthe Indian residents of this city, with copy of covering letter from Mr. Mitchell, Acting Chief Magistrate. I have the honour, &c. \n\n(Signed) W. T. MERCER, \n\nH. E. Colonel Caine. \n\n(No. 30.) \n\nColonial Secretary. \n\nChief Magistrate's Office, Victoria, \n\nSir, \n\nHong Kong, September 26, 1859. I have the honour to transmit the enclosed letter to my address from a class whom I may designate as the \"Old Indians of the colony, and most of whom I dare say are personally known to yourself. The address is evidently intended as a farewell tribute to Colonel Caine, to whose feelings, notwithstanding its uncouth form, I make no doubt it will be acceptable. \n\nI have the honour, &c. (Signed) W. H. MITCHELL, The Hon. W. T. Mercer, \n\nColonial Secretary. \n\nHonoured Sir, \n\n36 \n\nActing Chief Magistrate. \n\nW. H. MITCHELL, Esq. \n\nHong Kong, September 24, 1859. We, the undersigned, do most humbly beg your Honour, \n\nto take this case as far as your Honour pleases to assist your most obedient servants. In the beginning of the first war with China, we, the Indians, gave good credit to the British, and assisted them as much as it lay in our power, by carrying provisions, &c., &c., to the men-of-war ships, Company's vessels, &c., &c., in the Hong Kong roads: this was twenty years ago, in Sir Henry Pottinger's time: after Hong Kong was taken, now nineteen years, gave it to Colonel Caine's charge, and appointed him Magistrate of the colony. Colonel Caine was an upright person, in his duties he gave much credit to the Government at the time; if there was any complaint to be made, we used to go to him, and he does nothing but justice. \n\nWe beg your Honour to look thoughtfully upon this case, and assist us. Now there are all new Government officials in Hong Kong, they don't know us, Colonel Caine is the only one now who has been from the beginning to this time. Unfortunately he is going to leave his old faithful servants behind, who do mournfully regret his loss. May it please Providence to place one in his stead-so kind, civil, and charitable.\n\n58 \n\nPage 60\n\nPage 61", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-103 - Others - 1864.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 260845, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-103 - Others - 1864", "page_number": 72, "title": "CO129-103 - Others - 1864", "content_text": "60\n\n14th Regiment, accompanied him throughout, and distinguished himself particularly.\"\n\nHis Excellency\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) SAMFORD WHITTINGHAM,\n\nMajor-General.\n\nThe Lord Viscount Combermere, G.C.B., &c.\n\nCommanding-in-Chief in India.\n\nTrue copy.\n\nHJ. Mula - Dimo, Colonial Secretary.\n\n13.\n\nEXTRACT from despatch marked \"Separate and Confidential,\" dated 21st November, 1846, from Governor Sir John Davis to Earl Grey.\n\n\"Both the claims and qualifications of Major Caine are so different from those of Mr. Shelley, that I could not hesitate as to the selection. Major Caine is now the oldest Civil servant of Hong Kong, having landed in 1841, and lived in a mat shed on the first occupation of this island, through the worst and most dangerous period. Mr. Shelley came out at the same time with myself, in 1844, with the chance of obtaining any vacant office. From my personal regard for Mr. Bruce, and at that gentleman's intercession, I gave Mr. Shelley the office of Auditor.\n\n\"The double duties which I have the honour to perform under your Lordship and Viscount Palmerston, and the responsibilities attached thereto, make it an act of mere justice to myself to employ as Secretary a person on whose diligence, steadiness, and general ability I can perfectly rely. Mr. Shelley possesses many agreeable qualities, but the enclosed letter addressed by my direction to that gentleman is only one of the frequent occasions on which I have had to remonstrate with him on the neglect of his duties and the absenting himself from his office, and as he owed his employment to myself, this should not have occurred. Such habits would be totally inconsistent with the office of Secretary, whose constant attendance I require, and in respect to which regular attendance I find Major Caine all that I could wish.\"\n\nTrue extract.\n\nW. T. MERCER, Colonial Secretary.\n\n61\n\n14.\n\n70\n\nEXTRACT from despatch marked \"Separate and Confidential,\" dated 27th November, 1846, from Governor Sir John Davis to Earl Grey.\n\n\"Mr. Shelley adds, that no injustice would have been done to Major Caine had he been appointed Colonial Secretary. The injustice would have been great, that of appointing a negligent and unfit person for a diligent and fit one.\"\n\nTrue extract.\n\nW. SIMONS, Colonial Secretary.\n\nEXTRACT from despatch No. 41, of 19th April, 1847, from Governor Sir John Davis to the Earl Grey.\n\n\"The Major-General's report will put your Lordship in possession of the military details of our short expedition of seven days, and I have only to add that the able dispositions of Major Caine, the Colonial Secretary, who was Acting Governor and Commandant in my absence, ensured the safety and tranquillity of the colony.\"\n\nTrue extract.\n\nJef WI. Mas, Colonial Secretary.\n\n15.\n\nEXTRACT from despatch marked \"Separate,\" of 29th October, 1850, from Governor Sir George Bonham to Earl Grey.\n\n\"2. Major Caine has spent forty-seven years of his life in Asia, and during thirty-seven years has been employed as a soldier and civilian in the public service. In the former capacity he has served either on the Staff or immediately under the eye of several of the most distinguished General Officers who have held commands in India, and their letters and memoranda, of which copies are inclosed in his letter to myself, unanimously attest his activity, utility, and distinguished gallantry in camp and field. As a civilian, both Sir Henry Pottinger and Sir John Davis have spoken in the highest terms of his zeal and efficiency, and I can but repeat the assurance which I have already had the honour to convey to your Lordship of my perfect concurrence with my predecessors in his title to their good opinion. He was for long\n\n2", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-103 - Others - 1864.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 265915, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-113 - MacDonnell - 1866 [5-6]", "page_number": 385, "title": "CO129-113 - MacDonnell - 1866 [5-6]", "content_text": "384 \n\nafter the robbery, they were under the close charge of the Commandant and many other officers, I do not know how they had a fight with the soldiers. Shouts came before things got to a head, one of the thieves I heard was killed. The District Magistrate came with the soldiers, and a formal complaint was made the next day. An oral complaint by my servant was made to him that night.\n\nCross Examined by Mr. Baldwell. I am Ah Wing, that is my name now. I slept on the ground floor, the assistant and I slept in the same place, the shop was partitioned off by the shelves for goods pawned. The money chest was under the staircase opposite my...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-113 - MacDonnell - 1866 [5-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 278682, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-138 - Sir MacDonnell - 1869 [6-7]", "page_number": 251, "title": "CO129-138 - Sir MacDonnell - 1869 [6-7]", "content_text": "In 2649/69.\n\n[20]\n\nExtract from the Minutes of the Executive Council of Hongkong.\n\n\"SATURDAY, 3RD APRIL, 1869.\"\n\n\"PRESENT:\"\n\n\"His Excellency SIR RICHARD GRAVES MACDONNELL, C.B., Governor. The Honorable COLONEL KNOX GORE, Commandant of the Garrison, The Honorable J. GARDINER AUSTIN, Colonial Secretary.\n\nThe Honorable JULIAN PAUNCEFOTE, Attorney General. The Honorable W. H. RENNIE, Auditor General.\n\n#\n\n*\n\n\"His Excellency the Governor lays on the Table the Letter addressed to him by Governor DE SOUZA (10th March), together with His Excellency's Minute thereon of same date, referring it to the Honorable the Attorney General, also the Report of that Officer on the subject; And it is resolved, that Application for Special Leave to appeal in Reg. v. Saint be made, through the Right Honorable the Secretary of State, to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council.\"\n\n(True Extract),\n\nL. D'ALMADA E CASTRO,\n\nClerk of Councils.\n\nProceedings on Non-appearance of Party charged.\n\nProceedings on Non-appearance of Prosecutor after Notice of Trial.\n\nProcess for procuring Attendance of Witnesses on Criminal Cases.\n\nHow many Witnesses in one Subpœna.\n\nPrivate Prosecutor to pay Sheriff's Costs together with Expenses.\n\nENCLOSURE 2.\n\nExtract from Ordinance No. 3 of 1865.\n\nXV. When it shall appear by the Return made by the Officer executing the same that the Copy or Copies of the Information and Notice or Notices of Trial have been duly served in Manner hereinbefore provided and the Party or Parties charged on being thrice called on the Day appointed for the Trial does or do not appear, it shall be competent for the Prosecutor to move the Court, if the Party or Parties charged have been admitted to Bail, that he or they and his or their Sureties may be called upon their Recognizance or Recognizances and in Default of his or their Appearance that the same may be estreated; and it shall also be competent for the Prosecutor to apply to the Court for a Warrant for the Apprehension of the said Party or Parties.\n\nXVI. If the Prosecutor or his Attorney having given Notice of Trial shall not appear in Court to prosecute or prefer the said Information before the Close of the Session of that Court before which he gave Notice of Trial, it shall be competent for the Party or Parties charged to move the Court to discharge him or them therefrom: and when he or they, or any other on his or their Behalf has or have been bound by Recognizance for his or their Appearance so to take his or their Trial then that the said Recognizance may be discharged; and where the Information is at the Instance of a Private Party it shall also be competent to the Party or Parties charged to move the Court that the said Private Prosecutor or his Sureties shall be called on their Recognizance and in Default of his Appearance that the same may be estreated.\n\nXVII. The Subpoena or Process of the Court for procuring the Attendance of any Person on Behalf of the Crown who shall not have been bound by Recognizance to appear before the said Court to give Evidence in any Criminal Case, shall be sued out of the Registrar's Office by the Crown Solicitor, or, where the Prosecution is at the Instance of a Private Party, by the Prosecutor or his Attorney, or by the Party or Parties charged or his or their Attorney; and the same shall be delivered to the Sheriff at his Office, for Execution thereof, together with so many Copies of the Subpœna as there are Persons to be served therewith.\n\nXVIII. The Names of Four Witnesses may be inserted in one Subpoena, and they shall be described therein with such Certainty that the summoning Officer may be able readily to find them; and the Form of the Subpœna shall, as near as may be, be according to the like Form established in the said Court in and for Civil Cases.\n\nXIX. When the Prosecution is at the Instance of a Private Person, he or some one on his Behalf, shall at the Time of delivering the said Subpœna and Copies thereof, also pay to the Sheriff his lawful Cost and Charges for executing the same, together with such further Sum or Sums of Money as the said Private Party intends the said Sheriff to give or tender to the said Witnesses respectively for their Travelling Expenses.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-138 - Sir MacDonnell - 1869 [6-7].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 279254, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-139 - Sir MacDonnell - 1869 [8-12]", "page_number": 290, "title": "CO129-139 - Sir MacDonnell - 1869 [8-12]", "content_text": "It is one within the last par Two that he has taken o' brink.\n\nSend to the Trading\n\nthat\n\n(whose\n\naf\n\nin the case\n\ncase\n\ntot\n\nJarmans? pension of le\n\nThis is\n\n16 a\n\nThomtow\n\nnot many so string that the redund\n\nle pantia.\n\nMr. R. 6.12.69\n\nMelaschef terminaleon\n\nantall cavier, the I think the\n\nDiary b Prefered.\n\nExtract from the Minutes of the Executive Council of Hongkong, held on the 10th May, 1869.-\n\n\"Present:\n\nHis Excellency Governor Sir Richard Graves MacDonnell, K.C.B.\n\nThe Honorable John Gardiner Austin, Colonial Secretary.\n\nThe Honorable Julian Pauncefote, Attorney General.\n\nThe Honorable H. A. Rennie, Auditor General.\n\nThe Honorable Colonel Edward H. Cooper, Commandant of the Garrison in consequence of an accident.\"", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-139 - Sir MacDonnell - 1869 [8-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 281040, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-143 - Sir MacDonnell - 1870 [1-2]", "page_number": 79, "title": "CO129-143 - Sir MacDonnell - 1870 [1-2]", "content_text": "Pang Yak the present Commandant at Kowloon.\n\nI have not thought it reassuring to send a copy of your duplicate to me.\n\nThe present Commandant of the Kowloon Garrison (Sang Muto) entered on his duties at Kowloon about three years ago, and having at the time of his appointment paid me a visit, came afterwards to me in writing. He was merely in acting thus following out the practice of his predecessor (Cheung Yuet Tong) who had always maintained the most friendly relations with this and other subordinate Departments of the Government.\n\nMany visits and communications\n\nIn 2252/70\n\n78\n\nPage ...\n\n \n\nHowever, to follow the exact instruction to output HTML and keep the original \"Page XX\" information if present, and assuming \"Ул\" etc., are part of a \"Page XX\" format:\n\nSince the original text does not clearly indicate a \"Page XX\" format with the given characters, the best course is to directly correct and format the given text as per instructions.\n\nPage Ул \n\nPang Yak the present Commandant at Kowloon.\n\nI have not thought it reassuring to send a copy of your duplicate to me.\n\nThe present Commandant of the Kowloon Garrison (Sang Muto) entered on his duties at Kowloon about three years ago, and having at the time of his appointment paid me a visit, came afterwards to me in writing. He was merely in acting thus following out the practice of his predecessor (Cheung Yuet Tong) who had always maintained the most friendly relations with this and other subordinate Departments of the Government.\n\nMany visits and communications In 2252/70 78\n\nLet's correct and simplify the output to adhere strictly to the format requested and the task rules:\n\nPang Yak the present Commandant at Kowloon.\n\nI have not thought it reassuring to send a copy of your duplicate to me.\n\nThe present Commandant of the Kowloon Garrison (Sang Muto) entered on his duties at Kowloon about three years ago, and having at the time of his appointment paid me a visit, came afterwards to me in writing. He was merely in acting thus following out the practice of his predecessor (Cheung Yuet Tong) who had always maintained the most friendly relations with this and other subordinate Departments of the Government.\n\nMany visits and communications In 2252/70 78\n\nGiven the original text and instructions, a more accurate representation maintaining original \"page\" context if it were clearly \"Page XX\" is challenging without clear \"Page XX\" context. Thus, focusing on correcting the main text is prioritized.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-143 - Sir MacDonnell - 1870 [1-2].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 281058, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-143 - Sir MacDonnell - 1870 [1-2]", "page_number": 97, "title": "CO129-143 - Sir MacDonnell - 1870 [1-2]", "content_text": "96\n\nhis attention and that he was already casting about in his mind how they might best be met. I suggested the possibility and perhaps the expediency of their naming one of their own Foreign Employees for the first Consul as more sure to avoid transgressing and passing the proper line in the discharge of his duties and so preparing way for a Chinese official when experience could have been gained, and he seemed disposed to agree with me as to the policy of such a course.\n\nIn referring back on the second day to the relations with Kowloon and Commandant Pany he insisted much upon the necessity of his being duly informed of all that took place between him or the local Authorities and the Colonial Officers and I gave him the impression that he either had some cause of distrust of the Commandant Pany or of his going beyond his orders or otherwise involving the Government in trouble. I did not at the time clearly understand his meaning, but on receiving from Mr. Mayers the Supplementary Report which had not been put in my hands until after my interview, the whole of what had passed became intelligible enough.\n\nI took occasion to speak to the Vice Roy on a third subject, to which", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-143 - Sir MacDonnell - 1870 [1-2].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 281066, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-143 - Sir MacDonnell - 1870 [1-2]", "page_number": 105, "title": "CO129-143 - Sir MacDonnell - 1870 [1-2]", "content_text": "which I thought I had disposed of in despatch to Her Majesty's Minister my 13 at Peking of the 18th of August 1889 a copy of which is annexed.\n\nAll I know of Colonel ... is that he was an active naval officer in former anti-piratical expeditions and was appointed Commandant at Kowloong, the nearest Chinese territory being the mainland opposite Hongkong, principally for the purpose of accompanying Her Majesty's gunboats when detached for the suppression of piracy. This was the sole object of his appointment, as far as I am aware.\n\nThe government of the District in which the city of Kowloong is situated is in the hands of a Magistrate and subordinate staff; but I believe that General Teng being in command of the military division there has the power of making arrests, and this I have never interfered with. On the contrary, I have always encouraged his action in this respect with the Viceroy.\n\nI believe the police authorities are in constant communication with the Magistrate of Kowloong; at least I gather so from the newspapers and other sources of information that many and important arrests of offenders have been made. Consequently, I have never ...\n\nPage 104", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-143 - Sir MacDonnell - 1870 [1-2].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 282482, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-146 - Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1870 [10-12]", "page_number": 120, "title": "CO129-146 - Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1870 [10-12]", "content_text": "## \n\n116 \n\nBut how the applicant was entitled to absence on the grounds of love (to which he was entitled), and I granted it, only being too happy to get rid of him.\n\nOn this, as on many other forms, I had otherwise made him enlightened to dangers of any displacement of mind, not to take any steps to let him be driven there by very cogent reasons, but to let matters rest as far as he was concerned until the return of Mr Deane, in preference to disturbing Sir Richard MacDonnell's arrangement under this head during his absence.\n\nI enclose for the information of Your Lordship a digest of five general orders during the preceding months, which will show how numerous have been the measures which I adopted, and how far they were calculated to increase the efficiency of the Police Service.\n\nI have the honor to be, My Lord, Your Lordship's most obedient humble servant, Whitfield Major General and Chief Commandant Force.\n\nPage 120\nPage 121", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-146 - Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1870 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 283223, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-147 - Public Offices - 1870", "page_number": 431, "title": "CO129-147 - Public Offices - 1870", "content_text": "# 429 \n\nDuplicate. \n\n`C.S.O.N.63`. \n\nHong Kong, 5th January, 1870. \n\nTo **Rutherford Alcock, K.C.R.** \n\nH.B.M's Minister, \n\n**Governor** \n\n66 \n\nWoking. \n\nFr. **Richard Graves Mackennall**, \n\nC.A. \n\nInterview with Vice Rey of \n\nThe Two \n\n**Kwang** \n\nThe 20th and 29th December 1869. \n\nIntercourse between Hong Kong \nand Kowloon -- \nCustoms and Local Exercisers \n\nChinese Consul at \n\n...\n\n\"Enclosure in Governor's \nDispatch No. 4 of 8th January \n1870. \n\nDuplicate. \n\n(Copy) Memo \n\nThe present Commandant of the Kowloon Garrison (Fang Yuck) \nentered on his duties at Kowloon about \nNov. 1868 three years ago, and having notified \nme at the time in writing of his \nappointment came after to \nmy house and paid me an \nofficial visit. \n\nIn acting thus he was merely following out the practice of his predecessor (Cheung Yuk Tong) who had always maintained the most friendly relations with this and other subordinate Departments of the Government. \n\nMany visits and communications.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-147 - Public Offices - 1870.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 284749, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-150 - Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1871 [5-6]", "page_number": 193, "title": "CO129-150 - Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1871 [5-6]", "content_text": "It might be forwarded by the present Major.\n\nThe letter takes exception, your Lordship will perceive, which I thought fit to adopt in reference to the case at the end of imprisonment of a one month's sentence. \n\nThere was a man, No. 6204, who had served with much credit for many years in the Indian Army, and had, as he stated himself and was believed by Mr. Douglas, the Jail Superintendent, gained a Victoria Cross.\n\nI thought under such circumstances his punishment might well be mitigated, and accordingly ordered his release.\n\nI endorse without comment, for the information of your Lordship, all the papers connected with the case, inclusive of the Reports made to me by the Members of the Executive Council.\n\nI have the honour to be,\nMy Lord,\nYour Lordship's most obedient\nhumble Servant,\n**W. Whitfield**\nMajor General, and Commandant, Internment Camp.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-150 - Lieut Governor Whitfield - 1871 [5-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 290534, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-162 - Sir Kennedy - 1873 [1-3]", "page_number": 175, "title": "CO129-162 - Sir Kennedy - 1873 [1-3]", "content_text": "2171 \n\nHoo 96 \n\n10 \n\nBOLETIM DA PROVINCIA \n\nreza das nossas crenças; aquello incenso,bre a ogreja catholica nossa mão o sobre Jade receber nenhuma carta mais para a quanta deve ser a sublimidade e fervor das Portugal, nossa patria, bençãos lo conso-sobrodita mala. nossas orações; a myrrha, quanta dovolação e de paz, e tantas o to fecundas que \n\nCorreio maritimo, Macan, 26 do janci. ser a mortificação dos nossos sentidos e déem áquella completa victoria sobre seus ro de 1873. paixões. Na pessoa de Herodes so vê es inimigos, ca este una prosperidade inve- tampado o caracter de todos os persegni javol é uma longa vida entre as nações li- Joves da verdade, e nos innocentes que vros e civilisadas. eaem sob o cutelo da sna crueldade, se \n\nE para que esta saudação e oxhortação nos inculea a silenciosa conformidade com | chegue ao conhecimento de todos os fieis que devemos dar testemunho da nossa fé. d'esta diocese, depois de registada no li- Á brillante estrella, guiando os Magos, vro competente, será enviada a cala om symbolisa a graça que nos alumia logo no dos red parochos para a lerem sous Oriente da vida e nos quer levar paca purochiumos á estação da missa conven- Dens, indicando-nos o caminho segnto portual, no primeiro diu santificado. Dada entre as trevas do peccado. E a Virgen, om Macán, sob o meu signal o sello, aos carissimos irmãos, a Santissima Virgem 10 de janeiro de 1878.-Antonio Luiz de nos seus extremos o affectos de umor mn-Carvalho, governador do bispado de Mu- ternal, que salutares lições ás mães de can.-Loga do sello-Pe Guilherme familia! \n\nFrancisco da Silva, secretario. \n\nEntrai, carissimos irmãos, entrai om espirito na humilde gruta de Bethlon, meditai ao clarão da fó nos mysterios que lá se passam; contemplai a frin rochia que a fórma, os entes que lá se abriga o em tulo encontrareis estimulos de forvorosa devoção, respeito á nossa crença e á nos- sa religião que teve por primeiro templo esse logar obseuro. \n\nOccurrencias policines desde 17 até 24 de janeiro de 1870 Presos por ladrões.... \n\nChinns 2 por fraude... \n\n1 \n\nTotal dos presos...... \n\nAppareceram om differentes pontos da \n\nR. de Sousa, Administrador interino. \n\nPARTE NÃO OFFICIAL \n\nMACAU, 25 DE JANEIRO DE 1878 \n\nCHINA & JAPAN MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY, \n\nME Attention of Shippers is called Till Attention of shippers is called profits of this Company, two thirds (}) or which, after payment of interest, will now be divided amongst all Contributors of business, whether Shareholders or not, rateably in proportion to the aquounts of Nett Promia contributed. \n\nRAYNAL & Co., \n\nAgents. \n\nManno, 15th April, 1879. \n\nCHINA & JAPAN MARINE INSURANCE COMPANY. \n\nE é este o tim, carissimos irmãos, porcidado dez chinas mortos, os quais foramns Company grants Policies on \n\nque & santa egreja recorda a seus filhos com estas solemnidades os principnes netos do nosso Salvador desde o presepio de \n\nidades do costume. enterrados depois de cumpridas as formia- \n\nA commissão administrativa de fazenda \n\nMarine risk at the established Jocal \n\nrates, to all parts of the world. \n\nIn addition to the usual brokerage, Two thirds (3) of the Profits will be le- \n\nbusiness, whether shareholders or net, \n\nNett Premià contributed. \n\nNo Policy foos charged. \n\nBetidem até ao Golgotha. Em todos el- i da corvetu Duque de Putonella, precisa con- fened as bons to all contributors of les ac manifesta visivelmente o seu amor tratar 50 fatos de faxina para as praças e caridade para com os homene, e a verde marinhagem da dits corveta, da qatnably in proportion to the amount of dadde eterna de seu l'as, que o enviara.lidade de fazenda o modelo que so alta a Da saa Divindude dão solumine testemu- bordo jau ser examinado; as pessoas que no todas as suas palavras e obras supe-riores ás forgas humanos, só proprias de bordo no dia 3 do proximo meź de fere- Deus, e até os elementos a confirmareiro no meio dia a fim de ser udjudienda como diz S. Gregorio papa: na estrella obra a quem cu melhor circumstancia briljante appareceu no seu nascimento; \n\na fizer. \n\nRAYNAL & Co., dyents. \n\nMacao, 22nd April, 1870. \n\nPARA VENDA YONIJECIMENTOS portuguez e in- \n\nBordo da corveta inque de Palmella, CONT \n\nsurta no porto de Macau, em 24 do junci- \n\no mar consolidou-se debaixo de sens pés: a terra tremcu, o sal obscureceu-so, as mesmas podras e rochedos se partiramro de 1873. no fempo da sua morte, o até o inferno abriú sous escuros carceres nos que espe- ruma redempção promettida. \n\nJ. B. P. la Cruz, \n\nOfficial da fazenda, secretario da commissio. \n\nAVISO Fechar-se-ha n'esto correio a mala para \n\nras, hade-se fechar a mala para a India e E no dia 4 de fevereiro, ús mesmas ho- Europa por um dos vapores da companhia. peninsular, e depois d'essu hom não se \n\nAlegremo-nos pois com a santa ogreju Bossh me pela commemoração de nasci- mento do nosso Divino Salvador, e pelosa Tudia e Europa por mu dos vapores da facts maravilhosos e para nós edificantes companhia messageries maritimes, no que lo revestem, e tambem pela entrada 28 do corrente, ás 3 horas da tarde. dum novo anno da nossa existencia sobre & terra. Acompanhemos s egreja n'estas soleimidades, agradeceudo no Altissimo todos os beneficios temporacs cospiritnacs que la sua liberal mão temos recebido o humilhados auto sen throno, protestando sinegramente a observancia da sua loi e a prática de todas as virtudes, divijamos- Llie ardentes supplicas, para que no de- curso do novo anno nos continue a libera lizar a sua graça e a sua misoricordia. Vapor de guerra... Portuguez..... Hognemos fervorosos que este novo anno Vapor. seja um anno de paz a fraternidade chris- | dalam tä entre todos; que terminem todas c quaesquer questões politicas e religiosas, Galers. que possani deslastrar o bow nome que nas garam nossos maiores;---que os par- rillos se quam n'am sú scntimento, u'un \n\nDirija-se a \n\nTypographia MenCANTIE.. Mucan, 10 de janeiro de 1971. \n\nN \n\nPARA VENDA \n\nOVENA do glorioso Thaumaturgo S. FRANCISCO DE PAULA, e as trezo \n\nsextas-feiras do mesmo santo. \n\nNovena do glorioso martyr S. SEBAS Tão, advogado contra o mal contagioso. \n\nMeditações das lagrimas. Manual de piedade. Dirija-se a \n\nTypographia MERCANTIL. \n\nNavios surtos no porto, Taipa e rada de Macaut no dia 24 de janeiro \n\nOBSERVAÇÕES \n\nATPARELATO\nNAÇÃO\nNOMME\nTONPLADAS\n\nCorveta a vapor....\nTortaguesa.....\nDaquo de Palmuelle...\n\nEsenna de gueren..\nPartagueza.....\nPrincipo Carlus.....\n\nGalor\nFracc.....\nCamocs........\n1817\n\nGalera\n\nAlexandre Lavalley.\n947\n\nPernava\nAgustina.\n\nPeruana\nCallao.\n600\n\nPeruana.......\nPera\n\nEmigrante.........\n\n1562\n\nMOVIMENTO DO PORTO DE MACAU \n\nso desejo e n'um ed affecto para promove- rom o que verdadeiramonte é util à veti- Jan. gio jo á patria; finalmente que todos, cond diz o Doutor das Gentes (*), abne- rando suas paixões se amem mutuaiuente, eformem seus costumes vivendo so- bringpia e justamento, para que em cada \n\nnctifique ein abundancia a graça do o Salvador e a virtude dos seus San- \n\nMysterius. \n\nTés Ró os mons votos, e tres devem Hero de todos os bons portugezes; que \n\nos attonda benigno, derramado so- \n\nEpist. ad Tit. «. 2. 12. \n\n13 \n\n2+ \n\nDe 18 a 24 de janeiro \n\nNAVIOS ENTRADOS \n\nzur, é da força de 20 cavallos, non- ta peças. \n\nNAVIOS SAHIDOS \n\n18-Vapor de guerra china Ngan tien, Jan. 21---Barca inglesa Witch, capitão F. \n\ncommandante W. Stewart, da eru- \n\nzar, é da força do 20 cavallos, toon- tn 3 peças. \n\n10-Galota peruana Callio, capitão An- \n\nfouio de Arancoa, de 1552 tonela- das, de Hongkong, em lastro. \n\n21-Galem portäna Emigrente, capitão \n\nYoung, de 280 toneladas, para Ra- \n\ntavia è Samarang, com diversa car- \n\nKa \n\n22-Vapor do guerra china Ngan-tien. „24-Vapor de guerra china Ngan-tier.. Capitania do porto de Masan, 25 de janeiro \n\nPedro Buite, de 365 toneladas, do de 1873. Hongkong, car leites, - . \n\n21-Colaru purnama Peru, dixitão An- tonio Basngoite, de 690 toneladas, \n\nde Hongkong, em lestro. \n\n23-Vapor de gliere chiun Ngren-tien, commandante W. Stewart, de tru- \n\nCapitão do porio, \n\nMacaa: impresso na typographia MERCANTIL \n\nN. 13. \n\nThe Governor of the Previne \n\nMacas \n\nand Timor, and their \n\nDependencies, in bouncil, divesti \n\nas \n\nfollows:- \n\nExperience having \n\nshnov \n\nthe necessity which exists of sewing \n\nto the Chinese labourers whe emigrate through this lost, the popibility of stating to their Country after the respiration of thur Contracts: \n\nConsidering the difficulty \n\nwhich the said Labourers \n\nto obtain \n\ntimes placed to \n\nback at their \n\nown \n\na \n\nare \n\nin \n\nmany \n\npapage. \n\nexpense; from the \n\ntheir neglect to provide during", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-162 - Sir Kennedy - 1873 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 303752, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-184 - Governor Hennessy - 1879 [1-5]", "page_number": 344, "title": "CO129-184 - Governor Hennessy - 1879 [1-5]", "content_text": "# THE CHINA MAIL.\n\n## HONGKONG, MONDAY, MAY 12, 1879.\n\nThe following ladies and gentlemen were Guests at Government House on Saturday evening: General and Mrs Grant, Lieut.-Colonel Grant, Hon. A. C. Borie, Mr Cheater Holcombe, Admiral Polo (of the Spanish Royal Navy), Madame Polo, and Mademoiselle Polo, Commandante Lobo, (of the Spanish Royal Navy), Hon. P. Byle, Hon. H. B. Gibb, Mr G. V. Creagh, and Major Palmer, A.D.C.\n\nOn Sunday evening the guests were: General and Mrs Grant, Duke of Magliano, Don Quili, Grazioli, Honourable E. Borie, Bishop Raimondi, Lieutenant Colonel Grant, Mr Young, Dr Keating, Mr Pitman, Major Palmer, A.D.C.\n\n## GENERAL GRANT AND PARTY LEAVE HONGKONG\n\nGeneral Grant and party left Hongkong to-day by the United States corvette Ashuelot en route for the Coast Ports and Shanghai. The General and his party were accompanied to the Murray Wharf by the Governor and Mrs. Hennessy, who proceeded on board the steamer with their departing guests. A large number of the principal inhabitants were at the pier to witness the departure of our illustrious visitors, and many with whom the General and his party have come into official or social intercourse here were present to say \"good-bye\". As the Governor's steam launch, which conveyed them to the steamer, left the wharf, His Excellency called for three cheers for General Grant, which were lustily given, followed by \"one cheer more for Mrs Grant,\" heartily responded to, the General and Mrs. Grant respectively bowing and smiling their acknowledgements.\n\nThere were amongst those on the pier as the General and party left: H. E. General Donovan; the Chief Justice, Sir John Smale, Acting Puisne Judge J. J. Francis, The Surveyor General Hon. J. Price, Hon. P. Ryrie, Hon. C. B. Plunket, Messrs E. Sharp, G. Sharp, Lister, Gibb, Donnys, and Tonucchy. Mr Ng Choy, and a number of leading Chinese Merchants, and most of the leading European residents, were also present. The Japanese Consul, and the Captain of the Japanese man-of-war which arrived the other day, were also on the pier. As the launch steamed past the various ships of war, salutations were exchanged. Inspector Matheson was on the spot to render any assistance that might be necessary, and the crew of his boat tossed their oars as the distinguished party passed. The Ashuelot was reached, and the General was received on board by a guard of honour. Dr and Mrs Eastlake, Master Eastlake, Dr Vander Horck, Mr Forbes, and the Spanish Consul were on board to take leave of the General. H. E. the Governor and Mrs Hennessy remained on board the Ashuelot for about ten minutes, where, having shaken hands heartily with all the party, and wished them a pleasant passage, they took their leave, accompanied by Colonel Mosby, the U. S. Consul, who had come off with the party in the launch. The Government launch having dropped astern of the Ashuelot, the British and American Ensigns were run up at the fore, and a salute fired. The wheels of the Ashuelot moved round immediately the firing ceased, and as she steamed from her anchorage, the usual amount of handkerchief and hat waving was indulged in.\n\nWe have been requested to publish the following letter:\n\n(Copy)\n\nHongkong, 10th May 1879.\n\nMessrs. FORBES, HOPPIUS and KESWICK,\nCommittee,\n\nGentlemen,-I am just this moment, 4.50 p.m., put in possession of your note of this date informing me that the Committee of arrangements for the Garden party to be given this evening have appointed you a special Committee to notify me that on account of the threatening bad weather, they propose to postpone the party until Monday evening the 12th, and ask me to accept for that evening. I am sorry to say that my arrangements for leaving here on Monday morning are such that I do not feel justified in making any delay beyond that date. Answers have been sent to inquiries as to the date of my arrival at Shanghai, and at two or three other points we expect to touch by the way.\n\nI regret not meeting, in a social way, the citizens of Hongkong who have been kind enough to give me this invitation, and hope I may meet each and all, if not together, separately, at a later day in some part of the world.\n\nI am, with great respect,\nYour obedient servant,\n\n(Signed)\nU. S. GRANT.\n\nWe notice a feeble paragraph in this morning's paper regarding the proposed entertainment to General Grant (evidently communicated by one of the Committee), in which a weak attempt is made to gloss over the series of inexcusable blunders that have characterized the management. It is important, however, that the public should not be thus misled, and that they should bear in mind the following facts, which we have ascertained from a reliable source, and which bear out to the fullest extent the remarks we made on Saturday evening:\n\n1. A majority of the Committee, which outvoted Messrs Ryrie, Blanchard, and Craw...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-184 - Governor Hennessy - 1879 [1-5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 305403, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-187 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [1-4]", "page_number": 144, "title": "CO129-187 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [1-4]", "content_text": "(3455 141)\n\nAlthough I pressed the Viceroy to state the precise date on which His Excellency would arrive at Hongkong, he declined to do so on the ground that he did not wish to put His Excellency, the Governor to trouble any on his account.\n\nI have &c. (signed) A. W. Bewlet,\n\n**VISIT TO HONGKONG OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR GENERAL LAU KWAN-YIH**\n\nThe following is extracted from the report in the \"Daily Press.\"\n\nThe visit which His Excellency LAU KWAN-YIH, late Viceroy of Kwangtung and Kwangsi and Viceroy elect of the Two Kiang, which term includes the three provinces of Kiangsu, Kiangsi and Nganhway, paid to His Excellency Governor HENNESSY on Saturday last, the 24th instant, is an event of considerable importance in more than one respect. Although many Chinese officials of high rank have on various occasions paid visits to Government House on passing through the Colony en route for some other place, this visit of Viceroy Lau is certainly the first instance in the history of Hongkong in which a Chinese dignitary of such high rank has gone out of his way to come expressly and signalize his personal friendship with an English Governor and his sense of the entente cordiale between the Hongkong and Canton Governments. It is evident that Chinese officials consider that the position which Governor HENNESSY has all along taken in his relations to the Chinese Government as well as to the Chinese population of this Colony, has materially contributed towards cementing the friendship happily existing between England and China. The Marquis of TSENG gave utterance to this feeling on his passing through Hongkong en route for London. CHUNG HOW repeated the same sentiment on his visit to Government House a few weeks ago; whilst LI HUNG-CHANG and TING YIH-CH'ANG have in private correspondence expressed in similar terms their recognition of the attitude Mr. HENNESSY has taken in Chinese affairs.\n\nLast Friday night, shortly before midnight, Viceroy Lau arrived in harbour, without previous announcement of any sort, direct from Canton, accompanied by a small flotilla of gunboats. Early on Saturday morning he sent word to Government House that, having handed over the seals of office to his successor in the Vice-royalty of the Two Kwang provinces, and not yet having taken over the seals of the Vice-royalty of the three provinces of Central China to which he had been appointed, he availed himself of the only spare day he had before his official departure from Canton, to come in person to Hongkong in order to reciprocate the feelings of personal friendship which had sprung up between Governor HENNESSY and himself since his tenure of office in Canton, and to thank him for the great influence which his Chinese policy in Hongkong has exercised towards cementing the good relations existing between the Governments of China and England. His Excellency the Governor sent Major PALMER, A.D.C., at once on board, to arrange the time and place of landing, and twelve o'clock was fixed as the time when Viceroy Lau was to land at Murray Pier. The Commandant of the neighbouring town of Kaulung, Colonel Lai, applied for and received permission to land a company of Chinese marines at the pier, to act as escort to the Viceroy. Half a dozen Chinese military officers of the Viceroy's staff landed their strangely caparisoned steeds and awaited the landing of their chief. This drew a large crowd of Chinese spectators, although the population were generally unaware of the arrival of the Viceroy, the Chinese papers of Saturday morning having announced that Viceroy Lau would pass through Hongkong the following week on his way to Peking. Owing to the presence of the Chinese marines and military officers, who crowded the pier, the guard of honour furnished by Her Majesty's 27th Inniskillings drew up at the corner of Murray Barracks, to salute the distinguished visitor. A few minutes before noon, the Viceroy landed at Murray Pier, where Major PALMER, R.E., A.D.C., Dr. EITEL, the Governor's Chinese Secretary, and the Canton Commissioner of Customs were in waiting. As His Excellency left the Tsing-po, a salute was fired from H.M.S. Victor Emanuel, and on landing he was received with a salute from the Royal Artillery at the Wellington Battery. The Viceroy was accompanied by his Aides-de-Camp, Colonel LAI, and Major U TA-SHING and his interpreter, Mr. SIEH YAO-KWANG, Acting Assistant Magistrate of the Nam Hoi District. Sedan...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-187 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 305554, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-187 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [1-4]", "page_number": 295, "title": "CO129-187 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [1-4]", "content_text": "its proper strength & efficiency & the quality & quantity of recruits do now fill the gaps made by those who have retired, resigned or left the Corps. Some standard as to height of recruits should be adopted; a medical certificate as to the physical qualifications of recruits should be required. As a rule, Portuguese residents of this Colony are unfit for duty - their absence from drill proves that they themselves have discovered this fact.\n\nThe absurd form of declaration on joining has prevented many residents from enrolling themselves.\n\nThere are conceivable cases where men who have not been trained have not yet been able to discover this particular fact in their own department, such a duty lies with the Commandant. For the time being, he should have the power to enroll, or declare, all properly certified recruits.\n\nIt has been suggested that the volunteers would, in case of need, be grouped into Rifle Companies where the Corps was re-formed; men had the option of joining either the Artillery or Rifles, about six answered per company, only declaring for the latter.\n\nThere is no inducement held out to volunteers to persevere or to others to join. It is suggested that the efficient volunteers should be exempt from serving on Juries, a privilege which those who cry out for it should have, having attended two or three drills each month during the drill season. The Corps should be thoroughly effective, commanded by an officer of the Royal Artillery; at least a junior Royal Artillery officer should act as Adjutant, with suitable allowances.\n\nThe Corps should be armed with Martini-Henry Carbines. On the re-formation of the Corps, the Colonial Government promised that such would be obtained (ordered from Home) & a judicious number of rounds of ball cartridge for target practice be allowed per efficient member per annum.\n\nI have the honor to be,\nSir,\nYour obedient Servant,\nAlex...,\nCape Comdt.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-187 - Governor Hennessy - 1880 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 307609, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-191 - Public Offices & Others - 1880", "page_number": 187, "title": "CO129-191 - Public Offices & Others - 1880", "content_text": "Distinction between public and private vessels.\n\n§ 103g. Merchant vessels in foreign ports.\n\n22\n\nAPPENDIX.\n\nOrtolan: \"Règles Internationales et Diplomatiques de la Mer,\" liv. ii, chap. xiv, page 301.\n\n\"A l'égard des navires de commerce, nous savons que lorsqu'ils se trouvent dans les eaux territoriales d'un Etat étranger, ils ne sont exempts de la police et de la juridiction locales que pour les faits passés à bord qui n'intéressent ni la tranquillité du port ni des personnes étrangères à l'équipage. Pour tous les autres faits ils restent soumis à cette police et à cette juridiction. D'où il suit que l'autorité locale a le droit de se transporter sur ces navires, d'y faire la poursuite, la recherche, et l'arrestation des personnes qui se sont rendues coupables, soit à terre, soit même à bord, de faits passibles de la justice territoriale : sauf l'obligation de bon procédé, qui doit toujours être observée, de donner avis préalable de cette visite, soit au Consul, soit en rade, au Commandant des forces navales militaires dont relève le navire de commerce en question.\"\n\nWheaton: \"International Law,\" Part II, §101. (Dana's Edition. 1866.)\n\n\"Section 101. According to the judgment of the Supreme Court of the United States, where, without Treaty, the ports of a nation are open to the public and private ships of a friendly Power, whose subjects have also liberty, without special license, to enter the country for business or amusement, a clear distinction was to be drawn between the rights accorded to private individuals, or private trading vessels, and those accorded to public armed ships which constitute a part of the military force of the nation.\n\n\"When private individuals of one nation spread themselves through another as business or caprice may direct, mingling indiscriminately with the inhabitants of that other; or when merchant vessels enter for the purposes of trade, it would be obviously inconvenient and dangerous to society, and would subject the laws to continual infraction, and the Government to degradation, if such individuals did not owe temporary and local allegiance, and were not amenable to the jurisdiction of the country. Nor can the foreign Sovereign have any motive for wishing such exemption. His subjects, then, passing into foreign countries, are not employed by him, nor are they engaged in national pursuits. Consequently there are powerful motives for not exempting persons of this description from the jurisdiction of the country in which they are found, and no motive for requiring it. The implied license, therefore, under which they enter, can never be construed to grant such exemption.\n\n\"But the situation of a public armed ship was, in all respects, different. She constitutes a part of the military force of her nation, acts under the immediate and direct command of the Sovereign, is employed by him in national objects. He has many and powerful motives for preventing those objects from being defeated by the interference of a foreign State. Such interference cannot take place without seriously affecting his power and his dignity. The implied license, therefore, under which such vessel enters a friendly port, may reasonably be construed, and it seemed to the Court ought to be construed, as containing an exemption from the jurisdiction of the Sovereign, within whose territory she claims the rites of hospitality.\"\n\nWheaton: \"Elements of International Law,\" page 141. (Boyd's Edition. 1878.)\n\n\"A merchant vessel is not in the same position as a ship of war. Every State claims to exercise jurisdiction over its own merchant vessels wherever they are, and even when they are in the waters of another State. But when in a foreign port they must also obey the laws of the country to which the port belongs.* They are thus at the same time subject to two concurrent systems of law. Any State may decline to exercise jurisdiction over foreign merchant vessels in its harbours to whatever extent it pleases, as is the case with France; but the right nevertheless exists, and might be resumed on due notice being given. Thus, a claim by the local officers of France to board the ship, search her, and take out of her any one who has become amenable to the local laws, could not lawfully be resisted or disputed after such due notice.”*\n\nForsyth: \"Cases and Opinions on Constitutional Law,\" page 419.\n\nThe nationality of a merchant vessel depends upon-1, the construction or origin of the vessel; 2, the owners to whom it belongs; 3, the captain, and officers, and crew: Ortolan, tom. i. 180; see Wildman on Search, Capture, and Prize, chap. iii.\n\nIn some countries a territorial character is allowed to foreign merchant vessels in their ports--limited, however, to offences committed by members of the same crew against one another on board the vessel: Ortolan, tom. i. 295. In France a distinction is taken between such offences where the peace of the port is not thereby disturbed, and where they are committed against persons not forming part of the officers and crew, or by any other than a person belonging to the same, or where the peace of the port is disturbed. In acts of the first class, the French Courts decline jurisdiction; in the others they assert it: Wheaton, International Law, s. 102. But no such distinction exists in the English law, which exercises jurisdiction over all criminal offences committed on board foreign merchant ships in British ports.\n\n\"On the question whether the vessels of a nation on the high seas are part of the territory of that nation, see some sensible remarks by Woolsey, International Law, s. 54. He says that it is unsafe to argue on the assumption that they are altogether territory, but, on the other hand, they have certain qualities resembling those of territory: (1) as against their crews on the high seas; (2) as against foreigners who are excluded on the high seas from any act of sovereignty over them, just as if they were part of the soil of their country. Vattel considers ships on the high seas as part of a nation's territory : Liv. i. c. 19, s. 216; ii. c. 7, s. 80. As to ships of war, they are, even in foreign ports, exempt from this local jurisdiction. It seems now established, both in England and America, that no vessel or other property used by the Government for public purposes, whether those purposes be military, fiscal, or of police, are subject to judicial proceedings without the consent of the Government? Wheaton, International Law, s. 63, note 63 (8th edit.): see 'The Lord Hobart,' 2 Dods. Adm. 103; 7 Attorney-General's Opinions, 122. Woolsey observes (International Law, s. 54): In both cases, however, it is on account of the crew rather than of the ship itself that they have any territorial quality. Take the crew away-let the abandoned hulk be met at sea; it now becomes property, and nothing more.'\n\n\"In R. v. Lopez, 27 L. J. (M. C.) 49, it was said, arguendo, by the Counsel for the Crown, that it is a general principle of international law that a ship, public or private, on the high seas is, for the purpose of jurisdiction over crimes, a part of the territory of the country to which it belongs, and that a foreigner going voluntarily on board an English ship, and serving as one of her crew, is as amenable as a British subject on board the ships, and, like a British subject, would be liable in this country for a crime by statute 28 Hen. VIII, c. 15, and 7 and 8 Vict. c. 2: see notes to Chapter VII on Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction, p. 233. And it was contended that the same principle governs the law of America and France, in support of which the following authorities were cited: The United States v. Palmer, 3 Wheat. Rep. 609; The United States v. Holmes, 5 Ibid. 112; Vattel, book i. c. 19, s. 216; Felix, Traité du Droit International Privé, ss. 544, 573; 2 Ortolan, Règles Internationales de la Mer; R. v. Depardo, 1 Taunt 26; R. v. Serva, 1 Den, C. C. 104. In R. v. Lesley, 29 L. J. (M. C.) 101, it was said, per cur. It is clear that an English ship on the high seas, out of any foreign territory, is subject to the laws of England; and persons, whether foreign or English, on board such ship are as much amenable to English laws as they would be on English soil, The same principle has been laid down by foreign writers on international law.'\n\nThey went on board an English ship (of war), which for the purpose may be considered a floating island, and in that ship they became subject to the English laws alone per Holroyd, J., Forbes v. Cochrane, 2 B. & C. 464; and see per Byles, J., in R. v. Anderson, 11 Cox C. C. 205.\n\n\"But although merchant ships on the high seas have some of the attributes of territory, when they arrive in a foreign port they have no privilege, and are considered merely as the property of aliens.\n\n\"The Court of Admiralty has jurisdiction in an action brought by a British subject against a foreign ship for a collision in foreign waters: The Griefswald,' Swabey, Adm. 430,\"\n\nReport on Fugitive Slaves, 1876, p. 26.\n\n23\n\n184", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-191 - Public Offices & Others - 1880.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 310286, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-195 - Governor Hennessy - 1881 [1-4]", "page_number": 412, "title": "CO129-195 - Governor Hennessy - 1881 [1-4]", "content_text": "\"ai Pany regiment and Commandant of the Seamer Ruang - An, to the following effect.\n\nI received some time ago instructions from His Excellency the Governor to proceed to Houghong with a despatch from Mr. Hewlett, the British Consul, which I was to present and wait until Yang Pak Mo-Kaw and other criminals, 13 in all, were handed over to me for conveyance to Canton, to be there tried and punished. In obedience thereto, I proceeded to Houghong, where, on arrival, I presented the despatch at the office of the Colonial Secretary, by whom I was told to await a reply. This I duly reported at the time. Subsequently, I went repeatedly to the Colonial Secretary's Office to receive further tidings. At first, I was told to wait until His Excellency the Governor had decided upon what action to take; afterwards, they told me to remain until a reply was received from Mr. Hewlett, the British Consul.\n\n\"I could respectfully state that since the 15th December, the date when I arrived in Houghong and presented the despatch, more than a month has now elapsed during which time I have been waiting in Houghong without receiving charge of the criminals for conveyance back to Canton. As the matter is one which involves the rendition of criminals...\n\nPage 410\n\n... (text is cut off, but it appears to be a continuation of the previous sentence)\n\nHowever, to follow the exact output format as requested, here is the revised version:\n\n\"ai Pany regiment and Commandant of the Seamer Ruang - An, to the following effect.\n\nI received some time ago instructions from His Excellency the Governor to proceed to Houghong with a despatch from Mr. Hewlett, the British Consul, which I was to present and wait until Yang Pak Mo-Kaw and other criminals, 13 in all, were handed over to me for conveyance to Canton, to be there tried and punished. In obedience thereto, I proceeded to Houghong, where, on arrival, I presented the despatch at the office of the Colonial Secretary, by whom I was told to await a reply. This I duly reported at the time. Subsequently, I went repeatedly to the Colonial Secretary's Office to receive further tidings. At first, I was told to wait until His Excellency the Governor had decided upon what action to take; afterwards, they told me to remain until a reply was received from Mr. Hewlett, the British Consul.\n\n\"I could respectfully state that since the 15th December, the date when I arrived in Houghong and presented the despatch, more than a month has now elapsed during which time I have been waiting in Houghong without receiving charge of the criminals for conveyance back to Canton. As the matter is one which involves the rendition of criminals...\n\n410\n\n \nhas been rewritten to \nPage 410\n\nThe final output is \n\"ai Pany regiment and Commandant of the Seamer Ruang - An, to the following effect.\n\nI received some time ago instructions from His Excellency the Governor to proceed to Houghong with a despatch from Mr. Hewlett, the British Consul, which I was to present and wait until Yang Pak Mo-Kaw and other criminals, 13 in all, were handed over to me for conveyance to Canton, to be there tried and punished. In obedience thereto, I proceeded to Houghong, where, on arrival, I presented the despatch at the office of the Colonial Secretary, by whom I was told to await a reply. This I duly reported at the time. Subsequently, I went repeatedly to the Colonial Secretary's Office to receive further tidings. At first, I was told to wait until His Excellency the Governor had decided upon what action to take; afterwards, they told me to remain until a reply was received from Mr. Hewlett, the British Consul.\n\n\"I could respectfully state that since the 15th December, the date when I arrived in Houghong and presented the despatch, more than a month has now elapsed during which time I have been waiting in Houghong without receiving charge of the criminals for conveyance back to Canton. As the matter is one which involves the rendition of criminals...\n\nPage 410", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-195 - Governor Hennessy - 1881 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 317071, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-200 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [5]", "page_number": 152, "title": "CO129-200 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [5]", "content_text": "151\n\nA few remarks upon, and that is the manner in which the application for the rendition of these Chinese \"Criminals\" has in this instance been conveyed to the Houghong Government.\n\nI find in your papers that were enclosed in despatch now under acknowledgement, that this application was made in the first place to the Police Magistrate and in the second place to the Colonial Secretary by the Military Commandant of Chinese Kowloon instead of having been addressed to the Houghong Government, as has hitherto been the established custom, by His Excellency the Governor through Her Majesty's Consul at Canton.\n\nHis Excellency the Administrator will not, I feel sure, accuse me of the smallest desire to interfere officiously in matters affecting the Government of the Colony, if I respectfully request that this practice may in future be discontinued.\n\nThere are many reasons, which suggest themselves to His Excellency the Administrator, why all communications between the authorities of Canton and Houghong should pass through the hands of Her Majesty's Consul at Canton, and will doubtless at once...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-200 - Acting Governor Marsh - 1882 [5].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 325825, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-216 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1884 [5-6]", "page_number": 414, "title": "CO129-216 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1884 [5-6]", "content_text": "Of other valuable vegetable products there is lack. Gutta is found in abundance in the hills. So are a great variety of resinous trees, more particularly that from which the Tonquinese obtain the oil which they use for their lacquer ware, which is in no way inferior to that of Japan or Burmah. There is also a low tree which grows abundantly along the banks of the more upland streams, the fruit of which distils an oil which, it is claimed, renders timber secure alike against the attacks of water and insects.\n\nStar Anis, a valuable essential oil used in perfumery, distilled from the fruit of a tree of the Magnoliaceæ species, is also found in quantities in the northern provinces. A number of other aromatic trees and shrubs have also been seen by experts.\n\nTimber of all kinds is very abundant in the hills north of Thai-Nguyen and Hung-hoa and to the west in the provinces of Mi-Duc and elsewhere. Rose wood, ebony, iron wood, sapan and sandal are among the more valuable varieties. I do not remember seeing the teak tree in any part of the country.\n\nThe mineral products of the country as enumerated by MM. Dupuis, Remaset, du Cailly and others comprise a simple list of all the metals to be found in the table of contents of a work on mineralogy. As yet, however, the French have come upon none of the mines said to exist. They are all in the hill country beyond the delta. The expedition in the end of April to the western hills failed to discover anything of importance. There seems, however, little doubt that gold is to be found in considerable quantities at various places in the Rivière Claire basin and on the Red River, a little below Laokai. The month of October will no doubt show how far M. Dupuis's enthusiastic accounts were justified. It is greatly to be feared, however, that all the mining business will be reserved by the French Government for concessions to favoured individuals or companies. There is considerable irritation in Tonquin just now at the presence there of a mining explorer who is a near relative of the head of the French Cabinet. Notwithstanding his kinship he is not a Frenchman - only a Swiss.\n\nIn the villages on the Bacninh-Thai-Nguyen road there are several iron and copper foundries of a primitive kind. The mines whence the ore is drawn were, however, not found. Next year no doubt will see a good many discoveries in this line.\n\nIt seems, however, probable that the coal mines at Hong-gai in the north of Halong Bay will very shortly be regularly worked. Coal has been brought from this place in a fitful kind of way for a good many years now, and it is said to be of very fair quality. It is extremely easily worked and there is eight feet of water up to the very place where the seam crops out, the seam itself being eight feet thick.\n\nThe silk culture of Tonquin ought to become very important, and there are so many Frenchmen who have a knowledge of at least the most essential things to be observed in the industry that it ought to develop very rapidly. The larvæ are at present fed on a species of mulberry, the morus indica, which grows very readily from shoots, and it is to be seen in huge plantations more particularly in the Nam-Dinh and Ninh-Binh districts. The mulberry tree proper would take up very much less room, and would probably raise finer caterpillars. The Tonquinese have very much to learn in the way of winding the cocoons and other technical matters, even to the weaving of silks likely to be acceptable in Europe. There is, however, little doubt that sericulture will be one of the most important industries of Tonquin.\n\nWith regard to the political state of the country it can scarcely be considered as other than extremely unsatisfactory as yet. The French have already sent off a number of European troops to Madagascar and France, but nevertheless even the most sanguine of them does not pretend that the pacification of the country is any more than begun. There are garrisons of European troops at Haiphong, Hanoi, Sontay, Hung Hoa, Bacninh, Thai Nguyen, Phu-Lang-Thuong (on the Langson road) Haidzuong, The Seven Pagodas, Quang-yen, Nam-Dinh, Ninh Binh, Phuly and Batang, and small posts of a few European or native troops at such places as Elephant Mountain, \"The Bamboo\", Mi-Duc and a few other places. Outside of these it is not safe for a European to go unarmed, and it is almost impossible to get Frenchmen to go even under those circumstances. There are rumours of pirates from everywhere, north, south, east, and west. A band of 6,000 here, as many hundred in another place, and a few score in a third. Doubtless a great deal of this is exaggeration, and when expeditions go out they very seldom come across the marauders. Of genuine pirates there are a few. Ba Bao, their most daring chief, hangs about the mountains to the east of Bac-ninh and north of Haidzuong, and makes occasional raids. It was no doubt a section of his band which gave the \"Zephyrs\" so much trouble a few weeks ago at the \"Grotto Mountain\" not more than eight miles from Haiphong. The Commandant of the regiment received three wounds, and altogether the affair was hardly satisfactory, though the \"Jacobin\" is not mentioned but \"Joyeur\" captured the only gun their opponents had. Nevertheless it appears that the pirates still remain in their caves. Apart from these, however, the \"pirates\" are mere amateurs, distressed peasants, bad characters of all sorts, and the dismissed coolies of the French columns, whom the Turcos and others have taught how to loot in systematic fashion. Amateurs or not, however, Tonquin is not a place to go to for rural seclusion just yet, and probably will not be for the better part of a year. In any case, no arrangements can be made for getting tracts of land yet. The native officials are perfectly willing to sell land and to give the most satisfactory title deeds, but the French Commissioners hang back and say that authorisation must be obtained from the home Government.\n\nTonquin, therefore, though a land of exceeding great promise, is not likely to attract capitalists for a good many months yet. The towns which must necessarily become the most important from their situation, are Hanoi, Nam-Dinh, and Haidzuong. There is a great deal of building going on in the capital just now, and those who saw the town last August would hardly recognise it again. The streets have been widened, and large brick houses are being run up in every direction. On the river front three long jetties have been built in such a way that they will probably all be washed away before October; but for the present they impress the natives with an idea of western superiority and hint at a large trade. Nam-Dinh and Haidzuong are unfortunately very unhealthy and will continue to be so until the elements of a drainage system are introduced. The latter town indeed hardly exists now. Between them the French and the Chinese have almost utterly destroyed what was at one time nearly the finest and probably the wealthiest town in the delta. But from its position it must necessarily rise again from its ruins. It is extremely unfortunate under the circumstances that the French Resident apparently allows the Annamese to build their mud huts in the most eligible situations, and apparently without any regard to plan.\n\nHaiphong still remains a problem. Is it to be... \n\nPage 4133", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-216 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1884 [5-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 326170, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-217 - Governor Sir Bowen Administrator Marsh - 1884 [7-10]", "page_number": 205, "title": "CO129-217 - Governor Sir Bowen Administrator Marsh - 1884 [7-10]", "content_text": "## FIGHT ON SHORE.\n\nAfter the French landing party had carried out their work of destruction of the forts, they marched up the hill behind the five-gun fort, pitched a large tent, and hoisted the French flag. The number of this party is variously stated, some say it was composed of 100 men and others that it numbered over three hundred. They were attacked, on the morning of the 6th, by about 2,000 Chinese soldiers. The French tried to keep them back, but failed, and beat a precipitate retreat to their ships, leaving the tent and a quantity of baggage and clothing behind them. The Chinese pursued them and fought bravely, but their guns were of ancient date, and their firing was not very effective. The French themselves acknowledge having lost three killed and that twelve were wounded, while the Chinese assert that they placed more than double this number hors de combat. The three Frenchmen who were killed are said to have been taken on board the `Villars`; at all events they were not left upon the field nor were any of the wounded. A French petty officer was reported to be missing, and it was said that he had been captured by the Chinese and sliced up. The loss on the Chinese side is variously estimated, 300, 400, and 500 being given.\n\nThe French, it seems, did not lose their flag. They left their camp so hurriedly that they did not haul it down in the usual way but chopped the staff through a few feet from the ground. When the Chinese came up and carried off the tent, baggage, and clothing, &c., one of their number stayed behind trying to pull up the piece of flagstaff that remained. The French guns were all aimed at him, but he kept at his work, and carried off the stump of the staff in triumph.\n\n## THE KEELUNG COLLIERIES FIRED.\n\nOn the 6th inst., the Keelung colliery was fired by the Chinese, who used fifty cases of kerosine for the purpose. The machinery has also been destroyed. All the coal ready for shipment was also set on fire, kerosine being poured on it to make it burn quickly. The fire of the collieries could be seen from the harbour on the 10th, 11th, and 12th inst.\n\n## LATEST PARTICULARS.\n\nThe `Welle` returned to Keelung on the 10th having as passengers from Tamsui, the Commissioner of Customs, the harbour-master Mr. Hummel, Dr. Johannsen, Mr. Bentley, and a missionary. The sights on shore are described as frightful, the bodies of the killed Chinese still lying in the ruins of the forts. No Frenchmen can go on shore without being shot at, and the Frenchmen in return shoot at the Chinese whenever they make their appearance. It is estimated that there are 15,000 Chinese soldiers round Keelung, and quite as many at Tamsui. On the arrival of the `Welle` at Keelung, the captain received the following official dispatch, which we give verbatim et literatim:\n\n**Division Navale des Mers de Chine et du Japon. Commandant en Chef.**\n\nA bord de La Galissonnière, Rade de Keelung le 9 Août 1884.\n\nSir,\n\nI must inform you that I made seizure of ballage-rent at Keelung. Then if your ship is bound for discharge of guns, powder, or all kinds of stores for the Chinese Government, I should be obliged to you to not discharge in this port. If not, I should regret to be in the necessity of impeding it.\n\nYours truly,\nRear-Admiral,\nJ. Lespès.\n\nWe have seen the original dispatch; it is in English, not French as the two preceding ones, and it seems to us to have been written by a Chinese interpreter and signed by Admiral Lespès. The `Welle` had no cargo to discharge, and she left Keelung for Shanghai on the 13th inst.\n\n202", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-217 - Governor Sir Bowen Administrator Marsh - 1884 [7-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 327331, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-219 Foreign Office 1884", "page_number": 119, "title": "CO129-219 Foreign Office 1884", "content_text": "# JOURNAL OFFICIEL DE LA RÉPUBLIQUE FRANÇAISE\n\n## [1884] 5 Mars\n\nSeizième année. — N. 64.\n\n5 mètres de largeur rempli d'eau, alimenté par un arroyo voisin. Une ligne d'abatis en bambous secs non élagués recouvre le fossé. Entre le fossé et le parapet, une berme de 3 à 4 mètres de largeur est couverte de bambous vivants, très serrés, de 8 à 10 mètres de haut, qui cachent complètement la ville aux vues de l'extérieur. Cette haie de bambous est un feu obstacle infranchissable.\n\nLa porte Ouest de l'enceinte extérieure étant murée, un passage d'un mètre de large a été pratiqué à travers la haie de bambous, à 40 mètres au sud de la porte. Par cette ouverture, on peut arriver au pied du rempart et l'escalader. Elle est couverte par un tambour, fermé lui-même par une porte en bois. Extérieurement, une route aboutit à la porte Ouest et contourne le fossé jusqu'à la porte du tambour, qu'il faut franchir d'abord pour pouvoir entrer ensuite dans l'enceinte, un à un, par la coupure pratiquée à travers les bambous.\n\nLes portes du Nord, du Sud et de l'Est sont protégées par un tambour en palanques; des défenses accessoires, petits piquets, chevaux de frise, fraises, couvrent les abords et les couronnements des portes.\n\nÀ l'extérieur de la ville, le terrain est couvert de villages et de pagodes fortifiés par une haie vive de bambous et un parapet en terre percé de créneaux, qui défendent les approches de l'enceinte. Les principaux sont: Mai Chay, Nghia-Phu, Thanh-Tri, Van Gia, vers le Sud; Thien-Haan et Phuc To, vers le Nord-Est; le village, le marché et les pagodes de Phu Nhi, Van-Mien, vers le Nord-Ouest. Du côté du Sud-Ouest, l'enceinte extérieure est longée par un arroyo de 30 mètres de large, sur lequel est un pont en bambous, en partie détruit, conduisant de la porte Ouest à la pagode de X:-Ba.\n\nDe la porte Nord, une rue conduit à l'embarcadère de Phu Nhi, qui avait été considéré par l'ennemi comme notre point de débarquement et avait été défendu en conséquence.\n\nLa digue venant du Day se rapproche du fleuve et va tomber sur la rive à Thien-Loc; elle s'en écarte ensuite progressivement pour la rejoindre une seconde fois au village de Noi. L'embarcadère de Phu Nhi est au milieu de ce demi-cercle, parfaitement commandé par la digue, qui a environ 5 mètres de surélévation.\n\nLa partie de la digue située entre Thien-Loc et Phu-Sa a été rongée en deux points par les eaux; aussi a-t-elle été doublée dans le Sud par une nouvelle digue traversant Linh-Chien et rejoignant l'ancienne à Phu-Sa.\n\nLa branche du Nord est organisée de la même manière; elle bat le terrain qui s'étend vers Phuc-To, Thien-Xuan et la partie Nord-Est de l'enceinte extérieure. Une porte défilée, pratiquée dans un retour de la coupure, permet de communiquer avec le reste de la digue vers Linh-Chien.\n\nCes deux portions de digues, que nous appellerons aussi branches de Phu-Sa, sont barrées par une palissade terrassée à hauteur de Thien-Xuan. À 100 mètres dans l'est de leur point de jonction, elles sont barrées de nouveau par un retranchement en terre, armé d'un canon placé dans une casemate qui les enfile suivant la direction de l'Est. À hauteur de ces deux batteries casematées, un retranchement en terre relie les deux branches.\n\nL'ensemble des deux branches et des retranchements constitue un ouvrage fermé.\n\nDu côté du Sud, le village de Phu-Sa est entouré d'un retranchement en terre pourvu de créneaux, qui se relie à la branche Sud et la flanque dans tous les sens. Ce village et la plaine sont à 6 ou 7 mètres au-dessus du niveau de la digue. Aux abords, le sommet et les talus de la branche Sud sont garnis de piquets de bambous et d'abatis. Du côté du Nord, le pied de la digue est longé par un fossé plein d'eau, couvert d'abatis de bambous.\n\nLe fleuve est battu en travers par les canons de Phu-Sa et enfilé par une grosse pièce établie près de la rive à la même hauteur. Cette pièce est protégée par un parapet et des traverses.\n\nTel est l'ensemble des ouvrages désignés sous le nom de forts de Phu-Sa, qui forment le point d'appui oriental des défenses dirigées contre le fleuve.\n\nD'après cette disposition des ouvrages, il fallait s'appuyer sur le fleuve pour avoir une base d'opérations solide, surtout avec le concours des canonnières, ainsi que pour échapper à toutes les difficultés de ravitaillement en vivres comme en munitions. C'était aussi là que la porte nord-ouest de l'enceinte, objectif présumé de l'attaque, était la plus accessible.\n\nAussitôt arrivé à Thien-Loc, après avoir reconnu les positions, je fis avancer sur la branche Sud le bataillon d'infanterie de marine commandant Dalien, précédé de sa compagnie de tirailleurs annamites, capitaine Doucet, flanqué dans la plaine, du côté du village Linh-Chien, par une compagnie d'auxiliaires tonkinois. Deux pièces de 4, en batterie à la grande digue, battirent en même temps, du côté de la plaine, les postes avancés ennemis qui furent enlevés sans grande difficulté, et la tête de colonne arriva rapidement au village de Linh-Chien. Le bataillon de Reygasse s'engagea sur la branche Sud à la suite du bataillon Dalien. En même temps, une batterie d'artillerie, placée à l'ouest de la grande digue, enfilait les extrémités et des branches de Phu-Sa et battait la pagode du village, sur laquelle tirait également la flottille, à la même hauteur sur la branche Sud, occupèrent le village et la pagode; nos troupes se trouvaient ainsi à 500 ou 600 mètres des ouvrages de Phu-Sa, dont le feu, très bien nourri, ralentit leur marche.\n\nVers dix heures trente, le bataillon Roux, un peu plus tard, le bataillon Chevallier (infanterie de marine), s'avançant par la branche Nord jusqu'à Noi, est organisée en une immense batterie: toutes les pièces sont sous casemates; des traverses nombreuses abritent les défenseurs et les pièces contre l'enfilade. Un mur en terre, de 1 m. 50 de hauteur et 2 mètres d'épaisseur, couronne la crête de la digue du côté du fleuve. Le sommet de la digue, qui a 8 ou 10 mètres de largeur, forme le terre-plein. Les défenseurs sont couverts par une rangée de maisons en paillottes disposées sur la crête opposée. Ces maisons servent de logements et de parados. Cette disposition existe aussi sur les branches de Phu-Sa, et empêche de voir d'une branche les défenseurs de l'autre.\n\nÀ 100 mètres à l'ouest de Phu-Sa, la digue est fermée par une forte palissade, renforcée par un parapet en terre disposé pour la fusillade, et pourvu d'une casemate armée d'un canon. Cette coupure a un retour percé d'une porte bien défilée.\n\nAu passage de la route de l'embarcadère à la citadelle, un grand tambour en terre et en palanques, avec casemates basses, couvre la porte et flanque le fossé de la digue. Ce tambour est contourné par le fossé. Il forme un véritable bastion. À l'ouest de ce tambour, le fossé s'élargit et forme un espèce d'étang jusque vers Noi. La rue de l'embarcadère est d'ailleurs obstruée, entre la digue et la ville, par une barricade armée d'un canon pouvant tirer vers la digue.\n\nUne batterie de canons de 4 fut établie alors entre les deux branches, à l'ouest du village de Linh-Chien, et deux pièces de 4 sur la branche Sud, à la sortie du village. Ces pièces ouvrirent leur feu vers une heure l'après-midi, prenant à revers les casemates de Phu-Sa et battant directement la batterie ennemie de 4 pièces de la branche Sud.\n\nLa flottille, de son côté, engagea le combat avec la batterie de Phu-Sa et les jonques armées de canons qui étaient accostées à l'embarcadère. La Fanfare, serrant de près la rive gauche, avait vue sur les ouvrages de Phu-Sa, qu'elle battit jusqu'au moment de l'assaut. Le tir avait lieu entre 1,500 et 2,000 mètres.\n\nDans la nuit, quelques coups de fusil furent échangés entre la légion étrangère et des tirailleurs ennemis embusqués dans le village boisé de Phu-Nhi, qui s'étend de la digue vers le Sud.\n\nPendant toute la journée, ce côté du champ de bataille fut le théâtre d'un combat indécis, engagé à fond ni d'un côté ni de l'autre, tandis que l'action principale se poursuivait à Phu-Sa.\n\nÀ deux heures et demie, le bataillon Jouneau (tirailleurs algériens), qui était en réserve à Thien-Loc, reçut l'ordre de se porter en avant. Il vint prendre position derrière une haie de bambous, entre la branche Nord et le fleuve, à 400 mètres environ de Phu-Sa, soutenu par une batterie de canons de 4 et par le feu de la flottille. À sa gauche, le bataillon Chevallier et une partie du bataillon Roux, soutenus par deux batteries de canons de 4, étaient déployés dans l'espace compris entre les deux branches et se reliaient au bataillon Dalien, dont deux compagnies, soutenues par deux pièces de 4, formaient la tête de colonne sur la branche Sud.\n\nLe colonel Bazin, dirigeant plus particulièrement l'opération sur la branche Nord, était assisté sur la branche Sud par le colonel de Maussion. Vers quatre heures, le colonel Bazin, jugeant que le feu de l'ennemi se ralentissait sensiblement, demanda l'autorisation de donner l'assaut.\n\nLa flottille reçut l'ordre de cesser le feu et, au signal du colonel Bazin, nos troupes s'élancèrent avec un élan admirable. Le bataillon Jouneau, son commandant en tête et la compagnie Godinet en tête, fila presque homme par homme, en dedans de la branche Nord, en dessous et en arrière des casemates ennemies, tandis que les bataillons Chevallier et Roux traversaient, non sans difficulté, la plaine marécageuse qui précède le retranchement crénelé sur la branche Sud. Les compagnies Cany (infanterie de marine) et Doucet (tirailleurs annamites), du bataillon Dalien, soutenues par une partie du bataillon Reygasse, enlèvent à la baïonnette la partie qui défend le passage; le capitaine Doucet trouve dans cette attaque une mort glorieuse. Ces compagnies, gagnant au pas de course le point de jonction des deux branches, y rallient le bataillon Jouneau, qui s'en est emparé quelques instants avant. Mais l'ennemi, repoussé, fait une résistance intrépide; solidement établi derrière la barricade élevée en travers à 100 mètres au-delà du point de jonction, embusqué dans le village qui borde la branche Sud à notre gauche, il dirige sur nos troupes un feu meurtrier; deux fois la compagnie Godinet, soutenue par la compagnie Cany, se précipite à l'assaut de la barricade, deux fois son élan vient se briser contre un obstacle infranchissable.\n\nCette nuit du 14 au 15 fut un combat continuel. Enhardis par l'obscurité, furieux de leur défaite, les Pavillons-Noirs ne cessent de harceler nos lignes, dirigeant sur Phu-Sa leurs plus violentes attaques et nous infligeant des pertes cruelles. Toutefois, ils ne peuvent entamer nos positions; un dernier mouvement offensif, tenté sur toute la ligne, vers quatre heures du matin, est repoussé comme les autres; alors, ils profitent des dernières heures de nuit pour évacuer tous les ouvrages du bord du fleuve et se renfermer dans l'enceinte extérieure de Sontay.\n\nAinsi, l'échec des attaques de nuit, achevant la défaite de l'ennemi, nous livrait sans combat une série de positions dont la prise de vive force nous eût coûté sans doute de très grands sacrifices.\n\nAprès avoir montré un entrain admirable dans l'assaut de Phu-Sa, et retrouvé une fois de plus cet élan qui les a illustrées dans tant de batailles, nos troupes, tirailleurs algériens et infanterie de marine, ont déployé au milieu de l'obscurité, durant ces longues heures de lutte, une bravoure, un sang-froid et une énergie dignes des plus glorieuses journées de leur histoire.\n\nLe 15, vers sept heures du matin, je retournai à Phu-Sa, où tout était rentré dans le calme. Je pus franchir sans difficulté la terrible barricade contre laquelle s'étaient brisés la veille tant de généreux efforts. Les corps mutilés de plusieurs de nos braves furent retrouvés auprès de la barricade, ainsi que ceux d'un certain nombre de Chinois que l'ennemi avait abandonnés dans sa fuite.\n\nLe 16, au jour, la légion étrangère alla fouiller ce village, où se trouvaient quelques Pavillons-Noirs; arrivée à la lisière Sud, elle échangea quelques coups de fusil avec le corps de la place et revint ensuite reprendre son poste sur la digue.\n\nLe bataillon Le Tellier, envoyé en reconnaissance dès les six heures du matin, arriva sans incident à 500 mètres de la butte qui défendait la porte Ouest de l'enceinte, un peu à droite, à 300 mètres environ de la grande pagode fortifiée de Mien-Hoi-Dong, occupée par l'ennemi. Il y fut reçu par une vive fusillade: c'était le prélude de la journée.\n\nVers dix heures, dans le lointain, au pied de collines, une forte colonne ennemie sortie de la ville se dirigeait vers l'Ouest, tentant sur notre droite un mouvement tournant; quelques-uns de ses tirailleurs avaient déjà atteint la lisière du bois.\n\nLe bataillon Le Tellier, relevé par la légion étrangère dans l'attaque principale, fut chargé de surveiller ce mouvement de l'ennemi; le bataillon Jouneau avait déjà dirigé une compagnie de ce côté. Quelques obus, envoyés à grande distance par une batterie établie sur la digue, jetèrent aussi le trouble dans les masses ennemies.\n\nJ'étais allé le matin examiner le terrain; j'y retournai alors et j'arrêtai les dispositions pour l'attaque.\n\nLe bataillon Dulieu prit position autour d'une pagode située entre le hameau de Ha-Tray et la pointe du village de Phu-Nhi. Le bataillon Jouneau fut mis en réserve le long de la lisière Ouest du village de Phu-Nbi; ces troupes étaient appuyées par la batterie et allaient occuper les positions évacuées. Le bataillon Chevallier, soutenu par une batterie d'artillerie et par le bataillon Reygasse, s'engageait dans la grande rue qui mène à la porte Nord, et le bataillon Roux allait remplacer à Phu-Sa le bataillon Reygasse. Ces derniers mouvements avaient pour but de simuler une attaque sur la porte Nord, que l'ennemi avait accumulé ses plus puissants moyens de défense, et d'attirer son attention de ce côté, tandis que l'attaque principale serait vivement menée contre la porte Ouest.\n\nCette dernière, en effet, quoique défendue par une batterie de quatre pièces, offre à l'attaque des conditions particulièrement favorables. Située à l'extrémité d'un saillant très allongé de la fortification, elle est percée au milieu d'un front en pan coupé de peu d'étendue, 30 mètres environ. Les deux faces S.-O. et N.-O., qui aboutissent à cette porte, peuvent être enfilées facilement par l'assaillant placé aux pagodes Dan-Xa-Trac, Dan-Son-Xuyen, Mien-Hoi-Dong et au marché de Phu-Nhi. Tous les projectiles dirigés sur le retranchement se concentrent dans le quartier Ouest de la ville et contribuent à le rendre inhabitable pour les défenseurs. De plus, l'aile droite de l'assaillant se trouve couverte par l'arroyo, sur lequel les pagodes nous donnent une tête de pont.\n\nEnfin, le terrain, bas près de l'arroyo et près de la digue, où il est même marécageux, se relève peu à peu en approchant de la porte Ouest.\n\nUn tertre isolé est situé près de la route.\n\nL'ennemi ripostait vigoureusement; les projectiles tombaient au milieu des nôtres. Un d'eux atteignit la Fanfare et fut amorti par le blindage en chaînes dont cette canonnière s'était protégée à l'extérieur; l'air...\n\nLe capitaine Godinet et son adjudant sont tués, le commandant Jouneau reçoit une balle dans la cuisse, le capitaine Cuny est blessé au bras; le lieutenant Clavet, qui le remplace, tombe frappé d'une balle quelques instants après. Les obus occasionnaient de grands ravages; ils démontaient des pièces et réduisaient les batteries au silence près. L'incendie des maisons voisines allumé par l'ennemi offre un nouvel obstacle. La nuit approche.\n\nLe colonel Bazin et le colonel de Maussion, préoccupés de défendre les positions conquises avant de pousser plus loin, font commencer un retranchement en avant de la plaine jusqu'au village de Phu-Tu-Dong.\n\nLa flottille et le convoi avaient suivi le mouvement des troupes et étaient venus mouiller un peu en amont, au point d'où l'on aperçoit la tour de la citadelle, les remorqueurs et bâtiments de charge accostés par le travers et en aval.\n\nÀ Noi, une batterie enfile la digue vers l'Ouest. Cette batterie est reliée avec les défenses du village Van-Mien par une palissade de Noï.\n\nLa digue du Nord est organisée en batterie casematée. Chaque pièce a sa casemate; entre les casemates sont des créneaux pour le fusil. Cette batterie a vue sur le fleuve et sur le terrain qui le sépare de la digue jusqu'à l'embarcadère. Un mirador entièrement construit est destiné à concourir, avec le gros canon de Phu-Sa, à enfiler le fleuve. Il n'est pas armé.\n\nLa citadelle se compose de plus de 100 pièces de canon, dont la moitié environ sont de petit calibre et susceptibles d'être déplacées.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-219 Foreign Office 1884.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 328048, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-220 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [1-3]", "page_number": 426, "title": "CO129-220 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [1-3]", "content_text": "# The French March to Langson\n## FULL DETAILS\n(From a Correspondent.)\n\nLANGSON, Feb. 13, 1885. The French column entered Langson to-day. The troops engaged in the campaign have been fewer than was previously supposed, and the resistance encountered, though strenuous, was less formidable than many had expected. A few days before joining the column I had been told by an officer in charge of an important garrison that there was a French army at Chu of 20,000 men, but the more prevalent opinion among military circles was that 10,000 was nearer the mark, and so it turned out. In October last there were said to be from 12,000 to 15,000 French troops in Tonquin. Since then a certain proportion of sick and time-expired men have been sent home, but reinforcements to the extent of 3,000 men have arrived to fill up the vacancies. Immediately before the campaign was opened it was well known that the garrisons in every quarter of Tonquin had been almost depleted to furnish troops for the expedition, and the following figures will show to what extent these were reduced. At Nauliub, where there is a native population of 60,000 or 70,000, only 15 French soldiers were left to guard the place; in Nimbinth and Haidnong, none; in Hunghoa, 150; in Thai Nguyuen, 15; at the Seven Pagodas, 50 artillerymen and 2 soldiers of the line, with a lieutenant in command; at Phulang Thuong, sure an or 60; and at Kep perhaps 150. Of course in all those garrisons there was a company or section of native troops on whose reliability too much trust cannot be placed; but I give the figures to show that when all but 200 or 300 of the French forces in Tonquin were requisitioned for the Langson expedition, it was natural to suppose that at least 10,000 men were to march to the front. As a matter of fact, however, the column, composed of two brigades, has not exceeded 6,000 in number.\n\nIt is certain that the number of men placed hors de combat in engagements is but a very small proportion of the number to be accounted for, and confirms most conclusively what has been said about the disastrous effects of the climate upon the army occupying Tonquin. That the expedition should be accomplished (in so far as it has been accomplished) by such a small body of men says much for the skill and energy of the commanders, and the devotion and endurance of the army. That to compose this small army important garrisons in the North and West should be temporarily denuded, while the Black Flags of the River Claire and a large Chinese army on the Red River were threatening, says much for the coolness of the Generals, and shows a daring which some persons may condemn as a dangerous rashness. But it says little for France, or for the Government of France, which has professed to attach so much importance to Tonquin as a colonial possession, that she has left so small an army to attempt so much, or made it necessary to encounter such serious risks.\n\nThere is little doubt that if there had been sufficient troops for the purpose the French army would have been divided into two columns, one to march from Chu, and the other advancing by the Mandarin road, ... the road by way of Phulang Thuong, Bac-le, along which the Annamite ambassadors were wont periodically to make their processions from Hanoi to Peking. There is little doubt also that the Chinese expected the attack on that route, and probably were prepared to oppose strong, perhaps their strongest, defence.\n\nOn the 30th January, with 800 men, General Negrier made a reconnaissance from Kep towards Bac-lo, floated his balloon, and ascertained the position and strength of the enemy. Leaving his balloon to float a day longer he descended to Phulang Thuong, early on the morning of the 31st, and was followed in a few hours by the troops who had accompanied him; and, at 10 a.m. he and his men had embarked and were being carried down the Thuong, and up to Chu on the river Locknam.\n\nTo prevent the possibility of any notice being given to the Chinese of the intentions of the General, the prefect of Phulang Thuong, his secretary, and the interpreter to the commandant were imprisoned.\n\nOn the 2nd February both Generals with their brigades began the march from Chu; and before reaching Langson it became manifest that the main body of the Chinese on the Bac-lo route had been outflanked, and General Negrier's ruse had succeeded. That did not imply, of course, that a stout resistance was not to be encountered on the route from Chu, but it did imply that a much more formidable resistance was not met with, a resistance which may have been almost impossible to overcome, or which could not have been overcome except at a cost which would have been nearly as disastrous as a defeat.\n\nThe forts at Dong-son, which in all numbered thirty-six, were all taken on the 6th, and a halt of four days was found to be necessary to enable a convoy of provisions, including slow-travelling cattle, to arrive. The time was variously occupied in taking a plan of the country from the peak on one side of a limited plain which commands a wide view on the Western side of the range of hills. The Chasseurs d'Afrique also rode across to Kep and returned by way of Chu on the following day. Part of the time was also occupied in exploding the ammunition taken from the enemy, of which there was a great store of all sorts, Remington, Snider, Martini Henry, Winchester, and other cartridges. Here, too, one realised more than previously that the cry of a scanty supply of water on the route, and that supply poisoned by minerals, was a scare originated by the Chinese. A little above Chu the Locknam river turns towards its source S. by E. In the direction of Anchau is a stream along which the road lies for 12 miles above Dongson almost to Langson, it is said to be a branch of the river. I drank of the Locknam (as at the other rivers touched on the voyage, only when bailed, simply because the waters were turbid), and the waters of the streams by which our course has lain I found refreshing to bathe in, and sweet to drink. Other discoveries were made at Dongson. In one of the large forts was found a skeleton, evidently that of one who had been...\n\nPage 424", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-220 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 328049, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-220 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [1-3]", "page_number": 427, "title": "CO129-220 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [1-3]", "content_text": "I have been tortured, and this was a sample of other discoveries of a similar kind. Many skeletons lay around, and some of the soldiers, with grim jocularity, stuck them up here and there on baxibong, or over the doors of the Kenyuhs (native barracks). I mention this in case such an incident should be distorted into a tale such as that which was circulated in regard to Kep, with respect to which, by the way, I may say I have learned that the Annamite soldiers, like the Chinese, do not scruple to decapitate their enemies, having the belief that a headless man is a hapless one; his head being cut off, he is cut off from the abode of bliss.\n\nOn the 8th instant, there was some liveliness in the camp, occasioned by the continuous infantry fire amongst the hills higher up the valley, a body of Chinese troops, detached from the army, and no doubt the same body, or a portion of it, which afterwards gave trouble by attacking two companies of the Foreign Legion, who formed the advance guard. The Foreign Legion have had very hard work several times during the recent campaign, and on each occasion they earned a good name. Perhaps the most obstinate resistance met with in taking the forts in the defile leading up to Dongaon, was from one captured by the Foreign Legion, in doing which they suffered serious loss. I have previously stated that amongst the officers, the Commandant was killed and a lieutenant wounded; the latter, an Italian Prince, has since died. I have at a later date witnessed the Legion bearing for hours the brunt of a hot fire. On the 8th they had to stand a sharp attack from picked Chinese troops. It was in this attack that a discipline and skill was shown which has not hitherto been displayed by Chinese troops. At one period of the fight, indeed, they were almost successful in turning the position of the Legion. While these were opposing the main body of the enemy, the Chinese suddenly appeared within 150 yards of them, almost in rear. A soldier of the Legion happened to see them, gave the alarm and rushed upon them with his bayonet. He lost his life, but saved the fight; the enemy being beaten off at a cost to the Legion of 8 men wounded, and a narrow...\n\nOn the 10th instant, the Staff started at 8 a.m., the press, a very small detachment, closely following. Soon we were split up, however, by the artillery, mules, ambulance train, and various detachments of troops who had preceded us. Having in time succeeded in passing these obstacles, we found a good road, when compared with the broken tracks which pass for roads in the East, in fact broad as a good mountain path in the West, and evidently made recently by the Chinese previously to bringing the troops and cannon down from the North, our track followed the course of the stream for some hours through a narrow valley, which reminded one of parts of the district around Bolton Abbey, with a whole circle of hills above, and luxuriant growth of trees below. The trees themselves might not, for the most part, appear to the uninitiated eye to differ much from English trees, but the excessive abundance of parasitical plants, with tendrils depending from every branch in trailing masses, would tell the traveller that he was in a region warmed at some season of the year with a hotter sun than Albion boasts; whilst the monkeys here and there disporting themselves amongst the leafy boughs would tell him he was nearer than he would be in England to the home of his, as we are told, remoter, if not remotest, ancestors.\n\nAscending the valley continuously without other interruption than that occasioned by rather steep descents and ascents at the crossing places of the stream, we got upon the right bank; the trees gradually disappeared and left the hills bare on both sides of us down to the stream beneath. At four o'clock the valley opened out a little into a close amphitheatre, to which a dark hill crossing the valley, and on which stood a fort commanding the entrance, gave the appearance of a cul de sac. Heading our horses down a steep descent, and pulling them over the rugged bed of the narrow stream, we followed the General-in-Chief and staff up the hill on which stands the fort, beside which we camped for the night. All within the fort was a mass of charred debris, its recent tenants, the last of whom were making off as the advance guard arrived, having burned what was readily combustible before their departure. The walls were well constructed, and surrounded by a double trench, but the place was perfectly useless for defence being commanded on either side by heights of greater elevation.\n\nSome idea may be formed of the length of the column of 6,000 troops with some 1,500 or 1,800 coolies, marching in single file through a mountainous country without interruption, with a halt for the coolies of 10 minutes every hour, when I state that though the staff reached the camp at 4 o'clock it was 9 o'clock before the last of the baggage train arrived.\n\nOn our arrival, my fellow countryman and myself, who mess together, managed to collect a few scattered bamboos which had escaped the flames within the fort, and made the framework of a rude hut, open at the front and sides, but sheltered at the back by the breast-work of a fort trench, on to which sloped our roof. The roof was thickly covered with grass, and protected us fairly well from the drenching mist which enveloped the hills during the night.\n\nIt was a pretty sight that day, to see the column defile through the hills, breaking up into battalions, companies and sections, which halted far down in the valley, or mounted to various positions on the upper slopes around, and to see the camp fires flaming in the darkness up to the high ridges on which our outposts were placed. It was a rare opportunity of seeing the whole column at one view.\n\nFrom this point two roads branch off towards the North, one following the valley to the right, and the other leading to the left. The better road followed the larger stream to the right, but by an early reconnaissance made on the morning of the 11th, it was ascertained that it had been so broken down by the retreating Chinese as to be impassable by the artillery. The column, therefore, moved along the road to the left, following the lesser stream. More than an hour after it started, the staff, and ourselves in its train, followed the higher road from the valley, along the ridges of the bleak hills, and at length joined the route in the ravine. Here we got entangled in the column for a time, but about 11 o'clock we came upon the two Generals and their staffs assembled at a point where the route, leading on through narrow gorges, sent off another route round the sides of the hills to meet it again further on. It was evident that something was expected. There was a galloping to and fro of aides de camp; an occasional Chasseur was sent up the high route to reconnoitre; the artillery, the detached pieces of the guns and ammunition being carried by mules, was brought forward as expeditiously as possible, and was followed by the 143rd regiment of the line, and they by the ambulance corps, and that again by the battalions of the marine infantry; after these came the baggage train, which, again, was followed by the Zephyrs and Turcos, with the others to follow. It was 11 o'clock. General Negrier was having for his breakfast a cigarette, which he lighted from the pipe of one of the Chasseurs halted beside the staff. Presently they were off, for it was the younger General's brigade which was in front on this day. Whilst the column deployed before him, General Briere de L'Isle and his staff seated themselves on the hillside and breakfasted off tinned meats, &c. At 12 o'clock we followed, again in the General's train, moving slowly at first, as we squeezed our way amongst the line of troops on the narrow track, but more rapidly by and by as the ravine gradually opened out into a widening valley to give space for fields of paddy. We heard the report of the fire just ahead; a prisoner has been brought in, and he is shot in the field below.\n\nAt 1.10 p.m. a cannon shot is heard. \n\nPage 425", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-220 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 328051, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-220 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [1-3]", "page_number": 429, "title": "CO129-220 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [1-3]", "content_text": "# \nwhich rejoiced the hearts of our coolies and was appreciated by our ponies. In the yard on the opposite side of the narrow, miry street, the ambulance was placed, and by the light of lanterns, the doctors were attending to the wounded. Frequent visits were made here by General Negrier and Colonel Giovanninelli, chief of the first brigade, and speedily, rumour says, to be made a General. General Briere de l'Isle also paid a visit before leaving on the following day. A few yards from our quarters was the covered gate of the village. Passing through it, early in the morning, to perform my toilet at the stream, I saw a dead Chinaman stretched upon the ground within the enclosure. Had he, with something of the spirit of the famous Roman sentinel, refused to quit the gate when the storm came and perished at his post?\n\n## \n\nNext day, the two Turcos battalions led the way, it being their turn to take the front. These were early followed by the battalions of the marine infantry, and artillerymen. During the night, the Chinese had been seen moving about, collecting their dead, and in the morning, they were found to have fallen back on the road to a more defensible position amongst the interminable hills—I say interminable, because the hills, on either side, reached to the horizon, like the waves of a troubled sea.\n\n## \n\nAbout 9:30 a.m., about an hour after the head of the column had started, there was a little skirmishing. Then there was silence. We moved forward slowly until 11 o'clock, when a brisk fire was opened upon the enemy, and sharply responded to by them, in their turn. A dense mist, gathered on the hills, delayed the action of the artillery, but at 12 o'clock, their guns began to play, and for nearly two hours, there was an incessant interchange between the opposing forces, the French gradually working their way, amidst a hot fire, along the ridge facing the enemy. During the hottest of the fire, the staff were standing on the sheltered side of the hill, the column slowly making its way along the road wending amongst the hills behind. In the hollow below were some of the ambulance corps, headed by the Doctor-in-Chief. A lieutenant of the marine infantry was brought in wounded in the foot. Occasional bullets passed amongst us, and a few yards from where I was, a sub-lieutenant of the staff, a particular favourite of General Briere de L'Isle, was struck. With a long-drawn \"Oh\" and the word \"maman\" on his lips, he fell from his horse and died.\n\n## \n\nAt 1:45, firing ceased, the Chinese having been compelled to retreat to another position. In the short interval that preceded the final outbreak, we moved on along the ridge which had been occupied by the marine corps; and, in a few minutes, had evidence of the severity of the struggle. On a level spot at the turn of the road were collected about 60 Turcos; and the ambulance men were bringing in others from the heights around. A few were dead, and were being carried off to be buried. The doctors were busy among the wounded, dressing their wounds, and placing the worst cases on thick beds and the others on canvas stretchers, which were carried to the rear by the ambulance coolies, four coolies to each stretcher. An officer had been wounded in the leg, but only stopped to cut down the leather of his boots, and then went on with his men. One of the men whom I saw had been grazed just on the nostril. Some of the artillerymen were again wounded; their commandant was killed.\n\n## \n\nAt 4 o'clock, we mounted the crest of the hill to see the Chinese make their last stand on the ridge of the plain, about 900 yards ahead of us. From the hills rather to the left, commanding the ridge, the Turcos, and further back the artillery, were pouring in their fire. For a time, there was a lively response, part of which reached us, and caused the General to order his chasseurs to descend below the crest of the hill. But, ere long, the reply became feebler and at 4:30 it ceased.\n\n## \n\nFor an hour, we advanced amongst the bleak hills, everywhere finding traces of the conflict in the dead bodies of Turcos not yet reached by the Red Cross men, and a larger number of Chinese whom, in their last hasty retreat, the enemy had not been able to carry off with them. One dead man had his gun (a Mauser) beside him.\n\n## \n\nThe Staff took up its quarters for the night in a small village situated on a partially-wooded slope, and the troops camped out amongst the hills on the surrounding heights. In the darkness and gathering mist, I tried to find a shelter in the village, but for long in vain. The houses were few and small and of the poorest kind. I had unsaddled my pony in a dark corner, and disposed myself for the night on the wet grass, when I was hailed by a friend, who gave the welcome intelligence that he had found shelter. In a short passage, about a yard wide, we came to a broken-down tenement, into the upper chamber of which, after performing a gymnastic exercise, for there were neither stairs nor ladder, we were thankful to find a place to lie down in. Our baggage coolies were miles in the rear, so that there was no hope of obtaining our food from them. My companion had in his saddle bag an army biscuit and a part of a tin of cheese; I happily had in mine two biscuits and a tin of marmalade; so we fared fairly well.\n\n## \n\nOur covering was meagre for a cold night, but we slept a little. Our ponies were made happy by the find of a magazine of rice, one thing in which all the villages of this quarter are rich.\n\n## \n\nThere was found here also a store of powder, bullets, and cartridges, German make, for the Winchester repeating rifle, Kynoch's percussion caps, &c., and, in the morning, scores of the soldiers were receiving from the stores white bags of untanned leather and Chinese make, intended, probably, for carrying cups.\n\n## \n\nNext day, the 18th February, our march was free and uninterrupted, save by occasional obstructions in the muddy road. At 11 a.m., we entered the deserted citadel of Langson. On entering, we heard that the enemy intended to show fight outside. Passing through to the rampart on the north side, we could see a small body on the opposite side of the river, the Song Ki Cang, ranged, with gaudy flags and banners in the fort of Ki-lua, less than a thousand yards distant. Two guns were brought up; one or two shots caused the banners and their bearers to disappear within the forts, and one or two more caused them to vacate the fort, and beat another and, perhaps, final retreat.\n\n## \n\nIn itself, Langson is a mean place, and the larger village of Ki-lua, half a mile beyond, is equally mean, a collection of Annamite and Moong huts and a few Chinese houses. Encircled by hills, it is indefensible. Something of the picturesque is given to the scene by the fact that within the circle of the brown-green hills adjacent to the citadel, there creep out from the dull red sandy soil, rugged masses of white marble, covered with dark green bushes, and showing on their weather-stained sides large streaks of yellowish white. These stand out boldly in a way that is effective, and almost imposing, conveying something of the appearance of guardian castles disposed around for the protection of the citadel, or as if they were the homes of the local divinities, or haunts of the genii.\n\n## \n\nLarge stores of ammunition have been found here, and a number of brass guns, two mitrailleuses, and a few Krupps; some of these were found buried in the ground, which seems to be a Chinese practice when they are unable to carry off their guns.\n\n## \n\nAs to the fight en route to Langson, it was no doubt the stoutest resistance that the French have encountered since Sontai. I have not been able as yet to ascertain the whole number of killed and wounded in the series of engagements between Chu and Langson, but it must be large, especially since the last battle on the road, in which, perhaps, as many were disabled as in all the other engagements together. At the storming of...\n\nPage 427", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-220 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 328314, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-221 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [4-6]", "page_number": 89, "title": "CO129-221 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [4-6]", "content_text": "## C. O. 0049\n\nREG'd 26 MAY 85\n\nIt is very improbable that any more Torpedo-boats can be spared for this Colony, while many of the chief ports of the United Kingdom, and of the other Colonies, remain wholly unprotected; and that, at all events, no more boats of this kind could reach us for many months to come. I am strongly of opinion that we should prefer to look to our own resources on the spot, which (as I am assured) could be made available in a few weeks, and at a very small cost. I have ascertained that two of the Steam-launches belonging to the Civil Government, and two of the Steam-launches belonging to the Military Departments, could be easily and speedily fitted for Spar and Whitehead Torpedoes. I have been in correspondence on this head with Commodore MORANT, who has written to me as follows :-\n\n\"I have the honour to inform your Excellency that these fittings could be made and fitted to the launches in question at a cost of about fifty-five pounds (£55) each; and that there are in store torpedoes which, with the Commander-in-Chief (Admiral DOWELL's) sanction, could be supplied, should your Excellency determine to have these boats so fitted.”\n\nI have already informed Commander RUMSEY, R.N., the Commandant of our Auxiliary Flotilla, that two of our steam-launches will be used for Torpedoes, so soon as the crews are sufficiently drilled; and I have assured the Military Authorities that the Colonial Government will be ready to pay also for the fittings of their two launches. It will thus be seen that a valuable addition to the Torpedo Flotilla can be secured at a cost to this Colony of about £250.\n\nIn conclusion, I would repeat that, on the completion of the works now in hand, and with the great defensive power in Ships, Torpedoes, and Submarine Mines, permanently attached to the harbour, one of the highest Official Military Authorities in England has recently assured me that \"you (at Hongkong) should laugh to scorn the possible attacks of all the ships now in the China Seas.\" One word more, and I have done. I am confident that I interpret rightly the mind of every member of this Council when I say that nothing can be further from your wish and intention than to countenance any feeling of panic at the present moment. I believe that, like myself, you simply desire to see this first-class Naval and Military Station and great Mart of Commerce, placed, once for all, in a condition of practical and permanent security—and that on the principle of the old Roman Maxim, **Si vis pacem, para bellum**.\n\n88", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-221 - Governor Sir Bowen - 1885 [4-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 352793, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-260 - Governor Sir Robinson Acting Governor O-Brien - 1893 [9-12]", "page_number": 385, "title": "CO129-260 - Governor Sir Robinson Acting Governor O-Brien - 1893 [9-12]", "content_text": "The Code of Regulations for Educational Grants-in-aid has been revised with the aim of raising the standard of Education.\n\nArrangements have been made by the Government to bring the West Point Reformatory under the provisions of Ordinance No. 19 of 1886 as a Certified Reformatory School for the reception of juvenile offenders. I trust that this will have the effect of reducing the gaol population and of preventing the contamination of the young which is certain to occur when they are brought into contact with the old offenders.\n\nFor the benefit of the Government Central School for Girls, a Member of this Council has erected a handsome three-storied building which will soon be handed over to the Government.\n\nPhysical Drill, which was introduced a short time since in 11 schools, has during this year been carried a step further by the superaddition of a Cadet Corps subject to inspection by the military authorities. This Corps is popular, and in many ways, and especially so far as physique and discipline are concerned, will prove of great benefit to those who belong to it, or who may hereafter join it.\n\nThe need of a fixed standard of Chinese orthography in connection with local examinations has long been recognized. At the suggestion of the Government, it has at last been supplied by the Rev. Dr. CHALMERS, whose work in this, as in other cases, is admitted, by those who are capable of judging, to be a monument of learning and industry.\n\nExaminations have been held for the Diploma of the College of Preceptors, and for London matriculation purposes. In addition to the Oxford Local Examinations, provision has been made for the re-introduction into Hongkong of Cambridge Local Examinations.\n\nThese facts indicate not only progressive movement but prove that, as far as circumstances will admit, local Education is being assimilated to the system in force in the Educational Institutions of the Mother Country.\n\nI referred just now to the Cadet Corps, and some mention of the Volunteer Force should not be omitted. It numbers about 90, and every effort has been made to increase its numbers but without much result. It can therefore only be said that whilst it forms a most valuable nucleus, its practical utility depends upon its further expansion.\n\nThe Officers, and especially the Commandant, have done all in their power to ensure its being a success, and active preparations are being made for its taking part in the mobilization of the Garrison in January. The new headquarters are nearing completion and will be a great convenience to members of the Force. I much wish that the Volunteer movement was looked on with greater favour and received greater support from the Community generally than it appears to do at present.\n\nThere is every probability of Hongkong being shortly put into telegraphic communication with the outer world, independently of connection with any Foreign territory. This is a subject of congratulation.\n\nSo far as I am aware, it will not be necessary to trouble you with legislation of any importance in the near future, so that we may anticipate an unusually short session.\n\nI am in communication with the Viceroy of Canton and Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary in Peking in reference to the opening up of the West River to Foreign trade, and also in regard to the question of preferential duties granted on junk-carried tea to the detriment of Foreign shipping. These are two weighty matters affecting existing trade and its possible extension. A favourable solution of them would be hailed with great satisfaction by me in consequence of the undoubted benefits which would accrue therefrom to the Mercantile Community of Hongkong.\n\nAnd here, Gentlemen, it is not inappropriate for me to refer to the happy relations which for the last two years have existed between the Government and the Chamber of Commerce, and which it will always be my endeavour to maintain unimpaired.\n\nWe have to be thankful for exemption from serious epidemic or destructive storms in 1898. In the late typhoon, it is true that Gap Rock Light was considerably injured, and that costly repairs will have to be effected; but otherwise, thanks to the timely warnings issued from the Observatory, the damage done to property was infinitesimal, and little or no loss of life occurred.\n\nThe general behaviour of the Chinese during the past year has been most exemplary, and the criminal class has largely decreased.\n\nIn conclusion, Gentlemen, I shall not lay myself open to the charge of being over-sanguine when I assert that there is distinct evidence that the condition of the Chinese Community is improving, that business is more settled, and that the prospects are better than they have been at any time during the past three years. It is my earnest desire, in which you will cordially join, that still brighter and happier times may be at no distant date in store for all classes of Residents in this important and progressive Colony.\n\nWILLIAM ROBINSON,\n\nGovernor.\n\nCouncil Chamber, 4th December, 1893.\n\nPage 363\n\nPage 363\n\nPage 363\n\nWB & L(121)-22916—6000-2-92\n\nGov. No.\n\nDispatch 234.\n\nDate: 1893\n\n6 Dec\n\nLast previous Paper: Gov 93-4 \"Z 22 Jan\n\nNext subsequent Paper: 561 HongKong No. 485\n\n(Subject.) DESPATCH. C.O. 382 485 94 Govt Balances in local banks. Steps being taken to reduce them to the prescribed limit. Copy letter to Cagts.\n\n(Minutes.) M. Fanfield See also 564 480 2561\n\nThe instructions to the C. Agents to keep the investments of Fund may not be (or to the latter) separate Praza Fund is contrary to the intention. parr. 4t's of an desp\n\nThe moment it is known that separate rested in this Praza Fund is in England, the Lotholders will have opening hereafter any profit that may to claim arise the transaction, wither by rise in Exchange or rise in value of this securities. On the other hand should there", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-260 - Governor Sir Robinson Acting Governor O-Brien - 1893 [9-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 354467, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-263 - Acting Governor Barker Governor Sir Robinson - 1894 [5-8]", "page_number": 201, "title": "CO129-263 - Acting Governor Barker Governor Sir Robinson - 1894 [5-8]", "content_text": "402\n\nTHE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND\n\nThere were then under treatment, thirteen cases on the Hygeia, and fourteen at Kennedy town, making a total of 27, as against 41 on the previous day.\n\ndying there after an illness of 24 hours. The symptoms were almost identical with those of the plague, and there is only too much reason to believe that this is the commencement of the disease in the hitherto uninfected eastern district. The agent of the Messageries Maritimes Company issued the following express on Wednesday: To order to avoid sanitary difficulties in further ports the steamer Oceanien, leaving at 2 p.m., will take neither passengers nor cargo.\n\n18th May: The continuation of the rain on Thursday was hailed with great satisfaction, and both plague and water famine, from which we have been suffering, will doubtless in a few days entirely disappear. There is some indication that the plague is already abating and that the conditions favourable to its development having been removed by the rain, the port will soon be declared free from the disease. The total number of deaths reported from noon on Wednesday to noon yesterday was 20, of which 2 occurred on the Hygeia, 9 in Kennedy town Hospital, and 9 in outside districts. There were only 10 new cases yesterday, 3 being admitted to the Hygeia, and 7 to the Kennedy town Hospital. 44 cases are at present under treatment,\n\nThe following circular has been issued by the Sanitary Board for the guidance of all concerned, and has been circulated among the police and sanitary officers:\n\nObservations to be made by officers conducting house to house visitation:\n\n1. See if the patient is feverish. \n2. Look for swellings (buboes) under the arms, on the groin, on the neck, above the elbow. \n3. Observe if the patient has an anxious expression and if he is walking with a tottering gait.\n\nThe rainfall registered to 10 a.m. on Wednesday, for the preceding twenty-four hours, was 0.26 inch, and for the twenty-four hours ending 10 a.m. on Thursday 2.23 inches. There were heavy showers later in the day.\n\nOur Saigon correspondent telegraphs that Hongkong has been declared an infected port and vessels arriving at Saigon are subjected to six days' quarantine.\n\nPRECAUTIONS AT MACAO.\n\nThe following order is published in the Macao Boletim Oficial:\n\nBubonic plague having appeared in epidemic form in the neighbouring ports of Canton and Hongkong and causing a considerable number of deaths amongst the Chinese population of those two cities;\n\nAt the Police Court on Tuesday there were several cases of failure to report the occurrence of the disease, and doubtless a few convictions and fines will make landlords more alive to the vital necessity of bringing the cases to the attention of the authorities without the slightest delay. Ning Kin and Lan Chuk, widows, the occupants respectively of Nos. 72 and 74, Market Street, were charged by Inspector Quincey before Mr. H. E. Wodehouse with neglecting to report the outbreak of plague in their houses. The Inspector stated that he visited the places and found men suffering from the disease, whom he had removed to the Hygeia. The symptoms were very pronounced at the time and there would be no difficulty in identifying the disease. His Worship fined the first defendant $2 or fourteen days' and discharged the second. Lai You Chang, a teacher, for a similar neglect in respect to a case at 10, Wai Tak Lane, was fined $5 or in default 14 days' imprisonment.\n\nThe fire engines on Tuesday were engaged in flushing the sewers and drains of the Taiping-shan district from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The water was pumped from the harbour by the floating engine up to the Hollywood Road level and from thence to the China Road. A good quantity of water was used. This operation will be continued to-day.\n\nDepartmental orders have also been issued calling upon the Chinese to keep their houses clean.\n\n19th May. It is regrettable to have to report that the plague has again increased and that both the numbers of deaths, admissions, and cases are larger than those of the previous day. It will be remembered that the returns on Thursday on the face of them showed a gratifying diminution of the disease, and the copious downfall of rain continuing it was confidently and naturally anticipated that this diminution would be even more pronounced yesterday. The official returns, however, up to noon on Friday show that in the twenty-four hours 25 deaths occurred, 7 were from noon on Thursday on board the Hygeia, 9 at Kennedy town Hospital, and 9 outside, as against a mortality of 21 on Thursday. The new cases were 29, viz, 12 on the Hygeia and 17 at Kennedy town, being an increase of 19. The total number of cases under treatment is 56 against 44 at the last report. This increase is not regarded by the authorities in a serious light, and no apprehensions are entertained that the disease is baffling the exertions made to stamp it out. In fact, the medical officers take a hopeful view and feel sure that the worst is now past. The increase is ascribed to the complete organisation which is operating for the detection of cases. On Friday twelve men from the Royal Engineers and twelve from the Shropshire Light Infantry were enrolled as special sanitary officers, which makes the staff numerically strong and adequate to the necessities of the work to be done. The house to house visitation is divided into sections, and it is almost impossible now that cases of plague can pass undiscovered.\n\nThe Manila authorities have prescribed 15 days' observation on all vessels arriving from this port.\n\nAt the Magistracy on Friday a hawker was charged with failing to report a case of plague which occurred in his house on the 17th inst. Defendant pleaded that he could not leave the premises, but Commander W. H. Hastings, before whom the case was heard, imposed a fine of $50 with an alternative of two months' hard labour.\n\n21st May,\n\nHaving received the advice of the Provincial Sanitary Board:\n\nI hereby order:\n\n1. That the supply of water to the public by boats stationed along the Praia Grande and in the inner harbour be continued with the greatest regularity.\n\n2. That the drains be flushed daily, especially in the districts occupied by the Chinese population, and more particularly the districts of Volong, San-kin, Sa-tong, Patane, Mong-ha, and the village of Barra.\n\n3. That the pavement of the slaughter house and its appendages be daily washed with salt water.\n\n4. That on the arrival of any vessel from Canton or Hongkong, including the steamers and launches of the regular lines, an officer of the Sanitary Board shall inspect the passengers, and especially the Chinese passengers, to ascertain if any of them are suffering from the bubonic plague or exhibit suspicious symptoms.\n\n5. That the commandant of the water police shall give the necessary directions in order that lorcha or other boats from Hongkong or Canton may not land any individual suspected to be suffering from the disease; and any case presenting its symptoms shall be detained on board until examined by an officer of the Sanitary Board, who shall be immediately informed.\n\n6. If any passenger be found to be suffering from bubonic plague, whether on board steamers or launches, such passenger shall not be landed; and if any case of the disease be found on a sailing vessel or boat propelled by oars the vessel shall be immediately to be immediately towed out of the harbour, and removed by a copious rainfall we may confidently anticipate the speedy disappearance of the evil result.\n\nGovernment Palace, Macao,\n\n15th May, 1894.\n\nThe Governor of the Province,\n\nJose M. da Horta e Costa.\n\nwork of soaching and disinfecting the localities\n\nfor development it was hoped that in a few days such an appreciable conquest of the disease would be achieved that no further danger need be anticipated. A certain section of the Chinese have now, however, attempted to frustrate all these efforts, and are determined to assert aggressively the ignorance and stupidity which peculiarly belong to the multitude of the natives. It will be remembered that one of the first acts of the permanent committee was to order the removal of all patients from the Tung Wah Hospital to the Hygeia, and the next wise edict was that no patients were to be sent there, but removed direct to the bulk. There was at the time much grumbling and opposition to this course, the patients themselves, with the instinct of their race, objecting, sometimes violently to their removal to the Hygeia and their treatment by Western skill and science. It appears that this feeling of resentment has been simmering and increasing during the past few days, and on Saturday it broke bounds and completely disorganised the work of cleansing, disinfecting, and investigating, which was in progress. Mr. Lau Wai Chuen, a member of the Sanitary Board and also Chairman of the Tung Wah Hospital Committee, has, with an intelligence which unfortunately does not belong to all his countrymen, lost the Government his hearty co-operation in the measures they have taken. Some of his colleagues on the Hospital Committee, however, imbued with anti-foreign feeling, have resisted this policy, and by their influence have created a strong opposition among the native population to the work which the authorities are prosecuting with such vigour.\n\nMay 24, 1894.\n\nCHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.\n\n198\n\n4.3\n\nAnother case occurred yesterday among the Portuguese community, the patient being taken to the Hygeia.\n\nSingapore has imposed nine days' quarantine, including the time occupied by the passage, rioting, the Government having met the Tung Wah Hospital Committee in their demand that there be no further danger of a renewal of the.\n\nMEETING AT THE TUNG WAH HOSPITAL\n\nA largely attended meeting of Chinese was held on Sunday at the Tung Wah Hospital, there being present about seventy members of the leading firms and some four hundred others. The Captain Superintendent of Police and the Colonial Surgeon attended the meeting.\n\nMr. Lau Wai Chuen occupied the chair. He said that many people had preferred a request that persons suffering from the plague should be allowed to be conveyed to Canton, if their relatives so desired, by special launches.\n\nThe Captain Superintendent of Police replied that he was instructed to state that information had that morning been received from Canton that the officials there would not allow persons suffering from the disease to be landed there. Mr. Lau Wai Chuen interpreted Mr. May's reply to the meeting, who received it with strong marks of dissatisfaction. Mr. Lau Wai Chuen, endeavoured to maintain order and said he would personally apply to the Government here and the officials at Canton in relation to the matter. He suggested that they should send a petition to Canton signed by all the leading firms of the colony.\n\nYesterday morning the sanitary officers reported a house supposed to be empty and made the horrible discovery that there were five corpses on the premises and four very serious cases, all exhibiting pronounced symptoms of the plague.\n\nYesterday morning one of the turnkeys in the Victoria Gaol reported himself sick and Dr. Marques, suspecting from the symptoms that the man was suffering from plague, sent him immediately to hospital. A prisoner in the gaol, who had been convicted for not reporting a case of plague, was also removed to the new Chinese Hospital for treatment.\n\nThe arrangements for the burial of victims of the plague do not appear to be quite satisfactory. A good deal of delay takes place before the bodies are interred, separate graves having to be dug in a rather rocky and refractory soil. The squatters on the land contiguous to this cemetery have petitioned the Government on the matter. Evidently a more suitable site ought to be selected.\n\nOn Saturday many of the houses visited were blockaded and the sanitary officers stoned, and in the afternoon all attempts to continue the house to house inspection had to be discontinued, the work being rendered exceedingly unsafe and difficult. A mob also collected at the Po Leung Kuk office and broke the windows, but was dispersed by the police before doing further damage. On Sunday, while a meeting at the Tung Wah Hospital was in progress, Mr. Lau was hurriedly sent for, news arriving that his hong was being wrecked. When Mr. Lau left the building he was surrounded by a howling mob of Chinese and had to be escorted by police to his residence. Mr. P. R. May, Captain Superintendent of Police, grasped the situation at once and sent a mounted contingent of armed Sikhs to the district, the presence of which fortunately prevented further disturbances.\n\nThe Government have so far met the Chinese opposition as to assent to the establishment of a temporary hospital under the management of the Tung Wah at the Glassworks, Kennedy town, to which all patients will be removed and where they will be treated by native practitioners, and the use of the Hygeia for the reception of plague patients will be discontinued.\n\nOn Sunday the house to house inspection was recommenced, the officers being protected by a strong police guard.\n\nSome cases have been reported on the mainland and proclamations have been issued prohibiting the immigration of Chinamen from Hongkong. At Haiphong several persons have fallen victims to the disease.\n\nThis suggestion was unanimously agreed to. The Captain Superintendent of Police said that rumours were current that people not suffering from the disease had been taken to the Hygeia and the Kennedy town Hospital, people who were not sick at all, but this could be at once disproved if any of those present would go with him to examine the patients, when it would be seen they were all sick people suffering from the plague. If those attacked were not segregated it would be impossible to prevent the spread of the disease, and he referred to the visitation of the plague in England two hundred years ago and the great mortality it caused. He suggested to the Chairman that he should advise the people that they should avoid overcrowding in their dwellings, and then the number of persons attacked by the disease would decrease.\n\nCONFERENCE AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE.\n\nAn important conference was held yesterday at Government House for the purpose of discussing the new turn events have taken and considering the course of action to be adopted in the immediate future. His Excellency Sir William Robinson presided, and there were also present H.E. Major-General Barker, Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart (Acting Colonial Secretary), Hon. N. G. Mitchell-Innes (Colonial Treasurer), Hon. Ho Kai, Dr. P. B. C. Ayres (Colonial Surgeon), Mr. F. H. May (Captain Superintendent of Police), Mr. J. J. R. Crook, Dr. James, Francis Q.C., Mr. J. A. M. S., Dr. Lan Wai Chuen. The meeting lasted for some time. The first business was the consideration of representations by the permanent committee of the Sanitary Board as to the inadequacy of the number of sanitary officers.\n\nApplication was made for the enrolling of 400 assistants for the work of cleansing and disinfecting.\n\nAt this stage of the proceedings a petition was presented from the residents in East Street complaining of the treatment they had received at the hands of the sanitary officers, entering their houses unexpectedly and frightening the children. The petitioners asked that attention should be given to this matter.\n\nAt this time news arrived that a mob was attacking Mr. Lau Wai Chuen's establishment in Bonham Strand, the Tung San Wo, and\n\nOn Sunday night everything was quiet and it was hoped there would be no renewal of the disturbances.\n\nThe decrease in the number of cases reported for the twenty-four hours up to noon on Sunday is, it is to be feared, due to interruption of the inspection rather than to any actual diminution of the disease.\n\nA notice was subsequently issued by the Committee of the Tung Wah Hospital stating that the Government has consented to allow all patients suffering from plague to be treated by the doctors of the Tung Wah Hospital. The notice also informs the people that they need not be alarmed by the visits of the sanitary officers, as any one found to be suffering from plague will now be removed to the Tung Wah's branch hospital instead of being taken to the Hygeia.\n\nAt the Police Court on Saturday there were some more cases of failure to report outbreaks of plague. Wong Chan, a married woman, was so charged. P.S. Moffat said that he visited the house of the defendant No. 64, First Street, at 11 a.m. on the 18th. In the first room visited he found a man lying dead, and another man (the husband of the defendant) was very ill in the same apartment. In another room in the Cookhouse he discovered a woman very ill lying under a bed, and in the cockloft a girl was seriously ill. All, both the dead and the living, had the symptoms of bubonic plague. Defendant pleaded that she was a very poor woman, and was fined $5, which she paid. Chan Chol, a shopkeeper at No. 6, Hung Lane, off Queen's Road West, was also charged with concealing a case. P.S. Smith said that he went into the premises and found a man suffering from plague. There were a number of persons present, who ran away on his arrival. A like fine was imposed.\n\nWe have heard of a somewhat curious case in connection with the plague. A few days ago a coolie was charged with cutting and wounding a companion and the hearing of the charge was remanded for a week by the sitting Magistrate, bail of $250 being allowed and procured. The following day the unlucky coolie was seized with the disease and died on board the Hygeia.\n\nThe Spanish Consul received the following official telegram despatch from Manila at 9:53 a.m. on Saturday: \"Hongkong has been declared an infected port, and vessels from thence are subject to fifteen days' quarantine.\"\n\nInformation has also been received that a proclamation will be issued to-day addressed to the Chinese explaining the objects of the preventative measures now being prosecuted and calling upon them to co-operate therein and assist the Government.\n\nMr. May stated at the meeting yesterday that he and his assistants had been welcomed and not obstructed in the different houses visited.\n\nThe following are the returns for the twenty-four hours to noon yesterday:\n\nHygeia, Kennedy town Hospital, City, Total, Decrease.\n\nAdmissions: 2, 3, 0, 5, \nDeaths: 3, 2, 0, 5, \nUnder treatment: 26, 20, 17, 63, 28\n\nThe Government, we understand, is fully prepared to support the permanent committee of the Sanitary Board to the utmost. There is a suspicion that jealousy between different sections of the Chinese is at the bottom of the recent disturbances and ill-feeling.\n\nTHE DISTURBANCES-POLICE COURT PROCEEDINGS.\n\nMr. H. E. Wodehouse was yesterday morning engaged at the Police Court in hearing several cases arising out of the disturbances in Chinatown reported in yesterday's issue.\n\nYesterday Yea Kay, a hawker, was charged with behaving in a disorderly manner in Po Yan Street.\n\nPage 403\n\n...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-263 - Acting Governor Barker Governor Sir Robinson - 1894 [5-8].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 355784, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-265 - Public Offices & Others - 1894", "page_number": 61, "title": "CO129-265 - Public Offices & Others - 1894", "content_text": "## \nAlways having his pass with him, Khan Beg went to Peshawar and effected the sale of a rifle. Then returning to Rawalpindi, he came on to Kohat, sold the rifle recovered with Diyal Singh's pass and returned to Rawalpindi. A second time venturing to Kohat he was arrested. The rifle lodged in the lines of the 20th Punjab Infantry has been recovered, together with the three referred to above.\n\nThere appear to be several points worthy of attention in the case of which the above is an outline:-\n\n(1) The ease with which sepoys obtain passes from Military Officers to carry arms. Officers of the Indian Army grant passes in a lavish way. Usually, no attempt being made to specify the weapon, an enterprising man has Khan Beg's method open to him, with a fair chance of success.\n\n(2) A trade, the existence of which Khan Beg admits, in rifles between Hong-Kong and this country.\n\nApart from this case, Khan Beg has given the names of fellow-gunners who have brought arms into the Hazara district. The District Superintendent of Police, Hazara, is satisfied of the truth of this, but has failed to obtain the return of any rifles.\n\n(3) The very slight risk run in transporting rifles, provided there is no attempt at concealment.\n\nKhan Beg in his many journeys was rarely questioned, and never in the Punjab. The Sergeant sent from Kohat in returning with the rifle recovered in Mean Meer, though in plain clothes, was never spoken to.\n\n(4) The probability that the export of arms from Hong-Kong is not restricted to the \"Asiatic Artillery,\" but shared in by the Infantry and Police.\n\n(5) The necessity of a closer watch on the movements of sepoys, especially when travelling with boxes nearly four feet long, as was that of Khan Beg.\n\n(6) The help afforded by regimental sepoys in the secretion of arms.\n\nMen of at least three regiments (11th Bengal Lancers, 20th and 33rd Punjab Infantry) gave Khan Beg all the assistance they could. Commanding Officers of the 11th Bengal Lancers and 20th Punjab Infantry are taking regimental action in this case.\n\nIt only remains to describe the recovered rifles. They were made in Liege (Belgium) and Steyr (Austria), and one by J. Hollis & Sons, London and Birmingham. District Superintendent of Police at first thought the continental weapons might be of the \"condemned barrel type\" referred to by Mr. Hastings, but such officers and armourers as have seen them pronounce them first-class weapons. They were probably brought from W. G. Humphreys & Co., or Tang Hing, carpenter, 180, Queen's Road, West, Hong-Kong, for with both of these firms Khan Beg has evidently had dealings.\n\nKhan Beg has been convicted under sections 19, 20, and 22 of Act XI of 1873, and sentenced to two years' rigorous imprisonment: the rifles and box in which they were brought over have been confiscated.\n\nThe 29th November 1893.\n\n**H. A. CLOSE,**\nOfg. District Superintendent of Police, Kohat.\n\n## \nproduce no authority entitling him to purchase and carry ammunition. He was travelling in company with about 80 other sepoys. He was fined by the Cantonment Magistrate Rs. 10 and the ammunition was forfeited.\n\nSepoy No. 705, Muhammad Ali, son of Sayad Ali Pathan, resident of Garhi, Thana Mardan, Peshawar, was arrested at the Rawalpindi Railway Station on the 23rd April 1894, under Section 20 of the Arms Act, for being in possession of six-chambered revolver and 100 cartridges not covered by any license or letter. He was sentenced by the Cantonment Magistrate to a fine of Rs. 30 or in default to three months' rigorous imprisonment, and forfeiture of the revolver and cartridges.\n\nSepoy No. 836, Nakib-ullah, son of Fakir, Pathan, resident of Shamatkor, Thana Mardan, Peshawar, was arrested at the Rawalpindi Railway Station on the 23rd April 1894, under Section 20 of the Arms Act, with the above-named Sepoy, being also in possession of a six-chambered revolver, with 200 cartridges, not covered by license or certificate. He was sentenced by the Cantonment Magistrate to a fine of Rs. 30 or in default to three months' rigorous imprisonment, and forfeiture of revolver and cartridges.\n\nSepoy Khanzada, son of Ajib Gul, Kamazai Khel, resident of Wata in Swat, was detected by the patrolling constable between Lala Musa and Rawalpindi to be in possession of one six-chambered revolver, 100 revolver cartridges, eight blank and one loaded snider cartridges, as well as two boxes of percussion caps. He was arrested at the Rawalpindi Railway Station on the 26th April 1894, and sentenced by the Cantonment Magistrate to a fine of Rs. 30 and forfeiture of the revolver and ammunition. This man had a letter from his Commanding Officer, permitting him to carry a rifle and 100 cartridges, which were taken from him by the Calcutta Police.\n\nSubadar-Major Hassan Ali Khan, son of Fazal Khan, Khatak, of Jabbi Madauri, Kohat, of the 16th Hong-Kong Regiment, alighted from 3 Up Mail at Khairabad on the 26th of April 1894. He was in possession of a double-barrel gun, a Henry-Martini rifle, a cavalry carbine, a pistol and 500 cartridges. As all these were covered by a letter from his Commanding Officer, he was not interfered with.\n\n## Enclosure No. 2.\n\n**Report from the Punjab Police.**\n\n**ILLICIT TRAFFIC IN ARMS, &c.**\n\nOn the 19th April, a telegram was received from the Commissioner of Police, Calcutta, intimating that 150 sepoys from Hong-Kong had that day left Calcutta for their homes in the Punjab, and that they were suspected by their Commandant to be in possession of contraband fire-arms. All Station Masters and Railway Police, Peshawar to Delhi, on the North Western Railway were put on the alert by wire, and Inspectors, Railway Police, were ordered to see that strict vigilance was maintained. The following is the result:-\n\n| Sepoy No. | Name | Resident of | Arrested at | Offense |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| 259 | Amir Shah | village Jallo, Thara Mansehra, Huzara | Ambala Cantonment Railway Station | Illegal possession of two boxes Enfield gun-caps and two boxes military percussion caps |\n| 705 | Muhammad Ali | Garhi, Thana Mardan, Peshawar | Rawalpindi Railway Station | Possession of six-chambered revolver and 100 cartridges without license |\n| 836 | Nakib-ullah | Shamatkor, Thana Mardan, Peshawar | Rawalpindi Railway Station | Possession of six-chambered revolver and 200 cartridges without license |\n| - | Khanzada | Wata in Swat | Rawalpindi Railway Station | Possession of six-chambered revolver, cartridges, and percussion caps |\n \nSepoy No. 259, Amir Shah, son of Muazzam Shah, resident of village Jallo, Thara Mansehra, Huzara, was arrested at Ambala Cantonment Railway Station on the 23rd of April 1894, under Section 19 of the Arms Act, for illegal possession of two boxes Enfield gun-caps, English manufacture, and two boxes military percussion caps made in Germany for the Hong Kong market. The sepoys stated that he had bought the caps in Hong-Kong, but could... \n\nPage 58", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-265 - Public Offices & Others - 1894.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 359038, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-269 - Governor Sir Robinson & Public Offices - 1895 [12]", "page_number": 444, "title": "CO129-269 - Governor Sir Robinson & Public Offices - 1895 [12]", "content_text": "that the deficit is largely due to the action of his countrymen in ousting the islanders from their fisheries. The chief products of Quelpart are, as he observes, ponies, oxen, hides, edible seaweed, awabé, and medicines, particularly a drug called the \"Nu Pak.\" There is no export except to the Corean mainland, the greater part of the hides going to the shoemakers of Seoul. The natives in winter wear, he notes, not only skin coats and hats, but boots and even stockings of skins. Quelpart also produces oranges, and these and its diminutive ponies form its \"local tribute\" to the King. It is said that the arrival of the first consignment of the golden fruit at Seoul, five centuries ago, created such a stir, that the magnates decided to celebrate the occasion in an eminently characteristic way, and hold a quagga (\"Koa-kê\"), or examination. Ever since that day a quagga has taken place at Seoul on the day of the 11th moon, upon which the tribute oranges reach the city.\n\nWhere export trade is so slack, imports are necessarily few. A native broker consulted by the pressmen stated that of the consignment of kerosene he had imported from Fusan he had in three years sold but a hundred tins or so, despite the fact that there are two or three merchants of standing at the city. The population of Chei-ju is set down at 2,000 families; that of the whole island at some 7,000 or 8,000, but these are only approximations.\n\nWe left Chei-ju at noon, and steered due north for the Ping-yang inlet and Chennampo. We arrived off the Sir James Hall group at nightfall of the 23rd, and lay to for a short time, making the mouth of the Ta-dong about 7:30 A.M. on the 24th. At Oripo, which we passed at some distance, were lying one Japanese steamer and the Japanese commissariat steam-launch I had noticed on my previous visit.\n\nWe dropped anchor at Chennampo at 10 o'clock, where we found a transport, the \"Hinode,\" engaged in taking on board the rails which had formed the tramway between that port and Ping-yang. I learnt that the rails, which are of the ordinary portable pattern, were to be shipped to Formosa, and I observed, when I came to land, that they had been taken up as far south as the barracks in the village. The rest of the line from the wooden jetty to the barracks and the creek-head was still in position, and I hope will, with the embankment on which it rests, be permitted to remain for the common benefit of the coming community.\n\nI happened to mention in the hearing of the ship's local agent that I proposed to go ashore. On this he observed that he feared I should be stopped. I naturally asked, by whom? He replied, by the Japanese sentry at the jetty. I might, however, ask for a permit from the Commandant, Major Kaizu. I could not well do that, I answered, as I did not recognize Major Kaizu's right to interfere with my movements on Corean territory. It would be as well, indeed, if the agent were to see that I was not stopped.\n\nIn the afternoon I went on shore, but was in no way interfered with; though, as some justification of the agent's anxiety, there stood at the jetty-head a sentry box and sentry, with a notice, dated the 20th July last, \"Henceforward, landing is prohibited without the permission of the Garrison Commandant.\" I called on Major Kaizu, of whose courtesy and geniality I had heard much from Mr. Osborne, but to my regret found him too ill to receive me.\n\nAll the commissariat stores I had on my earlier visit observed on the reclaimed ground by the jetty had disappeared, and I learnt that the \"Ilyenik\" was to take away some 12,000 bags of rice and over 1,000 boxes of shrimps, which had been disposed of by auction to private Japanese. The store stacks in the village were also greatly diminished, and the very shops (walls, roofs, and all) of most of the local Japanese traders had disappeared. I was told that all their fellows of Ping-yang had come away, fearing trouble after the withdrawal of the garrison, and that those at Oripo and Chennam would shortly follow.\n\nI took the opportunity to make a more extended observation of the surrounding country than had been possible at my earlier visit. The creek, I noticed, was largely availed of despite its narrowness, and the fact that it runs dry at low water. A sloping stone roadway had been constructed at its head, to which the rails of the tramway still lead. On the hill to the north-east the wooden penthouse between the two old trees and the careful terracing were, the natives told me, the work of the Japanese, who had dubbed the place \"Kyoku Oka\" (Sunrise Mount), and had so ticketed it by means of a great wooden slab. To the north of this hill, running up towards the west, is a valley filled with paddy-fields. Along the dyke that divides these from the mudflats runs the yard-wide high road to Ping-yang, occupied until now by the tramway. Beside the road stand eight well-carved stone pillars commemorating the virtues of departed Prefects and Governors, with the usual four-syllabled couplet, into which the Corean condenses his opinion of his officials, good or bad. Behind and beyond the valley lie a succession of hills and dales, the former covered with what is so seldom seen here, veritable copse and spinney.\n\nThe harvest this year promises to be a fine one, whether of rice or of dry-field cereals. The country, at any rate, in August, is undeniably lovely, and the abundance of trees gives it a more home-like appearance. I returned towards the ship by way of the hill at whose foot stands the jetty. This hill, as I have ventured to suggest in my earlier Report, should be included in the future general foreign Settlement, and it would be advisable, I would submit, to come to some understanding as to the protection, as far as possible, of the trees that form its chief beauty. The extreme southern portion of the ridge, as marked off by a path leading to a Japanese sanatorium on its western slope, might be in the first instance quarried for filling in material, and, finally, made over to the Customs. The first portion of the foreshore to be filled in will no doubt be that lying between the tramway embankment, the main creek, and a minor creek running at right angles into the latter some 300 yards above the jetty. Ultimately, the whole foreshore west of the main creek will be reclaimed.\n\nCargo stowing continued throughout the 24th and 25th, and I had a good opportunity of observing the tides. We lay about 150 yards abreast of the jetty, with two anchors down, and banging to our sides were at one time as many as seven lighters. The ebb was very strong, some 5 knots or more at its worst, and one of our anchors \"came home.\" Both, however, held, and we shipped our cargo. Flood tide was quite another matter. For the whole six hours it seemed slack water, the flood rising from the bottom. During flood, indeed, the anchorage abreast of the jetty is an excellent one; for the ebb an equally good anchorage could be found on the other, the southern, side of the river.\n\nWe left Chennampo at 6 A.M. on the 26th, stopping off Oripo to receive and deliver mails. We were boarded there by a Japanese pratique boat, with a medical military officer in command. He did not, however, that I heard of, claim or exercise any authority in respect to us, though there is no doubt that the Japanese commanderies on the Ta-tong, as at Wênsan and to some extent Fusan, have undertaken the enforcement of Quarantine Regulations. There was no time in any case for me to have visited Oripo, which, as seen from the ship, presented much the same appearance as in June, except that the little harbour was now almost empty. We know, from advertisements in the local papers, that the stores here are being sold off, and it is probable that the extensive wooden sheds will shortly also disappear.\n\nThe \"Hyenik\" arrived at Chemulpo on the morning of the 27th.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nW. H. WILKINSON.\n\n## Page 440", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-269 - Governor Sir Robinson & Public Offices - 1895 [12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 367450, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-284 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [7-8]", "page_number": 338, "title": "CO129-284 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [7-8]", "content_text": "336 \n\nand 32 have resigned. Of the resigning members 20 have left the Colony, and 3 have been discharged on medical certificate. 55 new members have been enrolled.\n\nDuring the season 4 members have died, 1 has been dismissed, 1 has been struck off the strength. In the case of the 13 non-efficients of the \"A\" Machine Gun Company, 1 is absent from the Colony, have not completed the requisite number of drills. since joining to complete their drills, 1 is on medical certificate, and the remaining 2, although in the Colony, 7 are absent from the Colony without leave, 2 are recruits who have not had sufficient time y on leave.\n\nThe Field Battery now numbers 120, as compared with an Establishment of 80 as fixed by existing Regulations of the Corps.\n\nThe strength, and now numbers 51 of all ranks. A \" Machine Gun Company has, I believe for the first time, been recruited up to its establishment of 51.\n\nIn October, 1897, a Camp of Instruction was held under canvas during a period of nine days on Stonecutters' Island. The use of the Naval Range, of the 64-pounder Gun Battery, and of the depression Range Finding Instruments on the Island was kindly lent by the Naval and Military Authorities. The Camp was well attended and may be described as successful in every way.\n\nThe establishment of the Corps makes provision for three Machine Gun Companies, and the requisite guns for them all are in stock. It was hoped that during the season another Company might have been formed, but no steps have been taken in this direction for two reasons; first, because it was thought desirable to await the coming into force of the proposed new Regulations, and, secondly, because the local Government has repeatedly and emphatically expressed its desire that no expenditure should take place in excess of the sum voted for the Volunteers.\n\n3. Some months ago a small Drum and Fife Band, consisting of 22 enrolled members of the Corps and 1 unenrolled boy signaller, was formed, principally through the exertions of Battery Sergeant Major DUNCAN and Sergeant-Drummer HAYWARD. The Band has attained a fair degree of proficiency and its services are highly appreciated by the members of the Corps.\n\n4. During the season the question of the formation of a small Engineer Company of the Corps has been under consideration, but a final decision has not yet been reached.\n\n5. There have been several changes among the Officers of the Corps during the season. His Excellency Sir W. ROBINSON, G.C.M.G., Honorary Colonel of the Corps, left the Colony and vacated his appointment on the 1st February, 1898.\n\n10. A perusal of enclosures 3 and 4 will show that gun practice has taken place more frequently during the past season than in previous years, and there is no doubt that the members of the two units have consequently become more efficient in this important branch of their training. The shooting has been, for the most part, good.\n\nIn the various competitions a keen spirit of rivalry has been shown by the several detachments engaged.\n\nIn the 64-pounder Gun Competition which was held at Stonecutters' Island on the 22nd January, 1898, No. 1 detachment, commanded by Sergeant G. C. HAYWARD, again secured the first place. Competitions have also taken place at Repulse Bay for prizes given by the Honourable J. J. ALLIRVING, Mr. T. JACKSON, and the Commandant. In the case of the \"A\" Machine Gun Company competition was held by detachments on the 12th March, 1898, and resulted in the victory of 4 Detachment, commanded by Sergeant E. C. SHEPHERD. The Field Battery held their competition on the 16th instant, when No. 1 section, commanded by Lieutenant W. MACHELL, were the winners.\n\nIn the Field Battery Captain J. MCCALLUM, who had been placed on the Supernumerary List, resigned his commission on the 18th January, 1898, on being posted to a Battery of Volunteer Artillery in Scotland. Lieutenant A. CHAPMAN was promoted Captain to command the Field Battery in place of Captain MCCALLUM.\n\nThis Officer, whose service dates as far back as May, 1878, has done much good work for the Corps. A report of the 64-pounder Gun Competition was forwarded to His Excellency the General Officer Commanding on the 31st January, 1898; a brief report on all the gun practices during the season was forwarded in a few days.\n\nOn the 28th November, 1897, Lieutenant W. K. WYLIE died, under melancholy circumstances, to the great regret of all ranks of the Corps. The vacancy caused by his death was filled on the 3rd February, 1898, by the appointment of Mr. M. W. SLADE to be Lieutenant.\n\nLieutenant H. E. DENSON, who was, on the 21st March, 1896, seconded for a period of two years, was struck off the strength of the Corps from the 21st March, 1898, as being absent without leave.\n\n11. A successful Carbine competition in connexion with the Corps was held on the 19th and 20th March, 1898, when a number of prizes were competed for. The members of the Corps are very grateful to the many kind donors of prizes.\n\n6. In the \"A\" Machine Gun Company Sergeant E. D. SANDERS was gazetted Captain on the 22nd July, 1897, in succession to Captain C. M. ADAMSON, resigned, and Sergeant G. C. FULLES was gazetted Lieutenant on the 30th April, 1897, in succession to Lieutenant A. McP. MARSH, resigned.\n\n## DISCIPLINE, TRAINING, AND INSTRUCTION\n\n7. The discipline of the Corps has been uniformly good throughout the season.\n\n8. The usual drills and musketry practices have been well attended. Under this head the figures for the two units are severally as follows:\n\n| Unit | Efficient with more than 40 drills | Efficient with less than 40 drills | Non-Efficients | Total |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Field Battery | 74 | 21 | 25 | 120 |\n| \"A\" Machine Gun Company | 26 | 12 | 13 | 51 |\n\nGood shooting has generally been made.\n\n12. Revolver practice by the Officers and Staff Sergeants has been continued during the season.\n\n13. There have been no operations at a distance from Head Quarters for which it was necessary to employ coolie draught.\n\n## SERVICES\n\n14. Captain L. A. C. GORDON, Royal Artillery, the Adjutant of the Corps, continues to show great interest in the performance of his duties, and in particular the arrangements which he has made and carried out for the several competitions have been satisfactory to all ranks. During his temporary absence on leave in Japan in 1897, his duties were efficiently performed by Captain A. CHAPMAN.\n\n15. The other officers of the Corps also continue to render excellent service. By their devotion to duty they set an admirable example to the non-commissioned officers and men under their command, and they avail themselves of every opportunity to promote the efficiency of the Corps. The best relations exist between them and the subordinate ranks.\n\n16. Corps Quarter-Master Sergeant G. W. WATLING has rendered very efficient service in connexion with the Camp of Instruction and the several competitions, and in the performance of his duties generally.\n\n17. There have been several changes among the Instructors of the Corps, but I am glad to say that the new as well as the old Instructors have proved themselves painstaking and efficient and have discharged their duties to my entire satisfaction.\n\n18. The non-commissioned officers and men of the Corps have, with few exceptions, attended drills regularly and shown a praiseworthy desire to make themselves smart and efficient. Their conduct and good feeling in Camp and on all other occasions has been exceedingly good. I am especially glad to be able to say that talking in the ranks on parade is much less frequent than it used to be, and I am in hopes that this unsoldierlike practice will soon disappear altogether.\n\nOf the 25 non-efficients in the case of the Field Battery, 2 are absent from the Colony on leave, 7 are absent from the Colony without leave, 4 are recruits who have not had sufficient time since joining to complete their drills, 4 are on medical certificate, and the remaining 8, although in the Colony, have not completed the requisite number of drills.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-284 - Acting Governor Major Gen Black - 1898 [7-8].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 369432, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-288 - Public Offices & Others - 1898", "page_number": 20, "title": "CO129-288 - Public Offices & Others - 1898", "content_text": "# 20-\n\nFive and twenty men were got together; they were discharged from the Asiatic Artillery and were sent off to Col. Noul Larke, the Commandant of the Hongkong Regiment, and scallywags of Chief Ordnance Officer, and received arms. The uniform was simplicity itself; the man stood in, with a red cummerbund for the line and a blue one for the gunners. Garrison Serg-Major Newberry, promoted to Captain, was appointed Adjutant, and Capt. Tanghorne, P.A., Commandant. Each body of 50 men elected their own officers. There was no attempt, of course, at drill. It was felt that if each man only knew his place and shot straight, it was all that was expected or required of him,--there was no question of their grim determination to fight. Desperate and ruined men are excellent fighting material. The Committee, on the score of years and other considerations, might have claimed exemption, but they refused any indulgence, and took their places in the lines after doing all that forethought and money could accomplish for the comfort and efficiency of the men. Money indeed flowed like water (and a good deal of whiskey and soda). Men felt that for them there was no morrow. \n\nThe state of the city reminded me much of the conditions that must have prevailed in South Africa as described by that young fellow, don't you remember, that we travelled with in '79 going to Chefoo, when he was telling us of his experiences of volunteering for eighteen months against Langulelebele, and you asked him how he could spare the time, as you concluded he was not out there for his health, when he replied, \"If you did not volunteer, you had to dig trenches, in the Burgher Guard.\" We had coolies to dig trenches, so all hands volunteered. By 4 p.m. there were nearly 1400 men in the British Home Guard, and we had had to refuse to accept numbers of mere children and old dotards, telling them to tend the wounded, wait on their mothers and sisters, and look after their grandchildren.\n\nAruz karté háin ke ham sab sarkar ki khidmat men marné ké tiár háin: apne Sipahión men hum ko bharti karo.' (We request that we may be allowed to offer our lives in the Service of the Government for which we are ready to die. Enrol us with your soldiers). Many volunteered to act as carriers of ammunition, provisions, and water, or of the wounded. More than 800 Portuguese volunteered to serve their adopted country in her hour of need.\n\nThe expulsion of aliens was intrusted to the Home Guard; the authorities, with reason, fearing that in the exasperated condition of the soldiery unnecessary harshness might have been exercised--nor indeed were the Home Guard disposed to treat them with any marked show of leniency. That the Russians had been our assailants was known, and it would have gone hard with the Russian Consul had he been of that nationality,--there is little doubt he would have been hung, equally by the Guard as by the Garrison. The Consul was, however, a German, and to that fact he owed his immunity.\n\nIt was not till nearly noon that it was generally known that the Russians had been joined by the French, and by that time, fortunately for himself, the French Consul was beyond our reach.\n\nThe residents, British and foreign, being all down in the town, the Committeemen placed themselves at the head of detachments of the Home Guard, and marched the aliens down to the Powan, which was then manned by all the foreigners (Europeans) from the ships in the Harbour. Old and young, men, women, and children, wealthy merchants from lordly mansions on the higher levels and poor coffee and cigar shop-keepers from Stanley and Wellington Streets, the reputable and the disreputable, the upright and the vile, alike were expelled. If the innocent suffered with the guilty, it could not be helped; we wished to be alone with our kin in our hour of trial, we would take no more chances of harbouring traitors and spies in our midst.\n\nSome of the foreigners implored on the score of business to be allowed to stay; they wanted to go to the Banks to draw money, &c.; they were told the only business now was fighting, and of that we had the monopoly thrust on us: free trade was done--the Banks had closed and were now Hospitals. Others blustered and talked of the international law and the protection of their flag, or of the indemnities and retribution their Governments would require and exact; ignoring the irony and absurdity of quoting international law to men in our straits attacked by pirates. What were indemnities, and retribution to come, to us who had but a few hours to live. Vengeance could not overtake us.\n\nThe bluster soon died down, and the orders to move were passively obeyed, at a few stern hints that in most continental countries all the grace that would have been theirs would be three minutes up against a blank wall, whilst a firing party loaded 12 yards off, and it would be well not to tax our patience too hardly. Once in the streets they realized practically the adage 'Silent leges inter arma.' The Powan was despatched with nearly 1,800 souls on board about 11 a.m., and disappeared beyond Chung Chau towards Macao without molestation as far as we could afford. I never knew, and we prepared to meet our trouble as one family.\n\nThere had been some question at first about the Americans, till it was discovered that they had been amongst some of the first to take their places in the Home Guard--there were only a few of them, some thirty real Yanks (though nearly a score of men that had gone to bed--mostly in ships-- \n\n## 180 Indians-Police pensioners--bad hats | 0 \n\n*** \n\n# 21-\n\n...the Home Guard keen satisfaction to expel their orstwhile rivals. Men, many of them, who had cropt in on sufferance, admitted with a sort of contemptuous pity, had been supplanting us, and were latterly reaping the fruits of our labour, of our initiative, our expenditure of blood and treasure, and as they waxed... \n\nTo the number of 1200 and odd they were put on board by their scowling guards. About 400 Portuguese women and children also left in the Powan. None of the British did; it was feared that the ship might be turned back, if English were aboard, in any case the position of our country-women would have been difficult and dangerous amongst aliens after their expulsion. We would give no hostages to our foes, but guard our own while life lasted. To many of us the parting from friends of years under such circumstances was bitter and grievous. Friends who abhorred the dastardly attack as much as we did; but no distinctions could be made -even if there were no other considerations, alien mouths could not be fed. In the majority of cases undoubtedly, it afforded the Home Guard keen satisfaction to expel their orstwhile rivals.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-288 - Public Offices & Others - 1898.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 372563, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-292 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [6-8]", "page_number": 558, "title": "CO129-292 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [6-8]", "content_text": "HONGKONG VOLUNTEER CORPS, TRAINING, 1898-1899.\n\nFrom Colonel R. B. Mainwaring, Acting Commandant, Hongkong Volunteer Corps —\n\nTo the Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General (A) and Chief Staff Officer, China.\n\nVOLUNTEER HEAD QUARTERS\n\nVictoria, 17th April, 1899.\n\nSir,\n\nI have the honour to forward herewith the documents mentioned in the margin relating to the training of the Hongkong Volunteer Corps for the season of 1898-99 for the information of His Excellency the Major-General Commanding and for favour of transmission to His Excellency the Governor.\n\n1. Nominal Roll of Efficient.\n\n2. Nominal Roll of Efficient, Field Battery.\n\n3. Report on Gun Practice, Field Battery.\n\n4. Report on Gun Practice, \"A\" Machine Gun Company.\n\n5. Return of Revolver Practice of Officers and Staff Sergeants.\n\n6. Copy of Inspection State.\n\n7. State of Corps 36th April, 1899.\n\nESTABLISHMENT.\n\n2. It will be seen by Enclosure 7, with the corresponding document for the training 1897-98, that the total strength of the Corps is now 181 of all ranks, as against 176 of all ranks at the former date. This is the greatest strength to which the Corps has yet attained since its re-organization in 1893.\n\nDuring the past season, 3 members have died, 12 have been struck off the strength for non-efficiency, and 26 have resigned. Of the resigning members, 12 have left the Colony and 1 has been discharged on Medical Certificate. 16 new members have been enrolled.\n\nThe Field Battery now numbers 117 and the \"A\" Machine Gun Company numbers 58 as compared with an Establishment of 80 and 51 respectively.\n\nThe new draft Regulations submitted to you under this Office No. 3 of 4th instant make provision for 3 Machine Gun Companies (the requisite guns for them are all in stock) and also a small Engineer Company. Immediately on the approval of the Governor-in-Council to these Regulations, I shall proceed to raise the Engineer Company and every endeavour will be made to raise the other 2 Machine Gun Companies during the ensuing drill season.\n\n3. The Fife and Drum Band of the Corps is making great effort to obtain proficiency and the draft Regulations submitted allow of its existence, and give substantive rank to the Non-Commissioned Officers employed with it.\n\nThe thanks of all Ranks of the Corps are especially due to the Officers Commanding the King's Own Royal Lancaster Regiment and the 2nd Battalion Royal Welch Fusiliers for so kindly lending their Bands to the Corps on the many occasions found necessary and also the services of their Sergeant Drummers as Instructors, who have brought the Fife and Drum Band of the Corps up to the standard of efficiency it has reached.\n\n4. The changes among the Officers of the Corps during the season have been :--\n\nHis Excellency Sir W. ROBINSON, G.C.M.G., Honorary Colonel of the Corps, vacated his appointment on the 31st January, 1899, and not as stated in the last Training Report of the Corps.\n\nHis Excellency Sir H. A. BLAKE, G.C.M.G., Governor and Commander-in-Chief of this Colony and its dependencies, has very kindly accepted the appointment of Honorary Colonel to the Corps.\n\nCaptain L. A. C. GORDON, Royal Artillery, Adjutant of the Corps, resigned his appointment on the 10th April, 1899, on proceeding to England on leave. This Officer during his services as Adjutant to the Corps extending over a period of 4 years, has done much good work for the Corps, and his departure is much regretted by all Ranks.\n\nCaptain W. ST. C. BLAND, Royal Artillery, took over the duties of Adjutant of the Corps from 11th instant.\n\nSurgeon-Lieutenant F. O. STEDMAN, M.D., (Lond.), was promoted to Surgeon-Captain on the 15th February, 1899.\n\nMr. A. H. LEE-NORMAN was appointed Supernumerary Lieutenant in the Field Battery on the 25th November, 1898, and was appointed Aide-de-Camp to His Excellency the Governor; this Officer resigned his Commission on the 4th February, 1899, on leaving the Colony.\n\nCaptain E. D. SANDERS, \"A\" Machine Gun Company, was appointed an Honorary Aide-de-Camp to His Excellency the Governor on the 9th instant.\n\nDISCIPLINE, TRAINING, &c.\n\n5. The discipline of the Corps has been exceptionally good throughout the season.\n\n6. The usual Squad, Carbine, Company, Gun drills and practices have been well attended. Musketry drills have been performed but no Musketry practices, as by Home Volunteer Regulations these are not now required to enable Artillery Volunteers to become efficient although every effort has been made, and with good success, with the several carbine competitions held by each unit during the season.\n\nUnder the head of Drills the figures for the two existing units are as follows: ---\n\nField Battery —\n\n68 have become Efficient with more than 40 drills.\n\n25 have become Efficient with less than 40 drills.\n\n24 are Non-Efficients.\n\n117\n\n\"A\" Machine Gun Company —\n\n26 have become Efficient with more than 40 drills.\n\n17 have become Efficient with less than 40 drills.\n\n15 are Non-Efficients.\n\n58\n\nOf the 24 non-efficients of the Field Battery 14 are absent from the Colony without leave, 2 are on Medical Certificate, and the remaining 8 although in the Colony have not completed the requisite number of drills and will be called upon to show cause of non-efficiency.\n\nIn the case of the 15 non-efficients of the \"A\" Machine Gun Company, 5 are absent from the Colony on leave, 5 are absent from the Colony without leave, 1 is a recruit who has not had sufficient time since joining to complete his drills, 1 is on medical certificate, and the remaining 3 although in the Colony have not completed the requisite number of drills, and will be called upon to show cause of non-efficiency.\n\n7. From the 22nd to the 31st October, 1898, a Camp of Instruction was held under canvas on Stonecutters' Island. The use of the Naval Range was kindly lent by the Naval Authorities. The Camp was well attended and much appreciated by all, and to it much of the efficiency of the Corps is attributed.\n\nThe Camp year by year seems more popular.\n\n8. Gun practices have taken place as shown in Enclosures Nos. 3 and 4.\n\nNo practice was held this past season with the 64-pounder R.M.L. Guns, as orders were given that they were to be dismantled.\n\nThe 7-pounder R.M.L. and Machine Gun Competitions were held at Repulse Bay on the 10th February last, and the shooting was good and a great improvement on past years. A report of the competition was forwarded to His Excellency the General Officer Commanding under this Office No. 3 of 24th February, 1899.\n\n9. The annual Carbine Competition in connection with the Corps was held on the 15th instant, and will be continued on the 22nd instant. A large number of valuable prizes have again been presented for which all Ranks are grateful.\n\n10. Revolver practice by the Officers and Staff Sergeants has been held, report as Enclosure No. 5.\n\n11. Coolie draught was tried once during the past season in conveying guns, targets, etc., to Repulse Bay on 10th February last, but much time was lost and it cost more than conveyance by water.\n\nSERVICES.\n\n12. Captain W. ST. C. BLAND, Royal Artillery, who took over the Adjutancy of the Corps on 11th instant, has entered into his duties with zeal and enthusiasm, and promises to be as popular with all Ranks as Captain GORDON, Royal Artillery, the late Adjutant.\n\n13. Captain A. CHAPMAN, Field Battery, was one of the Committee appointed to enquire into the interior economy, etc., of the Corps, which report was approved by Government, and which dealt fully with, I think, every question appertaining to the Corps.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-292 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [6-8].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 372564, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-292 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [6-8]", "page_number": 559, "title": "CO129-292 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [6-8]", "content_text": "Enclosure No. 1.\n\n556\n\nThe Officers of the Corps also continue to render good service; they set an admirable example to the Non-Commissioned Officers and Men under their command, and do as much as possible to promote the efficiency of the Corps.\n\n14. Corps Quartermaster Sergeant G. WATLING has discharged his duties in a most satisfactory manner, and has rendered very efficient service in connection with the various gun practices, competitions, etc., during the year, and particularly at the Camp of Instruction.\n\n15. The Instructors for the Field Battery, \"A\" Machine Gun Co., Band, Signalling, and Ambulance Classes, have proved themselves very efficient and painstaking, and have discharged their duties to my entire satisfaction.\n\n16. The Non-Commissioned Officers and Men of the Corps have, with few exceptions, attended regularly and shown a praiseworthy desire to make themselves smart and efficient; their conduct and good feeling in Camp and on all occasions has been exceedingly good.\n\nREGULATIONS.\n\n17. The proposed new Regulations for the Corps were, after many various alterations and after much care and thought on the part of Major Sir J. W. CARRINGTON, Knt., C.M.G., submitted through you for His Excellency the General Officer Commanding, and His Excellency the Governor-in-Council's approval on the 4th instant.\n\nThe recommendations of the Committee held last year on the interior economy, etc., of the Corps, and sanctioned by C.S.O. No. 2581, dated 17th January, 1899, have been embodied in them.\n\nMISCELLANEOUS MATTERS.\n\n18. The Annual Inspection of the Corps by His Excellency the Major-General Commanding was held on the 29th ultimo.\n\nThe parade state on that occasion is shown in Enclosure No. 6.\n\nHONGKONG VOLUNTEER CORPS.\n\nFIELD BATTERY.\n\nNominal Roll of Efficients for the Year ending 16th April, 1899.\n\n \n Rank and Name\n Corps Number\n Rank and Name\n Corps Number\n \n \n Captain Chapman, A.\n \n Gunner Dean, J. T.\n 238\n \n \n Slade, M. W.\n \n Donaldson, T.\n 50\n \n \n Colonel Mainwaring, K. B.\n 243\n Ellis, O. J.\n 267\n \n \n Captain Bland, W. St. C.\n \n Ellis, D. E.\n 282\n \n \n Royal Artillery, Adjutant\n \n Surgeon-Captain Lowson, J. A.\n 231\n \n \n Lieutenant Stedman, F. O.\n 269\n \n \n \n \n Medical Officers\n \n Lieutenant Macdonald, D.\n 186\n \n \n Quarter-Master Sergeant Watling, G. W.\n 272\n \n \n \n \n Corps Quarter-Master Sergeant (Staff)\n \n Acting Battery Sergeant-Major Duncan, G. L.\n 304\n \n \n \n 275\n Farr, A. J. M.\n \n \n \n \n 71\n Higgins, F.\n \n \n \n \n 149\n Humphreys, A.\n \n \n \n \n 150\n Halden, G. M. P.\n \n \n \n \n 302\n Herbst, E.\n \n \n \n \n 13\n Hatherly, E. W. F.\n \n \n \n \n 11\n Howarth, H. C.\n \n \n \n \n \n Hauen, C. E. A.\n \n \n \n \n 153\n Hance, J. H. R.\n \n \n \n Battery Quarter-Master Sergeant Coyle, J.\n \n Henderson, R.\n \n \n \n Sergeant-Drummer Brown, A.\n 251\n Hubbard, A.\n \n \n \n \n \n Kennett, H. S.\n 9\n \n \n Sergeant Hayward, G. C.\n 3\n \n 153\n \n \n \n 159\n Kennedy, D. F.\n 252\n \n \n \n 118\n Lammert, L. E.\n 18\n \n \n McPhail, H.\n 223\n \n \n \n \n \n 3\n Lee, J. R.\n 24\n \n \n Armstrong, J. H. W.\n 259\n Kennett, H. W.\n 278\n \n \n \n \n \n 34\n \n \n Parvell, W. H.\n 283\n \n 107\n \n \n Acting Sergeant Rutter, R. V.\n 293\n \n 127\n \n \n Corporal Meek, T.\n 313\n \n 49\n \n \n \n \n Humphreys, W. M.\n 240\n \n \n \n 4\n Ramsey, W. F.\n 210\n \n \n \n \n \n 40\n \n \n Stopani, W. A.\n 141\n \n \n \n \n \n \n White, G.\n 124\n \n \n \n 105\n \n 101\n \n \n Acting Corporal Gow, D.\n \n Millar, J.\n 249\n \n \n \n BIS\n \n \n \n \n Baker, J.\n \n \n 306\n \n \n \n 25\n Olson, J.\n 204\n \n \n Bombardier Nobbe, A. P.\n 301\n \n \n \n \n \n 191\n Smart, C. McD.\n 102\n \n \n \n 100\n Deas, W. M.\n \n \n \n Acting Bombardier Wilson, G. T.\n 106\n \n 241\n \n \n \n \n Hari, W.\n 163\n \n \n \n 200\n \n 263\n \n \n Trumpeter Plouston, C.\n 203\n Moore, S. R.\n 192\n \n \n \n 2+\n \n 305\n \n \n Gunner Abraham, E.\n 256\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Seth, H. A.\n 25\n \n \n \n 197\n Bentley, R. J. H.\n 317\n \n \n \n 71\n Lammert, H. A.\n \n \n \n Lysaught, J.\n \n \n \n \n \n Lapsley, R.\n \n Beuning, T.\n 151\n \n \n Logan, J. C.\n \n \n 15\n \n \n MacDonald, W. J.\n \n Sayer, E. A. R.\n 190\n \n \n Mody, J. H.\n \n Brett, L. E.\n 71\n \n \n Melver, M.\n \n \n 247\n \n \n Mackie, A. J.\n \n \n 116\n \n \n Moller, J. A.\n \n Begley, A. J.\n \n \n \n McLeish, P.\n \n \n > \n \n \n Pidgeon, J. H.\n \n Toller, W.\n 311\n \n \n Patton, G.\n \n \n 315\n \n \n Reid, A.\n \n Baker, F. H.\n \n \n \n Stewart, W.\n \n \n **\n \n \n Sutton, A. I.\n \n Tuohy, G.\n 276\n \n \n Sanderson, J. S.\n \n \n 267\n \n \n \n 277\n \n 1\n \n \n Soth, S. A.\n \n Burgess, J. R.\n \n \n \n Spittles, B. J.\n \n Taylor, W. C.\n 201\n \n \n \n \n Thomson, W. M.\n 27\n \n \n \n \n Bevan, H. S.\n 166\n \n \n \n \n \n 41\n \n \n \n \n \n 15\n \n \n Toppiu, W. J.\n \n Baker, W. A.\n 187\n \n \n \n 268\n \n 229\n \n \n \n \n Cumpston, W. H.\n 17\n \n \n \n \n Uphill, A.\n 155\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Warren, C. E.\n 286\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Craig, R. H.\n 206\n \n \n \n \n Wilkinson, S.\n 279\n \n \n Chamant, A. E.\n 280\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Wynne, H. S.\n 300\n \n \n Chummut, F. G.\n 287\n \n \n \n \n \n \"1\n Wheeler, H. S.\n 213\n \n \n \n \n \n 73\n \n \n Cotton, J. T.\n 143\n \n \n \n \n \n >\n Crispin, C. R.\n 10\n \n \n \n \n \n 33;\n \n\n(3 Officers.)\n\n(90 Non-Commissioned Officers and Men.)\n\n19. Surgeon-Captain F. O. STEDMAN, M.D. (Lond.), again conducted a course of lectures on Ambulance Work, accompanied with Stretcher Drills. 9 members presented themselves for examination, which was conducted by Major WATSON, R.A. Medical Corps: of the examinates 8 were successful.\n\n20. I have to request that the Chief Ordnance Officer, China, may be asked to keep up the usual quantities of 7-pounder R.M.L. Gun Ammunition for use of the Corps, to be indented for as required on repayment. Very little more Martini-Henry Carbine Ammunition, ball or blank, will, it is thought, be required by the Corps as the re-arming with the new Carbine of 303 calibre has been sanctioned, and it is hoped they will be received during the ensuing summer.\n\n21. The Local Government having sanctioned the proposals of the Committee held on the 29th September, 1898, it is felt that the result of their proposals cannot fail to add to the general efficiency of the Corps.\n\n22. During the past season attention has been drawn to the necessity for the re-arming of the Field Battery with a more modern gun than the 7-pounder R.M.L. in their possession. The question has been gone into fully (Vide this Office No. 8 dated 15th March, 1899), and it is hoped that the newest pattern gun may be supplied to the Corps.\n\n23. Attention has also been drawn (Vide this Office No. 5, dated 14th February, 1899) to the unserviceable state of the 120 Machine Gun belts on Corps charge, and the question of replacing the 45 with 303\" barrels to the 12 machine guns on Corps charge has also been gone into (Vide this Office No. 4, dated 17th April, 1899).\n\n24. The report of the Committee of Officers of the Corps on the question of uniform of the several ranks of the Corps was embodied in the new draft Regulations submitted recently for approval.\n\n25. Requisitions for the Capitation Grant for Efficients and Proficients have been sent direct to the Honourable the Colonial Treasurer.\n\n26. It will be seen from this report that the progress of the Corps remains good and the interest shown by the Government and the Legislature during the past season cannot but have a good effect on the Corps in general.\n\nMajor Sir J. W. CARRINGTON, Knt., C.M.G., and Commandant, proceeded on leave on the 5th instant, from which date I assumed command.\n\nI have the honour to be,\n\nSir,\n\nYour obedient Servant,\n\nR. B. MAINWARING, Colonel, Acting Commandant, Hongkong Volunteer Corps.\n\nR. B. MAINWARING, Colonel, Acting Commandant, Hongkong Volunteer Corps.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-292 - Governor Sir Blake - 1899 [6-8].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 375666, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-297 - Governor Sir Blake - 1900 [1-3]", "page_number": 493, "title": "CO129-297 - Governor Sir Blake - 1900 [1-3]", "content_text": "Government House, HongKong, 20th February, 1900.\n\nI have the honour to transmit for your information the enclosed copy of a letter from the Acting Commandant of the HongKong Volunteer Corps to the Deputy Assistant Adjutant General, and Chief Staff Officer relating to the permanent staff of the Corps and recommending certain alterations therein.\n\n2. Major-General Gascoigne urges this increase of the staff, which is I think necessary in consequence of the large increase in the number of the Corps. I have provisionally approved of the appointment and have the honour to request your approval.\n\nI have the honour to be,\n\nSir,\n\nYour Most Obedient,\n\nHumble Servant,\n\nHenry Arthur Blake\n\nGOVERNOR, &c.\n\nThe Right Honourable\n\nJOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN, M.P.\n\n&c. &c. &c.\n\nPage ...\n\nlosure 7th Jany 1900.\n\n63.\n\n770-490 6870\n\n20 MAR 90.\n\nAF27/3\n\nCPL6\n\n6/4\n\nNo.\n\nSir,", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-297 - Governor Sir Blake - 1900 [1-3].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 386326, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-313 - Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [10-12]", "page_number": 406, "title": "CO129-313 - Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [10-12]", "content_text": "## Sub-Enclosure No. 1 to Enclosure 1 in **Confidential** Despatch of the 25th November, 1902\n\nFrom O. O. S. H., \nTo O. R. E. \nA. \n3. Company Hongkong Volunteers. \n402 Wellington Barracks, \n27th January, 1903.\n\nSir,\n\nI beg to enclose for your information a correspondence which has recently passed between this Office and the Commandant Hongkong Volunteer Corps about the strength of \"A\" Company, Hong-kong Volunteers. It will be seen that there are only eight rank and file trained in the Corps and Fifteen under instruction, excluding the two officers.\n\nThis shows a great leakage as many more than this number have been trained and it seems desirable to reconsider the conditions of service and training, if the Company is to be retained or as I hope increased.\n\nIt has been suggested to me that improvement might be effected, if arrangements could be made for training the N.C.O.s and men at Kowloon in the same way as the Artillery Company are trained, but this would require some extra plant and expenditure which would only be justified by some certainty of a successful increase of efficiency.\n\nIt is also possible that the conditions of service as regards drill etc., may be unnecessarily severe in the case of a Company which in time of war would be split up into small detachments, but of this I have no certain knowledge.\n\nI would therefore suggest that a meeting might be arranged between myself, the Commandant \"A\" Vol. Corps and the O. C. \"A\" Company, to see if any improvements in these or other respects are possible and desirable with a view to placing this valuable portion of the local corps on a satisfactory footing and establishing a better system of communication between the Volunteers and the O. O. S. H.\n\nI am etc., \n(Sd.) T. Baker Brown, \nMajor, R. E., O.O.S.H.\n\n### Page 242", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-313 - Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 386331, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-313 - Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [10-12]", "page_number": 411, "title": "CO129-313 - Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [10-12]", "content_text": "# \n407\n\nThe figures for \"E\" Company would then stand\n\n| Squad and Company Drill No. | 3 |\n| --- | --- |\n| Trained on... | 4 |\n| Technical Drills | 10 |\n| Total | 13 |\n| | 34 |\n| | 3 |\n| | 10 |\n\nIt was pointed out by Lieutenant Mitchell that many men attended for more than this number, so that the total efficiency would not be lowered, but the reduction might meet the case of a few men who, owing to the nature of their employment, could not in some years give more time.\n\nThe alteration could be carried out by an Order in Council of the Local Government, and I recommend it for immediate consideration.\n\n## 3. Numbers\n\nA calculation made by me shows that the minimum number of men required to help the R.E. to run all lights continuously with a proper system of reliefs is 1 Officer, 23 Electricians, and 13 Engine Drivers, though I consider the full number of 30 all ranks proposed by me on 30th October, 1901, should be obtained if possible, as there will always be some men who are away, sick, or untrained.\n\nI understand the enlistment of supernumerary is allowed up to the full establishment of the Corps, so that recruiting for \"E\" Company will be continued if men present themselves.\n\nMajor Chapman thought that the question of the establishment had better stand over till the appointment of a new Commandant and the revision of the present regulations, which has been some time in hand, is completed.\n\nI would, however, urge that the question of officers may be considered early.\n\nThe present establishment is one only, but in addition to Lieutenant Mitchell, there is a supernumerary Officer, Lieutenant Graham.\n\nI do not wish in any way to trench on the responsibilities of others, but I would simply put forward the claims of Lieutenant Mitchell for a step in rank. This officer has taken a very active part in the formation and training of the Company, and it would be some recognition of this work, and also a recognition of the importance of the Company, if his promotion to Captain could be entertained.\n\nPage 242", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-313 - Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 386333, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-313 - Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [10-12]", "page_number": 413, "title": "CO129-313 - Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [10-12]", "content_text": "# Sub-Enclosure No. 5 to Enclosure No. 1 in Confidential Despatch of the 25th November, 1909\n\nFrom Commandant Hongkong Volunteer Corps. to Chief Staff Officer, Oita,\n\n**Sir,**\n\nVolunteer Headquarters, Hongkong, May 23rd, 1902.\n\nI beg to forward herewith correspondence on the subject of proposal allegation of some of the units of the Corps under my command into Garrison Artillery.\n\nI am strongly in favour of the scheme and should be only too glad to see the whole Corps become Garrison Artillery with the exception of the Engineers Company.\n\nThe Corps is at the present time composed of 3 units and a band and under these conditions are extremely difficult to train and are in no way so valuable to the defence of the Colony as they would be if the proposed scheme were carried out.\n\nWith reference to paragraphs 3 and 7 in the G.R.A. letter attached, I think it would be only reasonable to ask if permission would ever be granted for the men to drill or practice in other works in addition to Victoria Battery, as it would not be possible to gather any large number of men at once in the many duties of Garrison Artillery in a fort with only one gun available, and at present no practice is ever carried out from Victoria Battery, but possibly this latter condition no longer exists now. To be thoroughly useful in assisting the Garrison Artillery in the defence of the Colony the men should be familiar with as many of the different guns as possible.\n\nWith regard to paragraph 9, if the proposed change takes place, I would strongly recommend for the favourable consideration of the General Officer Commanding that the Government be asked to allow an annual bonus to those members of the Corps who prove themselves efficient, it would be of great assistance in attracting men to join and would also help the Staff to keep the men up to the proper standard by enabling them to reduce any man's bonus who was below the standard of the remainder.\n\nI cannot of course make any statement as to the number...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-313 - Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 386335, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-313 - Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [10-12]", "page_number": 415, "title": "CO129-313 - Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [10-12]", "content_text": "# OP Y. 411 \n## Sub-Enclosure No. 6 to Enclosure No. 1 in Confidential Despatch of the 25th November, 1903.\n### No G - To Chief Staff Officer, China.\n\nFrom Commandant Hongkong Volunteer Corps.\n\nVolunteer Headquarters, \nHongkong, May 23rd, 1903,\n\nI beg to forward herewith correspondence relating to \"E\" Company, Hongkong Volunteer Corps, which was handed over to me by Major General Officer Commanding.\n\n1. The waste in \"E\" Company has not been in excess of that in other units of the Corps. The falling off in recruiting during the past year was due chiefly to the cessation of hostilities in N. China, but I hope this year that the numbers may be again increased and one great inducement would be the new Headquarters as mentioned by Major Baker Brown R.A., they have been in the estimates for some years and are badly wanted in many ways; the discipline of the Corps can never be up to the proper standard until separate messes and a canteen are provided for Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and Men as allowed for in the plan of the new building. I should be very glad if the Public Works Department could see their way to soon put this work in hand.\n\n2. Number of Drills required for efficiency.\n\nWith regard to the number of drills I should be glad if Major Baker Brown's suggestion could be carried out, namely that the number of drills for efficiency for \"E\" Company should be altered to:-\n\n| | Recruits | Trained Men |\n|----------|----------|-------------|\n| Technical Drills | 13 | 10 |\n| Company Drill | 3 | 3 |\n| Musketry | 4 | 4 |\n| **Total** | **20** | **17** |\n\nAn Order in Council of the Local Government would be required to make this alteration.\n\n3. Numbers.\n\nThe strength of \"E\" Company at the present time is 3 Officers and 19 Non-Commissioned Officers and Men but of this number 1 Officer has left the Colony and is not likely to return, and ...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-313 - Governor Sir Blake - 1902 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 389005, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-317 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [4-6]", "page_number": 512, "title": "CO129-317 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [4-6]", "content_text": "# Magistracy \n## Hongkong, The 17th. Day of June, 1903.\n\nThe information and complaint of Kong Ngau Ying taken this day before me, the undersigned one of His Majesty's Justices of the Peace in and for the said Colony who states:-\n\n1. I am a fish hawker carrying on business in Hongkong.\n\n2. In 1900 and January, 1901, I was employed by Ng Shui Shang (alias Ng Lo Sam), whom I have known many years, as an informer, he was then living in Fo Fung Street, Victoria, Hongkong.\n\n3. In September, 1900, I was employed by Ng Shui Shang to trace persons who had taken part in the recent rebellion in Weichow in the Province of Kwang-tung and had taken refuge in Hongkong: one of the leading rebels named Yeung Kui Wan was then residing in Hongkong and acting as a Schoolmaster.\n\n4. On or about the 5th day of October, 1900, Ng Shui Shang said to me, in his house in Fo Fung Street aforesaid \"Yeung Kui Wan cannot be taken to Canton, can you find a man to murder him?\" I said I could not. He said \"All right I will go up with you to Canton and I will get Ma Wong Hoi's party\". On the following day Ng Shui Shang and I went to Canton, and on or about the 12th October returned to Hongkong.\n\n5. At the same time a party of minor Chinese Officials came to Hongkong to consult with Ng Shui Shang about killing Yeung Kui Wan. This party included Yeung Tsing Kai, who was Captain of the Chinese Gunboat \"Kin Yui\" and was under the orders of Li Ka Cheuk, the Commandant of the Canton City Guard. The \"Kin Yui\" Gunboat came to Hongkong frequently.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-317 - Governor Sir Blake - 1903 [4-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 391288, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "page_number": 249, "title": "CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903", "content_text": "245\n\n2\n\nis a moral for the Mandarins in the fact that goods destined for consumption in China will always endeavour to approach their markets, as far as possible, by foreign routes.\n\nAfter leaving Wu Ting, we turned north-west up a narrow valley and into some very mountainous country, inhabited chiefly by Lolos, but with some well-watered, and therefore well-peopled, valleys; on the second day from Wu Ting, we passed the backbone of the range which forms the west limit of the basin of the An Ning River, Shih T'a La (8,000 feet), and descended through bare imposing mountain scenery to the ridge of Hao Chi Pa, where we camped with no water nearer than 700 feet below us. The country resembles the Wa hills, on the Burmah frontier.\n\nFrom Hao Chi Pa there is an easy descent down to the valley of Yuan Meng Hsien, but the city having been partially destroyed by the rebels, the officials' residence has been moved further down the valley to Ma Kai, a busy market of 400 houses, where there is a considerable traffic. The valley is well cultivated down to the Yang-tsze, which is 25 miles distant on the Chien Chang road. This valley is almost tropical, the height of Ma Kai being only 4,000 feet; sugar is grown in considerable quantities, and the whole look of the place is Szechuanese rather than Yunnanese. Leaving Ma Kai, we entered the hills to the west of the valley, and after a long march across the river whose head waters flow sluggishly across the plain of Chu Hsiung on the main Burmah road, and over a waterless range (5,900 feet), we descended into the narrow and poor valley of Miao Men (li-kin station and 150 houses in the principal village), and then passed by a defile into a narrow, but fertile, valley, with a number of Chinese villages. Here we put up at the Lung Ch'uan Temple (\"dragon spring\"), which has been restored by Colonel Li, formerly Commandant of the Lin An brigade in South Yünnan, who has beautified his ancestral home with the spoils, if not of war, at least of peace. Hence a climb over another main north and south range (7,200 feet) brought us down to the valley and busy city of Ta Yao, which contains about 5,000 inhabitants and is a busy market. It is one of the places which the opening of the Teng Yueh customs has brought within the sphere of Burmah trade influence. Much of the through traffic between West Yünnan and Szechuan passes this way, and there is a main road from Ta Yao to Jen Ho Kai, an important market and li-kin station near the Yang-taze, whence trade goes across to the Chien Chang Valley. Silk, ponies, tobacco, sugar, and Szechuan cotton cloth are the chief imports into Yunnan by this route.\n\nThree-quarters of the country hitherto traversed had been mountainous; the hills are mainly populated by Lolos, who form the majority of the crowd at the Ta Yao market. The Chinese have, however, already occupied most of the good valley lands, and will, no doubt, in time gradually extinguish the Lolos. The only product of the country besides mules and ponies which is worth mentioning is hemp, which the Lolos use for their coarse garments. It sells raw for 50 cash a catty (1 lb.) on the market at Ta Yao, and some of it finds its way to Teng Yueh.\n\nFrom Ta Yao as a centre, a number of cultivated valleys penetrate in various directions into the surrounding hills. Following one of these for 12 miles we crossed another low range running north and south, and looked down into the valley of Pei Yen Tsing (\"white salt wells\"), and across it on to vast confused mountain masses.\n\nWe camped 3 miles short of the wells; a sharp white frost fell in the night and nearly every other night for the rest of our journey.\n\nPei Yen Tsing is a filthy town of about 6,000 inhabitants, consisting of one long street in a close gorge, where brine wells have been bored. The output of salt is about 2,000 catties per day, and there is an official of the Salt Department in charge. The brine is brought up in leather buckets, let down by hand and then boiled in large open pans over charcoal fires.\n\nImmediately after leaving Pei Yen Tsing in a westerly direction, an abrupt and tiring ascent over a main range has to be made; from the summit of the Kuan Yin Miao pass the traveller descends through wild country to the K'ung Hsien Bridge by the banks of the K'ung Hsien River. This is a mountain stream which flows down to the Yang-tsze, and we ascended it for 19 miles through a magnificent defile, densely wooded, and with the side valleys finely terraced with rice-fields. The road from Pei Yen Tsing up over the mountains and along this gorge was once paved, and as there are clearly not enough inhabitants in the vicinity to have undertaken such a work, it seems, probably, that this was once a main trade route between Ta Li and Szechuan.\n\nLeaving this romantic valley, we ascended to the open plateau of Mi Tien, whence a level road to the south-west leads in two days to Yunnan Hsien on the Burmah high road, while another road to the north-west leads, through a defile in the hills, past the fertile valley of Chiao Ting, and so out on to the wide plain of Pin Chuan, which is the most important rift in the mountains between Ta Li and Yunnan-fu. This plain is about 3 miles long and 14 miles to 3 miles broad.\n\n3\n\nIt debouches on to the Yang-tsze at the important market of Chin Chiang Kai, one long day's march from Pin Chuan city; thence the high road leads to Yung Peh. Of recent years a considerable and lucrative trade has sprung up between West Yunnan and the trans-Yang-tsze Yung Peh district, specially those parts of it which are near the Yang-tsze and to the Szechuan border. The people of West Yunnan is supplied with sugar from this source, and also with tobacco; paper, oranges, and Shasi cloth are other objects of commerce, while opium, cotton, and gams move east in return across the Yang-tsze.\n\nThe south of the Pin Chuan Valley is divided by an easy col (7,250 feet) from the extensive plain of Yunnan Hsien, and this again is divided by one range from the valleys of Mi Tao and Meng Hua, which brings us near the Mekong River; the railway engineer who had got his alignment over on to the east bank of the Mekong would have an easy task to reach the Yang-tsze north of Pin Chuan.\n\nA great part of the Pin Chuan Valley is barren, owing to an insufficient supply of water; here, as in so many parts of Yunnan, scientific irrigation would work wonders. The city of Pin Chuan contains only one business street and a number of ancestral temples, and not more than 4,000 inhabitants, but there are two busy little markets in the plain, at Niu Kai, 7 miles north of the city, and at Pin Chi, 6 miles to the south-west. This valley, together with Yung Peh, ought now to get its foreign supplies wholly from Teng Yueh.\n\nIndian yarns of the coarser counts are likely to remain for many years the staple Note on cotton imports of Teng Yueh. I therefore append some notes on the cotton trade generally trade in Yünnan:\n\n(a.) Raw cotton is imported almost solely for the purpose of wadding garments and quilts.\n\n(b) The imports of Manchester goods are small, the annual value being from 55,000 to 100,000. The well-to-do inhabitants of the towns are Manchester's chief customers, and they do not form a large class in Yünnan, where there is only one town (the capital) of over 60,000 inhabitants, and only three others (Yung Chang, Chao Tong, and Chù Tsing) of over 20,000.\n\nThere is, however, a chance of extending the foreign piece-goods trade in the Yung Chang and Teng Yueh Valleys, where many people have travelled in Burmah, and have a taste for foreign cloth, and in many parts of Yunnan I think American drills may find favour.\n\n(c.) The Shasi cloth, so well known along the Yang-tsze, comes into Yünnan from Szechuan by Lao Wa Tan; it is still the principal clothing of the people in the Chao Tong district, but is losing ground almost everywhere on account of its price.\n\n(d.) All other cottons have in the last twelve years rapidly yielded in public favour before \"yang sha pu,\" or cloth locally woven from imported yarns. The great centre of this industry is the Hsin Hsing Valley, three days south of Yunnan-fu. This valley and the country near it take some 40,000 piculs yearly, and the manual dexterity of the weavers has attained so high a standard that Hsin Hsing cloth is distributed all over the province, especially in the Ta Li district; the reason for the establishment of this industry at Hsin Hsing is that the population is dense and is near a foreign custom-house, so that goods can be brought in cheaply under transit pass from Mengtse.\n\nHad we been wise in time, Teng Yuch would have been an open port ten years ago, and with the cheap and regular Tariff of the Imperial Customs, the weaving industry would certainly have established itself in the Yung Chang or Teng Yueh Valleys. The disadvantage to us of its being at Hsin Hsing is that there Japanese and Tonkin yarns can compete with Bombay on favourable terms, while near Teng Yueh the yarn would all be Indian.\n\nYunnan-fu takes about 15,000, and Chủ Tsing, in East Yunnan, about 12,000 piculs of yarn annually; these, however, are consumed locally, and there is no export of cloth to speak of from these districts.\n\nI was glad to observe that attempts are now being made to start weaving all over West Yunnan, notably at Yung Chang and Hoching Chou, and even that yarns can now go from Teng Yueh into South-west Szechuan and return thence to Yung Peh in the form of woven cloth.\n\nFashions, of course, vary, and there are many districts which could be supplied more cheaply from Teng Yueh which at present prefer Shasi or Hsin Hsing goods, and from the point of view of wholesale manufacture for export to other districts, as apart from merely supplying local demand by local domestic industry, merchants complain that trade and mule...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-321 - Public Offices & Others - 1903.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 395135, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "page_number": 472, "title": "CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904", "content_text": "2\n\nmatter to the Taotai, pointing out among other things: (1) that a transit pass for opium was a non-existent document; and (2) that, whereas the total dues now charged on opium shipped through the foreign Customs were 5.28 taels li-kin, 20 taels export or departure duty at Chungking and 52 taels arrival duty at Ichang, these would under the new arrangement, whereby the Szechuan departure duty became payable to the li-kin authorities, be augmented by the payment of an arrival duty of 20 taels to the Imperial Maritime Customs at Ichang on shipment of the drug on board steamer at that port. In other words, the total duty charged would be 97.28 taels in lieu of 77.28 taels. He also endeavoured to make it clear that the dues on the drug not destined for places beyond Shanghae had all along fallen to the share of the li-kin authorities, and that, seeing that Szechuan had now as competitors in the opium production of the Empire the Provinces of Shantung, Honan, Anhui, Kiangsu, Kwangsi, Yunnan, and Kweichow, the policy of increasing the dues on the opium shipped through the Imperial Maritime Customs to Shanghae, the south and the coast ports, was a suicidal one, involving an increase in price to the consumer of the Szechuan article and a consequent fall in the demand.\n\nIn the end, the Proclamation was withdrawn and a return made to the practice hitherto in force. I may here mention that, were Wan Hsien an open port, it would be the natural outlet for the opium produced in the Liangshan and Fengtu districts, which would thus be spared the up-river trip to Chungking to permit of shipment through the foreign Customs.\n\nOn the 16th ultimo a further Proclamation was posted notifying the inauguration of an export li-kin on goods leaving Chungking by the three main land routes.\n\nThese are:-\n\n1. Through the Chao Tien gate, and thence across the Little River to Chiang-pei from which, following along the course of this waterway, it runs viâ Hochou and Suining to Chengtu.\n\n2. Through the Nan Chi and Tung Yuan gates viâ Fu Ton Kuan to Yung Chutan, Pi Shan Hsien, Chiang Chin, Ta Tsu, Jung Chang, Lang Chang, &c., and Chengtu.\n\n3. Through the Taiping and Ch'u Ch'i gates to Hai T'an Ch'i across the Yang-tsze, thence to the Kweichow Province.\n\nThe rapacity displayed by Chao Chian, the deputy in charge of this collection, did not stop short of the smallest article passing through the gates mentioned to the places indicated. His p'iao were for as infinitesimal a sum as 1 cash, and not even a box of matches, pair of shoes, hat, piece of ribbon, &c., purchased by peasants and coolies were exempt. In the prosecution of his scheme he detained, as a li-kin payment on a consignment of bristles purchased by the Chungking Trading Company and passing through the Taiping gate, a case and basket of these goods which were about to cross the river to the godowns of the Company on the opposite side. Mr. Nicholson, the local representative of the firm at once requested me to obtain their release, which was duly effected. Mr. Chao's life was a short one: the populace was becoming so enraged at his impositions that the sacking of his Yamen was determined upon. On hearing of this, the Tantai sent a hasty wire to the Viceroy; the Commandant of the local militia had his men under orders to appear on the scene at the first sign of disturbance and to attempt, by exhortation-not by use of arms-to prevent the people achieving their purpose; while the deputy in charge of the Lao li-kin (import), whose office is situated in the same street as that of his confrère, lost no time in putting up a Proclamation to the following effect: \"It is not me: these are not my ways. It is the man next door: vent your wrath upon him.\" The Viceroy saved the situation by telegraphing the dismissal of Chao and placing the Chungking Prefect temporarily in charge.\n\nIt will be seen from the above how determined is the effort being made to stimulate the li-kin collection, the work, as I have already stated, of the Chief of the Head Li-kin Office at Chengtu. On the 25th March last, Messrs. Jardine, Matheson and Co. reported that a consignment of their goods, properly furnished with transit passes for Chengtu, had there been detained for li-kin and requested me to obtain their release. Having satisfied myself that the case was a bona fide one, I communicated by telegraph with His Majesty's Consul-General, who at once effected the required release.\n\n(Signed)\n\nH. E. SLY,\n\nBritish Acting Consul.\n\nChungking, May 24, 1904.\n\n(This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.)\n\n469\n\nCHINA TRADE.\n\n[August 20.]\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\nSECTION 1.\n\nNo. 1.\n\nActing Consul Sly to the Marquess of Lansdowne.-(Received August 20.)\n\n(No. 8. Confidential.) (Extract.)\n\nChungking, June 30, 1904.\n\nI HAVE the honour to inclose herewith copy of a Report on the trade of Thibet with the Province of Szechuan, through Kuan Hsien, Mao Chow, and Sungp'an, written by the Commissioner of Customs at this port, and which that gentleman has kindly allowed me to transmit for your Lordship's confidential information. Mr. W. C. H. Watson has been stationed for three years in Chungking, and is well acquainted with the commercial conditions of the province.\n\n(Confidential.)\n\nInclosure in No. 1.\n\nReport on the Trade of Thibet.\n\nKuan Hsien.-The trade of Kuan Hsien is of considerable importance, as may be seen from the figures given in the table. Situated as the town is on the border-line dividing Chinese Szechuan proper from that portion of the province inhabited by the Mantzu tribes, the chief business of the place consists of dealings in wool, soda, indigo, and of the medicines of the Chinese pharmacopoeia for which these districts are noted. It is also the centre of many coal mines, the produce of which is in demand on account of the excellence of the output. Medicines are brought in by merchants who periodically visit the tribesmen for purposes of trade and with whom dealings are conducted by a system of exchange and barter. A Chinese merchant will come into Kuan Hsien with the stock he has thus procured, proceed to one of the many inns, and inform the inn-keeper of what he has for sale. The inn-keepers act as a sort of brokers; they have the daily price of staples posted up in their establishments, and introduce customers. Customers thus introduced, mostly agents for Chengtu firms, buy on credit of one or two months, as the case may be, and the innkeeper is responsible to the seller for the payment of goods when due. For his services he charges a fixed rate of 3 per cent. on all transactions taking place at his inn. Ready money dealings are rare and do not appear to be appreciated.\n\nESTIMATED Annual Quantities of Goods passing inwards through Kuan Hsien.\n\n \n Description\n Classifier of Quantity\n Quantity\n Value\n \n \n Medicines\n Value\n \n Taels. 180,000\n \n \n Young deer horns\n Catties\n 1,500\n 30,000\n \n \n Old deer horns\n Piculs\n 1,500\n 6,000\n \n \n Musk\n Taels\n 16,000\n 216,000\n \n \n Wool\n Piculs\n 5,000\n 55,000\n \n \n Indigo\n Value\n \n 160,000\n \n \n Soda\n \n \n 150,000\n \n \n Timber\n \n \n 60,000\n \n \n Total\n \n \n 847,000\n \n\n[2108 u-1]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-326 - Foreign Office - 1904.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 397939, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-330 - Public Offices - 1905", "page_number": 429, "title": "CO129-330 - Public Offices - 1905", "content_text": "## Shan States under Chinese Rule\n\nThe many Chinese settlers in his territory. This State, with the exception of the outlying town of Manwyne, which came into the family by marriage, is poor. The main valley is only 9 miles by 2-3 miles, but the side valley of Man Tung, situated beyond the hills to the east, is larger and richer.\n\nThe Nan Tien Sawbwa is thought to be at the bottom of the intrigues which the Chinese have started against his neighbour of Kangai.\n\nKangai, which includes the richest part of the Taping Valley, is situated between Nan Tien and the frontier. The clan name is also Tao. The old Sawbwa, who is about 55 years of age, is supposed to have abdicated according to Shan custom in favour of his son, a man of about 30, who represents the twenty-eighth generation in a direct line from the first Sawbwa. Both father and son are men of intelligent and benevolent disposition, who, considering the circumstances, govern their State well. They are both, but especially the father, devout Buddhists. The State is rich, but is sometimes subject to destructive inundations.\n\nThe main Tengyueh-Bhamo trade route passes straight through Kangai and Nan Tien. There are not many Kachins in this State, and those few give but little trouble. The main Kangai Valley is about 35 miles long by 4-5 miles broad.\n\n### 3. Chanta, or Santa\n\nThis includes a small portion of the Taping Valley on the right bank and a section of hill country behind it to the north. The Sawbwa is a child. His father was robbed and then executed some years ago by the Tengyueh official on a false charge of treason with the British. The government of the State has since been in disorder. The Kachins in the Santa Hills are under no sort of control.\n\n### 1. Laksa and Hosa\n\nThese are two small States in an upland valley at an altitude of 4,000-5,000 feet, along and above the east side of the Taping Valley; the beautiful Lahsa-Hosa Valley is watered by the Nau Sa, a small tributary of the Taping. The inhabitants are not Shan; they have a language of their own, and are known as Ashang. They are probably of Maru Kachin origin, with an admixture of Chinese and possibly of Burmese blood. They have attained a considerable standard of civilization, and are both industrious and peaceable; they have a great reputation as blacksmiths, and go down to Burmah to seek work. The Hosa Sawbwa is a minor; the Lahsa is an old man who has four sons, the eldest of whom manages his affairs; the administration is not bad, but the Sawbwa has little authority, and both ends of the valley are subject to Kachin raids. There is a fair path down the valley and through to Burmah, but it is only used by local traffic. The valley is some 30 miles long by 2-3 miles broad.\n\n## (B) Shan States in the Shweli or Lung Chiang Valley, on the right bank\n\nThe Shweli is an important affluent of the Irrawaddy; it rises to the north of Tengyueh, and joins the main river from the left side, near Ratha, in Burmah.\n\n### 5. Meng Wan\n\nThis is the basin of the Nam Wan, a small tributary of the Shweli. The valley is over 30 miles long and 5-6 miles broad at the broadest part; it is very fertile, but malarious; the administration was for years in the hands of the mother of the present Sawbwa, a young man of 23, who took over the Government four years ago. Since then the condition of the State has been going from bad to worse. The young Sawbwa is drunken, licentious, violent, and superstitious. He harbours quacks, gamblers, and criminals from Burmah and other places, while the numerous Kachins on both sides of his valley are under no sort of control. They are constantly thieving and cattle-lifting on the British side. Several large Kachin villages above the north-east of the valley have openly revolted and expelled the lawful Shan owners from the rice fields, which they are now cultivating themselves, without paying any taxes. In 1903 the Chinese Commandant of the frontier regiment, Ma Wu Hsiang, a Panthay, was stationed at the Sawbwa's residence for some time, and composed matters; but this season I find that the young Sawbwa has again begun his reckless courses, he has been taking medicines which are supposed to render him bullet-proof, he has shot several persons in a drunken fit, and he has taken to seizing Kachin maidens and confining them in his harem for some time, a proceeding which demonstrates both his imprudence and his bad taste. Further disorders may be expected, and the Tengyueh officials do nothing to restore order. This State is consequently poor. A secondary trade route from Burmah to Tengyueh runs the length of the valley. The Meng Wan Sawbwa's principal wife is a daughter of Nan Tien.\n\n### 6. Meng Mao\n\nThis State is situated along the right bank of the Shweli above the confluence of the Nara Wan. It consists of some hill-land and a rich valley, some 27 miles by 5 miles, a large part of which is uncultivated. The hills at the back of the town between the State and Meng Wan are thickly populated by Kachins, who are under no sort of control, and levy blackmail or pillage in the valley. The Sawbwa, a man of about 30, is weak but not vicious; he cannot make much headway against his Kachins, and he has scanty resources in the way of money, but he has recently shown some activity in his administration. This State is off the main route; the town of Meng Mao (about 250 houses) has an old wall, and in the Burmah wars of the middle ages is said to have been the headquarters of a Taotai.\n\n## (C) Shan States in the Shweli Valley, on the left bank\n\n### 7. Chefang or Sefang\n\nThis State is limitrophe with the British Northern Shan States; it consists of the lower part of the basin of the Meng Kwan River, a tributary of the Shweli and of the surrounding hills, which are inhabited by very unruly Kachins. Even the main valley (20 miles by 4) is poor and thinly populated as it is subject to had inundations, and, even in the dry season, consists mainly of a reed-covered swamp. The Sawbwa is a man about 30, of the same original stock as the princely families of Meng Mao and Meng Wan; the administration of the State is fairly good; none of the Chinese Sawbwas has worse Kachins or makes such serious efforts to control them. The late father of the present Sawbwa was a believer in drastic measures, and it is said that he used to boil his Kachins in oil, or roast them over slow fires, in order to persuade them to better courses. An important trade route from Burmah, the Ruby Mines, and the Shan States to West Yünnan leads straight through the Chefang Valley. The road is well maintained, and, in spite of the Kachins, serious robberies hardly ever take place along it.\n\n### 8. Meng Kwan\n\nMeng Kwan, or, in Chinese, Mang Shih, situated north of Chefang, comprises the valley of the Upper Nam Kwan River and the hills surrounding it. The main valley of this State, which on the east is limitrophe with the Chinese sub-Prefecture of Lung Ling, is some 16 miles by & in extent, and is both fertile and densely populated. With the possible exception of Kangai, the State is considered to be the richest near the border. Near the Sawbwa's residence there is a considerable bazaar resorted to by numerous Chinese caravans in the cold weather. The main Burmah Chefang-Lung Ling road goes through the State. The town, like all Shan towns (which are merely large villages), has a dilapidated appearance; lean pigs, ruined pagodas, heaps of cow-dung, majestic pipul trees, mean mud or bamboo wattle huts, lofty bamboo groves, and slatternly women exuding betel chew from their dirty mouths. This valley is very feverish; the hills round it, however, have been settled by Chinese from West Yunnan, and there are but few Kachins. The Sawbwa (clan name Fang) is a young man, weak and superstitious Buddhist, but his rule is not oppressive. The Sawbwa and the State have recently been brought to the brink of ruin by the \"squeezing\" operations of the Chinese Mandarins, of which I shall speak later at length.\n\n### 9. Meng Ting\n\nMeng Ting is another State further to the south, to which I may refer, though it does not otherwise come within the purview of this report. Meng Ting comprises the low-lying valley of the Nam Ting River which joins the Salwen from the east at Kunlong ferry. The State is a small one and is in a condition of disorder owing to the neglect of the Chinese, the incompetence of the Sawbwa, and the influence of the bad counsellors by whom he is surrounded. Notorious dacoits are constantly harboured in this State, and the Sawbwa is always quarrelling with his neighbours. Representations concerning Meng Ting have been made at Yunnan-fu, and a Chinese Deputy has been sent, who will meet the British Superintendent of the Northern Shan States, and endeavour to settle outstanding cases, and to suggest some means for the better government of the State in the future. If the Kunlong Railway ever materializes, it will run along this valley which is marshy, tropical, and malarious.\n\nThe population of the Shan States under China can only be given in the form of a rough approximation to the number of families who pay taxes and are supposed to ...\n\nPage 422", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-330 - Public Offices - 1905.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 397942, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-330 - Public Offices - 1905", "page_number": 432, "title": "CO129-330 - Public Offices - 1905", "content_text": "# the peace of the border and to prevent the Sawbwas being subjected to oppression and extortion on our account or on any other account.\n\nWhen such cases occur, the Consul must largely be guided by the opinion of the Government of Burmah in the particular matter. If the Shan State involved is far from the frontier and the trade routes, and no charges of intriguing with the outer people have been preferred, the advisability of Consular intervention would be doubtful, but when a charge of imaginary treason with Burmal is trumped up, or when, as in the case of Kangai, the Sawbwa, attacked is one—the security of whose State is essential to the peace of the border and the due exercise of our own commercial rights, then the case for intervention is very strong, and so long as I have the honour to be employed here, I propose to intervene, subject to any instructions that I may receive to the contrary.\n\nI am now addressing a note to the Taotai, in which I assume, in order to \"save his face,\" that the Mang Shih and other cases have been the work of his subordinates. I call upon him to take efficient measures to suppress the practice of extortion of the frontier Sawbwas, and inform him that any further abuse of the name of the Government of Burmah in connection with such unsavoury affairs will be at once referred by me to His Majesty's Minister, and is likely to lead to unpleasant consequences to the officials concerned.\n\n## Inclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\nI have, &c. \n**(Signed)** \nG. LITTON.\n\n## Extract from Intelligence Report, Tengyueh, January 30, 1905.\n\n### State of the Frontier.\n\nIn January 1905 a meeting took place near Meng Mao on the frontier, between the British officials and Ma, the Chinese Frontier Commandant, and the representatives of the Shan Sawbwas.\n\nPractically all the outstanding Bhamo cases concerning frontier matters were settled, and the stolen property or its equivalent handed over to us, while we had to pay to Meng Mao 185 rupees in respect of two cases where the offenders were British subjects. The Consulate records are not quite complete, but since the last frontier meeting in January 1904, when fourteen small cases were outstanding, thirty Bhamo frontier cases have been reported, all, with one exception, through the Deputy Commissioner, making in all a total of forty-four frontier cases for the year. There were no serious raids into British territory, and the cases were mostly minor cattle thefts. All but four cases have been settled; of these four, one is serious, consisting of robbery with deadly weapons, just on the Chinese side of the border when a caravan of five beasts, belonging to a British Chinaman who was badly shot in the thigh, was carried off by Pang Wai Kachins; the animals have been recovered, but we propose in this case to endeavour to extract further compensation. The other three unsettled cases are petty matters which will, I hope, be soon adjusted. Since the meeting, a bad case of robbery with violence on a Chinese Shan by British Kachins has been reported from Lung Chuan (Meng Wan), and is under inquiry.\n\nThe property and money restored by the Chinese to British subjects represents a value of 2,500 rupees (about) for the year 1904-1905.* \n\nVarious \"frontier cultivation\" cases were also gone into. The Boundary Commissioners agreed that any cultivation rights exercised in China by British subjects, or in Burmah by Chinese subjects, should be preserved to them by mutual Agreement, after demarcation, but might not be extended. Under this arrangement, it appears that the Chinese subjects who cultivate in our territory are more numerous than the British subjects who cultivate in China. If, then, as the Chinese Chefang Sawbwa demands, we withdraw our cultivators from his State, other Chinese Sawbwas must withdraw their cultivators from British territory, and in the end, China would be the loser. It is hoped that no further friction will occur as to these cultivation questions, which, if not dealt with, are liable to lead to serious affrays.\n\n*As against forty-four cases, 3,000 rupees, for 1903-1904.\n\nPage 425\n\nOn the whole, there is a distinct improvement in the condition of the frontier so far as international matters are concerned, and in the manner in which the Commandant on the Chinese side deals with cases. Considerable credit is due to him, though, of course, the line of posts and the considerable force of frontier military police which the British maintain is the real guarantee of peace along the border.\n\nThe Meng Mao Sawbwa is decidedly more awake to the necessity of keeping his frontier in order than he was; but his Shans still have to pay blackmail to Kachins. The internal condition of Meng Wan (Lung Chuan), on the other hand, is going from bad to worse, and, generally speaking, it is still true that Burmah is put to a heavy expense for the maintenance of military police on the border, who would not be necessary if the Chinese Administration did its duty. In no single frontier case were the guilty parties punished; for the Chinese to punish a Kachin would probably mean a punitive expedition against his village, or the commencement of a feud between the man's relatives and the local Chinese. Commandant Ma is anxious to avoid anything of that kind. The total sum which he receives for the upkeep of two regiments (nominally 450 men), including arms, ammunition, equipment, food, clothing, and housing is only 28,000 rupees a-year at most. If he indulged in any fighting, he would have to pay even for the cartridges used. What he practically does is to take a contract, by which he agrees with the Tengyueh officials to keep the frontier reasonably quiet, and to satisfy the British officials when cases do occur.\n\nSo long as they are not pressed to take any troublesome action or to cash up money, and so long as their conduct is not officially impugned by the Consul, the Tengyueh Mandarins do not care in the very least what happens on the frontier. Of course, Commandant Ma has really only some 100 men in all. The mere fact that he does his duty to a certain extent, that he is on good terms with the British officers, and that by personally moving up and down the frontier, often, horrible to relate, in a short coat and straw sandals, he manages to settle cases to which we call his attention, have been a fruitful source of spiteful accusations against him by the gentry and yamên folk at Tengyueh, but I have done what I can to support this energetic, if illiterate, officer.\n\nIt must be admitted that the precise means by which Ma gets satisfaction for us in these cases are not quite clear, and probably involve some injustice, though less than would be entailed if we get no satisfaction at all. Sometimes he makes the Sawbwas pay blackmail to redeem the stolen cattle from the Kachin thieves; sometimes he makes the Sawbwas produce other cattle or rupees, which, as likely as not, are extracted from the unlucky villagers. In some cases, I think that Ma pays himself. He is generally supposed to make some 5,000 rupees a-year clear profit out of his office, so if he occasionally has to pay a few hundreds, no great harm is done.\n\nThe Chinese Kachin villages responsible for these offences and the offenders' names are well known, both to the British and the Chinese officials; the exemplary punishment of two or three villages and the establishment of military posts among them by the Chinese would doubtless cause an almost entire cessation of frontier crime, and it may be thought that we ought to press energetically for the immediate undertaking of military operations by the Chinese.\n\nThe Kachin districts which, though within the Chinese border, are under no sort of effective control, are—\n\n1. A large tract near the Burmah frontier among the hills which rise above the right bank of the Taping River (excepting the Peng Hsi hill, which is under control). This uncontrolled tract stretches north along the frontier of our Burmah and Mytkina districts. The names of the villages are unknown to the Tengyueh officials. Nothing which happens there is ever reported to them, save occasionally by the Consul; no taxes are paid, and, in fact, China has no more control over these hills than if they were in the centre of Africa.\n\n2. Further south, on the left of the Taping River, the hills which form the divide between Labsa and Lung Chuan are in a very similar condition, except where the main track crosses the hills. One group of villages on this range, Pang Wui, is close to our border, and is responsible for many frontier crimes.\n\n3. The Kachins, who inhabit the divide between Meng Wan (Lung Chuan) and Meng Mao, are practically independent. This range stretches for some 30 miles, and in no part of it, except along the main route from Meng Mao to Meng Wan, is there a particle of Chinese authority.\n\n4. The Kachins in the hills all round Chefang are also quite independent of control. All the Sawbwa can do is to prevent the wild men raiding his plain, and he cannot always do that.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-330 - Public Offices - 1905.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 405214, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-334 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [5-7]", "page_number": 409, "title": "CO129-334 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [5-7]", "content_text": "# \n14 \n\nOn Saturday, October 21st, the members of all Units took part in a small Field Day in the New Territory; they showed a keen interest in the proceedings and I think were enabled to acquire some knowledge of taking cover, fire control, &c., &c. \n\nThe Hongkong Volunteer Troop also took part on this occasion and gained experience in embarking and disembarking their ponies. It is now proposed to add more of this form of exercise to the drill season. \n\nHongkong Volunteer Engineers.-The Engineer Company attended the Camp better than in any previous year and were put through a very thorough course by the R.E. Mechanists; they also undertook the lighting of the whole Camp by electricity with great success. \n\n## Gun Practice \nPreliminary instructional practice with the Maxim Guns was carried out on 3 occasions on the Range, and the men were practised in quickly getting the gun again into action after a jam. Practice was carried out from four 15-pr. B.L. Guns from Stone-cutters Island, North Shore, on October 28th. Targets were placed on the slopes of Chung Hue. \n\nThe practice was carried out by sections instead of as a battery as in the case of previous years, this being a better training for the Officers for the actual duties they would be required to carry out on mobilisation. \n\nOn the 23rd October, the practice was elementary for the special instruction of the Section Officers and Gun Layers and was therefore slowly carried out; 4 Series were fired, the target for each series being 3 screens and 12 dummies representing 3 field guns, 6 men standing and 6 kneeling, the ranges varied from 3,050 to 3,350 yards. \n\n| Series | Rounds Fired | Targets Hit | Screens Hit | Range (yards) |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| 1-4 | 64 | 16/48 dummies | 10/12 screens | 3,050-3,350 |\n| Last Series | 14 | 6/15 targets | ... | 3,300 |\n\n64 rounds were fired and the results were good; altogether 16 dummies out of 48 and 10 screens out of 12 were put out of action - total number of actual bullet holes 90. The best series being the last under Captain SKINNER at a range of 3,300, in which 14 rounds were fired and 6 of the 15 targets were hit. \n\nOn 28th October, the positions of the targets were changed; four series were again fired, 10 gun detachments were present and all took part; there was a very marked improvement in the rapid service of the guns in most cases, and the Range Officer reported that there was a much larger percentage of effective rounds and the ground all about the targets was ploughed up by shell and bullet holes although in many cases the dummies were not actually hit. \n\n71 rounds were fired, and 16 dummies and 5 screens were put out of action. \n\nThe best and quickest series was fired by the Right Half No. 2 Company under Captain ARMSTRONG; they fired 16 rounds in 9.4 minutes and killed 8 dummies out of 12 and all the screens. \n\nAll the squads were changed out to the Maxim Guns and fired at barrel targets, with good results. \n\nOne Maxim gun jammed frequently; this fault had been found with this gun at preliminary instructional practice on the Range and the gun had been thoroughly overhauled by the Armourer-Sergeant who replaced the old barrel with a new one. The fault was due to the connecting rod; new ones had been ordered for some time for all the guns but have not yet arrived in the Colony. \n\nColonel KENT, C.R.A., inspected the men at this practice, and His Excellency the Governor and His Excellency the G.O.C. were present. The C.R.A. reported favourably on the practice. \n\n## Musketry \nClass firing was carried out more thoroughly than in previous years, and 168 Officers and men fired the course; a good average was obtained. \n\nThe Officers and Staff Sergeants carried out Revolver Practice, showing a marked improvement on last year. \n\n## Inspection \nHis Excellency the Governor inspected the Camp on October 23rd and saw the Corps on parade; he stated that the arrangements were very satisfactory. \n\nHis Excellency the General Officer Commanding inspected the Camp and the Corps on October 29th. He informed the Officers and men on parade that he saw a distinct improvement; the gun drill was well carried out and with far greater rapidity than in previous years. \n\nThe field day showed that the Corps had made a distinct advance, and he was glad to see that points which he had noticed on former occasions at drill and in the state of the Camp had been corrected. \n\nThe O.C.R.A. inspected the Artillery Units at Gun Practice and reported favourably. The O.C.S.M., R.E., carried out an examination of the members of the Engineer Company in their duties as electricians and engine-drivers and, except in the case of one man, reported very favourably on the results of the examination and the progress that had been made during the Camp. \n\n## Medical Officer's Report \nLieutenant C. FORSYTH, the Corps Medical Officer, was present every night during the Camp and was of great assistance to me in keeping the Camp in a good sanitary condition. The Hospital tent was fitted with greater comfort than in former years; beds with mosquito curtains were put up, but were not occupied. \n\nLieutenant FORSYTH reported as follows: \n\"I have practically no comments to make, as with a little supervising everything went splendidly; the food and drink were good, the latrines were kept in good order, and beyond a few cases of mild diarrhoea and some very minor surgical accidents nothing of a medical nature happened.\" \n\n## Discipline \nThe discipline of all ranks was excellent. \n\n## Remarks \nThe work done during the Camp was extremely good and the extension of the period from 10 to 16 days proved a great success, as I hoped; the extra knowledge gained by all ranks resulting in a far higher state of efficiency than has been attained in former years. \n\nNumerous improvements were introduced into the Camp; the most important being the thorough lighting of the Camp with electric light by the Engineer Company, the greater comfort of the Hospital tent, and an improved ablution place for the men. \n\nThe Officers attended the Camp even better than in previous years; every Officer present in the Colony attended nearly the whole time; the average attendance of Officers being 12 out of 13 each day. \n\nCaptain ARMSTRONG's Company, Right Half No. 2 Company H.K.V.A., showed a record attendance; every man attending Camp except those on leave. \n\nThe Corps Sergeant-Major gave me the greatest assistance as usual and the Corps Armourer-Sergeant and the Instructors all carried out their duties to the satisfaction of all ranks. \n\nThe Naval Range and the revolver range were very kindly placed at the disposal of the Corps by Commodore WILLIAMS, and the arrangements made by the Petty Officer and his assistants to enable the members of the Corps to complete their musketry course were very satisfactory. \n\nI have, &c., \n\n**C. G. PRITCHARD, Major, Commandant, Hongkong Vol. Corps.** \n\nHis Excellency the General Officer Commanding made the following comments on the above Camp Report: \n\"This is a satisfactory report, for it shows progress all round and the attainment of greater proficiency. The good attendance is the outward and visible sign of the determination of all ranks to improve themselves.\" \n\n15 \n6", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-334 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [5-7].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 405883, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-335 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [8-10]", "page_number": 425, "title": "CO129-335 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [8-10]", "content_text": "him, that he had her passed over for Capt Banes. Laurence the Singapore post sing he was senior to had ist he\n\ngüke\n\nBry\n\ngrodinkin arking officially Commander Radcliffe, was there\n\nrecord against him?\n\nts\n\ntyy\n\nI assurd ni\n\nnothing\n\nthe kind\n\nIt is obviously distant med\n\nI told if anything\n\nthat the\n\n& if he is passed over now,\n\nI fear he will become almost-\n\nAga 41.\n\nuseless, having nothing to look forward to\n\nCCM **\n\n2.\n\nLi B.N. is now Commanding\n\nCommander Macintyre\n\nIs a Commandant\n\na R.K.R. yung\n\nlist. Age\n\nPenang (38343. & al 444 Strait)\n\nB.I. 3. M. Captain\n\n& is straight recommender by Sir J. Markay. Wit- Capt Bolder has the worst possible opinion\n\nhaveror it is clear for the Gas- the newe\n\nhur (see. 38343). Closing passage of this despatchle that an\n\nis wanted.\n\nfrom 1903.\n\nnaval officer Has an Ir Kuriks hum his service dates only\n\nLu\n\naim Age 42.\n\nLast\n\n3.\n\nche legge of\n\nColanto\n\nnor win in\n\nHe was wit in the navy\n\nCommanded a\n\n35\n\n(see 40394) Aged as\n\nCh\n\nbas he the R.N.R: wor eve\n\nP.To stran,\n\nmarchant vesund. He was first officer an a\n\nthe effo datos aly from many 1901!\n\nis not wathe considering.\n\nA\n\nI think he\n\nJugne-ve\n\nho\n\nFr. I think Comms Payla to a dom\n\nth\n\nwhich\n\nCannot\n\nfirmation To fost in withs outin la infeclitic\n\nWi\n\nI aque\n\nmjast.\n\n6/\n\n1. sürgorded.\n\nhis head\n\nCommander Taglor\n\nentitled to the promotion; and in that\n\nI think, from what the for. Supps of Lunt Beckwith, that he wo make\n\nFor the fork of\n\nAssistant if he\n\nIuccess in the Acting Appet\n\nfood successor\n\nper proses\n\nbulers for Star's has\n\na\n\nreally remarkable candidate\n\nI have not\n\nIN Zucas\n\nI have\n\nH\n\nAll him\n\nin po\n\nFlow\n\nFell for\n\n~ that\n\nwhat\n\nCa\n\nAnd I\n\n0\n\nBut see Sus\n\nThe\n\nof thate Commander Taylon's claims count b.\n\nan injustice. sgnosed with aut doing kün\n\nIf he is appd.\n\nas to salay\n\nhis further redumandations\n\nwe will await.\n\npory Asst lich. the holding\n\nit at ɗt Backwitte sad ho wamed that\n\nthe acting app to count to\n\n15 реми\n\nIn view of\n\nanthir\n\nthe recommendation of\n\nSi H. Blake in\n\n\"the repeated recommendation of\n\nOct.\n\ntunately\n\na claus\n\n1903\n\n751 774\n\nbaken regarded\n\nOy\n\nEstablishing\n\nthe\n\nAK\n\nagree\n\nLA\n\nDr.\n\n1.16711\n\n420\n\nha sitation as to Commander Taylor:\n\nmichinad\n\nгрне\n\nAA\n\nLesit. Pr. Mently\n\nCast\n\n17 Nr.\n\n(Tipt: Pannes Laurence was preferred to Capt. Tarion\n\non the lost occasion as\n\nthe\n\nhaving been longer in the clas furice & been very highly spoken of as captain of fort at Gihalton. In my opinion wllly there is the question that Capt. Paylor should now be promoted; and to supersede again bitint fustification C.Pd. 2...\n\n27219.11 2\n\nhim\n\nwould be", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-335 - Governor Nathan - 1906 [8-10].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 406037, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-336 - Governor Nathan & Public Offices - 1906 [11-12]", "page_number": 12, "title": "CO129-336 - Governor Nathan & Public Offices - 1906 [11-12]", "content_text": "CONFIDENTIAL.\n\nHongkong\n\nCo.\n\nJ.R. Chancellor\n\nSec. coc 15.1.07.\n\nMy Lord,\n\nReferring to Your Lordship's Confidential Despatch of the 11th. July last, I have the honour to state that I have given further and full consideration to the recommendation contained originally in paragraph 5 of the Colonial Defence Committee's Remarks No. 364, dated the 21st. February, 1905, and repeated in paragraphs 4 and 5 of their Remarks No. 397, dated the 16th. June, 1906, that the different corps of the Hongkong Volunteers should cease to be under a Commandant when that office is vacated by the present holder, and that I adhere to the opinion communicated to Mr. Lyttelton in my Confidential Despatch of the 7th. July, 1905, that it is inadvisable to do away with this appointment but that when Captain (local Major) C. G. Pritchard, R.A., vacates it on April 1st., 1907, it should be held by a civilian. I am satisfied that matters will work more smoothly with the Volunteers\n\nTHE RIGHT HONOURABLE\n\nTHE EARL OF ELGIN, K.G.\n\n&C.\n\n&C...\n\nGovernment House,\n\nHongkong, 1st.November, 1906.\n\nPage 16.1\n\n287144\n\nwww.fides at once\n\nbar Colle\n\n4.0\n\nLetters attached\n\nadn't have concurrod\n\n27747.\n\nSeid additional copies of Remarks Kwo\n\nSay that the is appel unpaid appli\n\nof lior Chapman to ask whether the an\n\nKam ohjan to paling staff fficer bing Hered\n\nHafla Thaupsa so infa\n\nSankey additional copy of Rs. to (4) so wite o far.\n\nhis copies.\n\nFalso 43 do 4/443694 9 Rod 1 DEC-06\n\nNo 421R (paras. 7-9) Submitted on CO. 27747/06.\n\nDealt with by car in their Remarks\n\n \nPage XX information is kept as is.\n\nNo changes were made to the original content other than minor formatting adjustments to comply with the requested output format. The original text contained many errors and unclear parts likely due to OCR issues. The response maintains the original content as closely as possible while adhering to the specified output guidelines.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-336 - Governor Nathan & Public Offices - 1906 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 407914, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "page_number": 378, "title": "CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906", "content_text": "373\n\n2\n\ncommitted what in English law would be perjury of a very serious nature, I have the honour to request your sanction to my asking the Governor at Nan Chiang to award to the latter some suitable, but not vindictive, punishment. As far as the evidence at the trial went, Hsiao Fa should either have been liberated or condemned to death.\n\nRewards.-I cannot but regard the manner in which this part of the stipulations made by His Majesty's Government has been carried out by the Chinese authorities as most unsatisfactory. The revised list of Chinese who exerted themselves to protect the lives and property of foreigners whose names I brought to Sir Ernest Satow's notice, and to each of whom a substantial reward was to be given, is contained in Mr. Carnegie's despatch. I have the honour to report as follows upon the rewards so far allotted to the various officers and men named therein :-\n\nHung Wei-lin, Commodore of the River Fleet, and Wu Chén-jo, Deputy in the Foreign Bureau, have been placed next on the list for promotion. This is too uncertain; they should at once be promoted to the rank of Chih Chou.\n\nWu Melting, captain of a gunboat, to be promoted to the next Ying vacancy. Should he at once be made a Ying Kuan, preferably at Kiukiang, that being his wish.\n\nHsu Tê-fên, Deputy in the Industrial School; Chiên K'uei (not in original list); Sun Lang, Police Deputy; Hsu Hui-Chuan, ditto; Liu Hung-lin (not in the original list); Shên Fu-hêng, of the Ching Ch'a Chu. When vacancies occur, their cases will be considered. This is too indefinite; they should be given the rank of Chih Chou, and sent immediately to fill acting posts.\n\nLiu Kuo-tung, Squadron Commander; Chên Chin-tang, Commandant of the Ch'ang Fei Chun; Hung Chan-k'uei, Major in the Right Battalion, Kêng Ch'ao-t'ai, Superintendent of the Mint; Liu Chu-shu, Lieutenant-Colonel of the City Guard; Wang Te-sheng, Captain of the City Guard, Liu Hsin-ch'uan, Captain of Cavalry: Tsao Tê-fu, an Inspector of the 1st Battalion of the Territorial Army; Ho Huan-wên, Lieutenant of Cavalry, Wang Hsi-lin, ditto; Pan Têng-hsien, ditto; Hsu Tzo-chün, Sergeant of the Provincial Garrison. These cases have not yet been considered, owing to a change of the Taotai in charge of military matters. Each case should be carefully considered, and definite promotion given immediately; otherwise nothing may be done for three to five years, or the matter may be overlooked altogether.\n\nPao Chiêng haang, of the Chồng Shou Ying; Pao Pu-kuei, ditto; Heung 1-shéng (Hsiung Lan-sen), of the Chang Pei Chün. These have received 7 taels each. They exerted themselves strenuously throughout the day of the massacre, and the reward must be considered inadequate. It cannot be construed as a \"substantial\" reward, as stipulated, and should be trebled at least.\n\nChang Ya-chan and Lü Chin-piao, of the Ching Cha Chü, have received 55 dollars and 45 dollars respectively. This may be considered sufficient.\n\nChu Ping-kun, of the Ching Cha Chi, is to be sent to Japan to study (probably for a military career). This, being at his own request, will, if carried out, be sufficient compensation for his voluntary aid to the missionaries in distress.\n\nI submit that the above list hardly indicates that this portion of the conditions imposed by His Majesty's Government has been carried out in the right spirit, and Had it not been that its immediate and adequate fulfilment should be insisted upon, for the courage and exertions of those named, it is probable that most of the missionaries in Nan Ch'ang at the time would have been murdered and all the Mission buildings destroyed. The sympathy, bravery, and hard work of what may be regarded as a small, but just-minded, pro-foreign party, ready to do right, even on behalf of aliens, in face of the risk of official disapproval, are characters and acts calling for commendation and encouragement, and it is to be feared that if the Governor at Nan Chang is not compelled to fulfil the stipulation as to granting a substantial reward to each of those named in Mr. Carnegie's note to Prince Ching of the 27th June last, since it cannot but be known that the stipulation has been made, the failure to insist upon its proper fulfilment will be regarded as a sign of weakness or indifference, and the name of foreigners and the cause of foreign Missions in Nan Chiang be in so far prejudiced. In those cases where it is impossible to immediately find a substantive post of higher grade, promotion in rank accompanied by an adequate pecuniary reward should at once be given.\n\nOf the names omitted from the revised list, Pao Fang, Miss Warr's writer, exerted himself throughout the day and part of the night, and was probably the means of Miss Warr's life being saved. This man and Chen p'o p'o, the amah who saved the infant Vera Kingham, should not be allowed to go unrewarded.\n\nThat a feeling of disappointment exists amongst those who, instead of deserting the missionaries in the hour of danger, worked hard on their behalf, and in many cases saved their lives and protected their property, is shown by the following extract from a letter, dated the 11th September, received by me from the Rev. A. E. Thor, of the China Inland Mission at Nan Ch'ang:-\n\n\"I have asked a good many, direct and indirect, if So-and-so has been rewarded, but always the same answer 'No,' and no one seems to think there will be any. To-day Liu Kuch-tung, of the cavalry camp, came in to have a chat; I asked him about the reward. He laughed and said: 'Reward there will be none, but a few days ago a note was sent to us from the General, which he had received from Peking, in which we were thanked for good service rendered the country, and that five names (mine being one) were put in the book of honour amongst those who have rendered good service to the country, and that is all we will get. If this country is too poor (as they always say) to give these men higher rank and as such more pay, it seems to me that the Chinese Government could afford to give their officers higher kong-ming' (degree). That would cost the Government nothing, but would work wonders amongst those who get it. Now, they all seem disappointed, as they had expected something, as the Governor cried out during the riot: 'A thousand taels to any one who saves a foreigner.'\n\nI submit that the Governor at Nan Chang should be instructed by telegraph to see that the stipulations of the two Governments are carried out immediately and in a proper spirit.\n\nCompensation. The sum of 4,700l.—the amount agreed upon as compensation for the destroyed property of the late Rev. H. C. Kingham and for the support of the infant, Margaret Vera Kingham-was received by me to-day (the 18th September) from the Governor of Nan Ch'ang, through the Prefect (the Taotai being in attendance upon his dying mother), to whom I gave a receipt. By the instructions of His Majesty's Chief Judge at Shanghae I have deposited the 700l. in the Hong Kong and Shanghae Banking Corporation, Shanghae, in an account named \"His Britannic Majesty's Consul, Kiukiang, a/c K.,\" and the 4,000, in the same bank in London to the account of \"His Britannic Majesty's Chief Judge, Supreme Court, Shanghae.\"\n\nAll the other claims for personal property destroyed having, as already reported, been settled satisfactorily by the former Governor, Hu Ting-kan, there remains only the question of the new piece of land which it was agreed should be granted to the missionaries for the purpose of erecting buildings in which to carry on the work begun by the late Rev. H. C. Kingham and his wife. The 700l. paid as compensation for the late Mr. Kingham's property having included the land on which the house and chapel had been erected, I have stated to the Rev. H. E. Pownall, representing the Stewards' Company (of which Mr. Kingham was a member), that this new piece of land, which obviously cannot form part of Mr. Kingham's estate, may be considered as the property of the Stewards' Company, given to them for the carrying on of the work interrupted by the death of Mr. Kingham, feeling that this course would meet with your sanction and approval. Further negotiations as to whether the same site shall be granted, or whether it will be advisable to rebuild the Mission premises at a greater distance from the Roman Catholic Mission (their proximity having led to their destruction during the late massacre), are under correspondence between the missionaries, the Nan Chang officials, and myself, and will probably shortly reach a satisfactory conclusion.\n\nSettlement and Guardianship.-After correspondence with the Supreme Court at Shanghae, I have suggested the appointment of the Rev. H. E. Pownali and Rev. R. J. Hopkins as trustees for the minor, Margaret Vera Kingham. Owing to the absence of the parties, I have not yet taken the hearing for the appointment of a guardian, and if, as seems probable from what Mr. Pownall has stated, Mr. Hopkins or he would prefer to be guardian rather than trustee, another reliable person nearly connected will be appointed joint trustee with one or the other. The matter will be proceeded with as soon as possible, and the Crown Advocate at Shanghae will then be instructed to draw up a deed of settlement, a draft of which will be forwarded for your approval.\n\nA claim for the guardianship of the infant, Margaret Vera Kingham, has been made, though as yet only in an informal manner, in private letters to Mrs. Pownall and Mrs. Hopkins by a Mr. Percy Kingham, a hotel-keeper of Drummond, South Africa, brother of the late Rev. H. C. Kingham, but being satisfied from information gathered from various sources that his guardianship would not be to the interests of the ward, and the Chief Judge concurring in my view, the appointment of a guardian will be proceeded with irrespective of any claim which he may see fit to set up.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) E. T. C. WERNER.\n\n3\n\n373", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-338 - Public Offices & Others - 1906.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 412071, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 571, "title": "CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "## 6 is to use taxation as a prohibitory measure. If the price were to be doubled suddenly it would not be the loss of market that would be feared, but encroachments upon the market by the clandestine sale of prepared drug. Formerly at Hsuchou and Haichou, in Kiangpei, there were many who clandestinely sold prepared opium. If in one day the price of opium were suddenly doubled the profit to be made would be immense, and licensed opium would be driven out of the market by illicit sale, and this would, it is to be feared, militate against the suppression of opium smoking.\n\nYour new scheme of increasing the price by one-tenth per annum is quite consistent with the idea of the suppression of opium by degrees, and it is the duty of the Anti-Opium Bureau to check sales and collect the tax. An amount of the resulting income to be determined on should be handed over in lieu of the original tax on prepared opium, and the rest should be utilized for the expenses of the anti-opium movement.\n\nAs to the expedient regarding the opium shops, this is a measure in consideration of the poor; and of the prepared opium shops, few are to be found which do not provide facilities for smoking on the premises, or which confine their business to the sale of prepared opium. These are to be licensed as retail dealers in prepared opium. The names and addresses of the proprietors of the shops are first to be collected, and these must be made to give a bond not to allow smoking on the premises, and must obtain reciprocal security from others of the same trade. When licensed and registered on the official list they are to be allowed to carry on business. From that time forward shops may be closed, but no new shops opened, and fraudulent assumption of names and transfer of ownership, and other frauds of this character, will be strictly dealt with.\n\nThe original scheme as now amended by you is hereby indorsed as approved, and should be put into operation.\n\nThe various measures which have been submitted to me, with my revisions, should be embodied in the form of a Circular Report, and sent to all the higher authorities.\n\n\"Hsin Wen Pao\" of the 5th April:\n\nChu Taotai, head of the Li-kin farm at Soochow, and the officials of the head Li-kin Office at Shanghae, after discussion some days ago, requested the Governor to authorize a Regulation that private individuals purchasing raw opium should pay an increase of the price of 30 cash per ounce. The Governor decided yesterday that as the newly-established bureau for the control and taxation of prepared opium had instituted the measure of raising the price, the old practice of collecting opium duty by \"farming\" should be abolished, and he instructed his subordinates accordingly.\n\n## 3. Attitude of Officials and Movement in the Official Circles\n\n\"Shen Pao,\" of the 15th May:\n\nThe anti-opium movement is being actively carried out at Soochow, but at Nanking there is no sign of activity. This is said to be due to the tastes of his Excellency (probably the Provincial Treasurer). It is impossible to expect instant obedience to the orders against smoking. We hear that the Viceroy has decided upon a new Regulation, that, whether substantive or expectant, all officials shall be guaranteed by two others, and should any subterfuge be discovered all three will have to resign. In this wise every one will have to look after his own position, and there cannot be any secret aiding and abetting from motives of friendship.\n\n\"Chung Wai Jih Pao,\" of the 17th March:\n\nThe expectant officials in Soochow city are being carefully watched for opium smoking and have already given bonds, details regarding which have been embodied in a report to the Governor. It is now said that, as Governor Ch'en finds that as the bonds detailed in the report are mainly those of officials stationed in Soochow, and that as there are many detailed on special service who have been omitted, he has given orders that Lu Taotai and others, who are in charge of the investigation, shall make a fresh report, and should there be any officials who have been omitted from the previous one, they must be included forthwith and made to give a definite undertaking to be handed in within a given date. No delay or evasion can be permitted. This must not be disregarded.\n\n\"Shen Pao,\" of the 4th April:\n\nYang, Commandant of the Soochow Active Regulars, discovered that his second local regiment is full of opium smokers, and that the artillery is in a worse state, so gave orders to the officers of his regiment that they were to enforce the cessation of opium smoking among the men within a fortnight. At the expiration of this time the troops must be paraded at head-quarters for inspection by the Commandant. Should any of them try to conceal the fact that they are addicted to the habit, they will be at once struck off the list. The officers have communicated this to the men, and have ordered them to obey.\n\nThe \"Shih Pao,\" of the 8th April, says:\n\nGives an item of news which has excited interest among the Chinese in Shanghae, and although it cannot be said to pertain to the district under notice, yet it may be of sufficient significance as to warrant its inclusion in this Report. The \"Shih Pao\" Chekiang officials are being carefully watched for opium smoking. A register of the opium smoking officials has been drawn up, and a report been made concerning them, and six months has been the time limit laid down for their cessation of opium smoking. No pretexts will be admitted or concealment allowed, and any who break the rule will be impeached. Clerks in yamêns must also observe this time limit. Hsin, Provincial Treasurer, has discovered that the keeper of the Provincial Treasures, Pi Ting, is an opium smoker, and although he had promised to give up smoking, he was ordered to leave his post and to wait till he had got over his craving, which fact was to be certified by a foreign doctor; he will then be allowed to return. His duties will be attended to by Chin Pin San, Secretary of Records, in addition to his own. The Treasurer hopes that all officials will take heed of this example made of an officer of his own yamên. Officials, whether substantive or deputies, who have the opium habit, will all be granted furlough to cure themselves. The Treasurer is actively carrying out the idea of the prohibitory edict.\n\n\"Hsin Wen Pao,\" of the 17th April:\n\nThe Governor considered that Lu, Proctor of the Bureau for Control and Taxation of Prepared Opium, was not discharging his duties satisfactorily and cashiered him, appointing Teng, a Prefect, to replace him. The latter assumed his duties on the 15th April.\n\nLiu Kuo Shun, Superintendent of the Central Anti-Opium Bureau, finds many difficulties in the way of the proper discharge of his duties, and on the 15th April went to tender his resignation to the Governor. His resignation was not accepted. (He is said to be indignant at the cashiering of Proctor Lu.)\n\n## 4. New Bureaux, &c.\n\n(a.) Bureau for Control and Taxation of Prepared Opium.\n\n(b.) Prohibition Anti-Opium Bureau.\n\n(c.) Bureau for the Surveillance of Opium Smokers. (See also above.)\n\nThere would seem to be little difference in the methods or personnel of the three Bureaux—in fact, the names may probably be correctly regarded as synonymous.\n\n\"Chung Wai Jih Pao,\" of the 17th March:\n\nIt has been reported to the Governor that the Bureau for the Surveillance of Opium Smoking is now in operation.\n\nNow that the Bureau for the Surveillance of Opium Smoking is established, Liu Tuotai, who is in charge, is anxious to secure the co-operation of the Anti-Opium Society of the gentry, to enable a strict control to be kept over the opium dealers. He has been in treaty with this Society for some time without attaining any definite conclusion, and much time has been wasted, and active operations have been commenced. We hear that Liu Taotai has had repeated instructions from the Governor pressing for action. Satisfactory arrangements have now been made, and the Bureau commenced operations some days ago.\n\nPage 509", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-344 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 412255, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 15, "title": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "## (No. 44. Confidential.)\n\nSir,\n\n### Inclosure 1 in No. 1.\n\n**Consul-General Fraser to Sir J. Jordan.**\n\nHankow, May 17, 1907.\n\nI HAVE the honour to report that a few days ago a Commandant (reserve) Baesens of the Belgian army, called at this office with a request to have four Chinese documents translated into English and also to execute before me an Agreement between the Belgian beneficiary under the three contracts with the Kansub authorities, M. Splingaerd, interpreter to the Belgian Legation at Peking, and himself, as representative of a financial group.\n\nTranslations of the three contracts are inclosed; the fourth M. Splingaerd stipulated should be kept secret.\n\nUnder the Agreement, which is for five years and renewable, M. Baesens is to find the necessary funds, estimated at about 1,000,000 fr. at 4¾ net and 5 per cent, a-year, and to form a Syndicate for this purpose, as well as to insure the due execution of the engagements entered into by M. Splingaerd. In return he is to be sole agent for the present and any future Concessions in Shensi and Kansuh granted to M. Splingaerd, including the boring of oil wells and refining of kerosene proposed by the Viceroy Shêng to that gentleman. M. Splingaerd is out on leave, and will act as Lanchou agent of the Syndicate, of which M. Baesens will be the Director in China.\n\nI inquired of M. Baesens, who gave as his reference the Chartered Bank of India, Australia, and China, why he brought Belgian business to the British Consulate.\n\nHe replied that his Syndicate's capital would mostly come from British capitalists, and that his own country was not powerful enough to give effective support in case of opposition, which, however, he did not anticipate. Moreover, the Belgian authorities would insist on M. Splingaerd giving the agency to the Banque Sino-Belge instead of to his Syndicate. He was proceeding to Peking shortly and would personally explain to you the position, but meanwhile he wished to ratify his Agreement with M. Splingaerd, and to obtain certified translations which could be shown to financiers in London. He had been adviser to Yuan Shih-k'ai for two years until Russian influence caused his recall to Belgium. After retiring from the army he came back to China, where Jung-Lu had promised him a post as adviser, only to find the Boxer trouble in full violence, and so he had turned his attention to mercantile business.\n\nMr. Combe translated the Chinese documents, of which M. Splingaerd keeps possession, and, after revision, I certified the correctness of his versions. I also witnessed the signatures to the Agreement of the two parties, who deposited one copy here.\n\nIn the \"Han Pao\" of yesterday I saw the inclosed garbled account of the grant of these Concessions and showed it to MM. Splingaerd and Baesens, who were aware of the students' opposition and did not fear any result from it.\n\nMy Japanese colleague called to-day inquiring about M. Baesens who was, he suspected, trying to arrange to supply funds for redemption of the Ching-Han Railway bonds this autumn.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n(Signed) \n**E. H. FRASER.**\n\n### Inclosure 2 in No. 1.\n\n**Agreements made between the High Authorities of the Province of Kansu and M. Splingaerd.**\n\n**(1.)**\n\nTHE Treasurer, the Judge, the Taotai, and the Chief Bureau of Agriculture, Works, Commerce, and Mines of Kansuh have now received instructions from Viceroy Sheng of Shensi and Kansuh permitting them to make an Agreement with M. Splingaerd, the Belgian Secretary of Legation, for the purchase of a set of machinery for gold-washing and for additional purchases of many appliances required for weaving woollen cloth. The matter has been mutually discussed and this preliminary draft Agreement drawn up embodying the following rules, specifying the machinery, its cost, and the method of conducting the schemes:\n\n| Article | Description |\n| --- | --- |\n| **Art. 1** | The gold-washing machinery will include a complete set of appliances for blasting, shaft-sinking, extracting the ore, crushing the stone, washing, refining and separating the gold, together with furnaces and boilers; nothing must be wanting. The actual cost of the necessary materials, freight, insurance, and customs dues from Belgium to Lanchou is reckoned at a total of 40,000 Lanchou taels. |\n| **Art. 2** | For the woollen factory, one complete set of up-to-date steam boilers; hot-water and heating boilers; driving engines, one set; wool-sorting machinery, two sets; machines for spinning thread, two sets; for winding thread, three sets; the necessary thread-twisting, wool-cutting, cloth-pressing, and pumping machines, each one set; with such leather belting and other fittings as are required at the works, and in addition packing, insurance, carriage, customs dues, and other expenses from Belgium to Lanchou, will actually cost 80,000 Lanchou taels. M. Splingaerd will make a separate list, for purposes of record, of the various miscellaneous articles required for use in the factory. |\n| **Art. 3** | In regard to the gold-washing machinery, M. Splingaerd guarantees its daily capacity to be 50,000 catties of ore, producing 20 Chinese ounces of gold. The cloth-weaving machinery is of three kinds, according to fineness, and M. Splingaerd guarantees its daily capacity to produce 500 Chinese feet of cloth 7 feet in breadth, also that the cloth may be dyed of any colour. For the cloth-weaving machinery a daily consumption of coal will be allowed at the rate of 2 tons, or in Chinese measure, 3,200 catties. |\n| **Art. 4** | The woollen factory will employ four foreigners-one cloth-weaver, one thread-spinner, one dyer, and one mechanical engineer. The salary of each will be 300 taels monthly. Two foreigners may be used for the gold-washing machinery, a mining engineer and an engineer-artificer, each drawing a salary of 300 taels monthly. All these will be engaged through the medium of M. Splingaerd in accordance with the Regulations which have hitherto governed the engagement of foreigners. But as regards employment of persons, the Director of the Bureau will have the controlling voice in deciding. The nationality of the men engaged is immaterial: the important point is ability to set up the machines, weave cloth, and work the gold. No outsider may interfere. |\n| **Art. 5** | The foreign artisans engaged must not neglect their work; if there is any neglect of work fines by the day will be deducted from their salary, and other more satisfactory workmen will be engaged in order that business may not be neglected. |\n| **Art. 6** | According to the new Regulations, whenever an Agreement is drawn up the Throne should be memorialized, and the Board written to; only after Imperial sanction is obtained can the matter be definitely settled. This Agreement for those two classes of machinery has been mutually discussed, and is signed as a preliminary draft Agreement. His Excellency Viceroy Shêng will be requested to memorialize and write for permission, and when that is obtained this draft Agreement will become an actual guarantee; if sanction is refused, it will be dropped and become waste paper. |\n| **Art. 7** | The full price of the two kinds of machinery is to be 120,000 taels. When the Throne's sanction has been obtained M. Splingaerd will receive 20,000 taels as first instalment. When the machinery is shipped from Belgium he will receive a second instalment of 20,000 taels. Three months after all the machinery has arrived in Kansuh and been set up complete, if the various kinds of cloth, coarse and fine, daily woven are really 500 Chinese feet, and if the daily amount of ore worked is really 50,000 catties, and produces 20 Chinese ounces of gold, M. Splingaerd will then further receive 80,000 taels as third instalment. If, however, the machinery is not fit for the purposes, or is not in accordance with the standard fixed by the Agreement, it will all be returned to M. Splingaerd to take back. The Kausuh Bureau will not pay a cash for it. The two previous instalments paid to M. Splingaerd, amounting to 40,000 taels, must also be refunded, and the Chief Bureau of Agriculture, Works, Commerce, and Mines of Kansuh will drop the business. But if payment of the third instalment has been authorized, there can be no withdrawal whatever. |\n| **Art. 8** | The woollen factory is the property of Kansuh, the gold works are a source of profit to Kansuh, and the machinery is bought on account of the public of Kansuh. M. Splingaerd acts merely as middleman to buy these two kinds of machinery, having knowledge of cloth-weaving and gold-washing. With all other matters he has no concern. The question of staff is to be dealt with from time to time by the Director of the Chief Bureau of Agriculture, Works, Commerce, and Mines of Kansuh. |", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 412495, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 255, "title": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "# Inclosure 7 in No. 1.\n\nM. Bapst to Sir J. Jordan.\n\n## M. le Ministre et cher Collègue,\n\nPékin, le 11 Juin, 1907.\n\nJE viens de recevoir votre lettre en date de ce jour et ne puis qu'être peiné de vous voir encore revenir sur l'initiative prise en 1903 par M. l'Amiral Bayle.\n\nCelui-ci pouvait avoir des raisons particulières pour entrer en composition avec \"Engineering and Mining Company\"; mais il n'avait aucune autorité pour agir ainsi, et il a été formellement désavoué.\n\nJe ne puis donc que vous répéter qu'il est impossible, aussi bien à la Légation de France à Pékin qu'au Ministère Français des Affaires Etrangères, de laisser faire état dans une discussion de la pièce signée par M. l'Amiral Bayle.\n\nVeuillez, &c. (Signé)\n\n## Inclosure 8 in No. 1.\n\nSir J. Jordan to M. Bapst.\n\nEDMOND BAPST,\n\nMy dear Colleague,\n\nPeking, June 12, 1907.\n\nYOU will, I feel sure, not fail to understand my position with regard to the procès-verbal of the 19th October, 1903, when I explain that I have no information of its having been disavowed by the French Government.\n\nThe latest information I have on the subject is contained in a note from M. Pichon to His Majesty's Ambassador in Paris, dated the 25th February last, in which his Excellency says ----\n\n\"Pour ce qui concerne le procès-verbal que votre Excellence m'a communiqué le 17 Décembre dernier, et qui avait trait à un examen des titres de propriété de ''Engineering,' mon Département n'ayant pas connaissance de ce document, j'ai interrogé à son sujet notre Légation à Pékin, dont je n'ai pas encore reçu la réponse.\"\n\nI should be grateful therefore if you will inform me when the formal disavowal of Admiral Bayle's procès-verbal was notified by the French Government, and in the meantime I should be glad if the examination into the Company's titles can be proceeded with.\n\nI avail, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\n## Inclosure 9 in No. 1.\n\nM. Bapst to Sir J. Jordan.\n\nDear Sir John,\n\nPeking, July 3, 1907.\n\nHERE is the sketch of a draft which has been made by the agent of the French Marine in North China. Of course a good many things can be modified.\n\nYours, &c. (Signed) EDMOND BAPST.\n\n# 7\n\n1. Les terrains actuellement occupés à Tsingvantao par l'armée et la marine Françaises indiqués en rouge sur le plan ci-annexé.\n2. Une parcelle sise au nord de ces terrains et contiguë à ceux-ci, parcelle bornée des bornes tricolores et indiquée en rouge sur le plan ci-annexé.\n\npar\n\n3. Une bande de terrain dont la marine Française a toujours eu l'usage comme voie d'accès de ses établissements à la mer entre la voie ferrée et les terrains Anglais et Allemand.\n\nCette bande est indiquée par deux bornes aux couleurs de France,\n\n4. Un terrain situé sur la butte et délimité le 19 Octobre, 1903, en présence du Vice-Amiral Commandant en chef l'Escadre Française d'Extrême-Orient et portant un mât de signaux permettant de communiquer avec la rade ainsi qu'une voie d'accès à ce terrain.\n\nLes terrains ci-dessus spécifiés sont indiqués sur le plan ci-annexé.\n\nLe Gouvernement Français déclare abandonner toute prétention sur les terrains actuellement bornés par des bornes tricolores à Tsingvantao, autres que les terrains faisant l'objet du présent bail.\n\nLe Gouvernement Français se réserve le droit de concéder tout ou partie des terrains qui lui sont loués à ces ressortissants, commerçants ou industriels.\n\nLa Compagnie accordera toute facilité pour débarquer et embarquer aux appontements de Tsingvantao tout matériel et tous approvisionnements destinés soit aux troupes Françaises de terre ou de mer, soit aux autorités civiles Françaises, et en assurera, le cas échéant, le transport à Tangho et réciproquement par la voie ferrée. Pour les transports dont il s'agit, la Compagnie n'appliquera que son tarif minimum.\n\nLa Compagnie s'engage à faciliter l'accès de ses quais de débarquement aux navires de commerce Français qui relâcheront à Tsingvantao et à les autoriser à user du wharf moyennant le paiement d'une redevance équitable, calculée sur la moyenne des redevances dans des conditions analogues dans le port de Tien-tsin.\n\nperçues Il reste entendu toutefois que, par suite des moyens restreints dont elle dispose, la Compagnie se réserve de faire bénéficier ses propres navires d'un droit de préférence pour l'usage de ses quais,\n\n## Inclosure 11 in No. 1.\n\nSir J. Jordan to M. Bapst.\n\nDear M. Bapst,\n\nPeking, July 9, 1907.\n\nDID not fail to communicate to Major Nathan a copy of the draft Agreement inclosed in the letter which you were good enough to address to me on the 3rd instant for the settlement of the outstanding land difficulty at Chingwantao between the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company and the French Government.\n\nI have now received a reply from Major Nathan expressing his regret that the draft Agreement is not acceptable to the Company on the following grounds-\n\n1. That it gives more land to the French Government below the Bluff than they actually occupy at present;\n2. It allows the French Government free right to dispose of the land to traders and merchants.\n\nIn connection with this question, should feel greatly obliged if you would inform me of the result of the Commission of Inquiry appointed to examine the title-deeds of the Company to the land in dispute, should you now be in a position to do so.\n\nI avail, &c. (Signed) J. N. JORDAN.\n\n## Inclosure 12 in No. 1.\n\nM. Bapst to Sir J. Jordan.\n\n**Draft Agreement**\n\nLA Compagnie cède à bail au Gouvernement Français, sans limitation de durée, moyennant une redevance nominale de 1 piastre par an:\n\nM. le Ministre et cher Collègue,\n\nPékin, le 10 Juillet, 1907.\n\nJ'AI l'honneur de vous remercier de votre lettre d'avant-hier relative à l'affaire de Tsingvantao, et je m'empresse, en réponse, de vous soumettre les remarques suivantes :-", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 412550, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "page_number": 310, "title": "CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907", "content_text": "## \nmonths. His predecessor, Governor-General Ting, had caused Regulations to be drawn up under which it became incumbent on all officials to report, within one month from the date of receiving those Regulations, their addiction to the vice if such existed, and to break off the habit within the ensuing half-year. Four months have since passed, and Hsi Chih-tai observes that not a single opium-smoking official has registered his name, nor have the Council submitted a list of the delinquents. The order has been treated as a dead letter, either because the higher officials are themselves given to the vice (this may be a hit at the present Acting Judicial Commissioner, Tseng-hou, an inveterate smoker) or to show favour and indulgence. The close of the 6th moon (8th August) in the case of Yunnan-fu officials, and that of the 7th moon (7th September) for all other districts, remain the dates before which the opium habit must be abandoned. Those who have never acquired the habit or who have quitted it must, together with their supervising deputy, enter into bonds. Returns must be made, for civilians, by the Financial Commissioner; for students, by the Commissioner for Education; for officers in the Guards, the New Levies, or the old Green Standard, by their respective Commandants. Any attempt at fraud or concealment will be visited by dismissal from the service.\n\nAs regards putting a limit to cultivation, a necessary preliminary is a faithful return of the acreage under poppy. On his way to Yunnan-fu from Szechuan, the Governor-General noticed that the fields bearing the opium poppy far exceeded those planted with beans or wheat. The best lands were given up to this scourge; yet no one, official or private person, saw anything wrong in it. Returns must now, without fail, be furnished of the amount of land which in the present year has been devoted to the poppy, of the number of the cultivators, and of how it is proposed to deal with each case. Such returns are to be got ready within one month; any delay or carelessness will meet with severe punishment.\n\nSo far the Governor-General. The Financial Commissioner declares that, in conjunction with the Judicial Commissioner and with the approval of the late Governor-General Ting, he had long since issued circular instructions to the officials of Yunnan Province to register within a month, and to abandon opium-smoking within six months. He had further directed them to furnish complete returns of all lands under opium, specifying acreage, ownership, and quality. \"Much time has since elapsed,\" the Commissioner continues, \"and the body of civil officials has not come to this yamên to report. Those who have presented themselves have affirmed either that they did not smoke or had abandoned the habit, while very few indeed confessed to the vice. There must, it is much to be feared, have been prevarication, for superior officers cannot but be aware of the proclivities of their juniors. As regards the country districts, no reports from the Intendants, Prefects, or local Magistrates have reached the Governor-General or the Financial Commissioner.\" Strict orders are now given for returns to be sent in to the Commissioner's yamên, for Yünnan-fu officials, by the end of the 6th moon (8th August), and for all others in the province, by the end of the 7th moon (7th September).\n\nMeanwhile, on the 19th July, was founded at Yünnan-fu an Anti-Opium Bureau (\"Yunnan tung-sheng chin-yen tsung-chu\"), the objects and powers of which were set forth in a Notification appearing in the \"Gazette\" for the 5th July.\n\nThe Notification begins by citing instructions issued by Governor-General Hsi. These commence with the usual denunciations of the drug, whose evils are especially conspicuous in Yunnan Province. The Governor-General established for his last government of Szechuan, in 1906, an Anti-Opium Bureau at Ch'engtu, under the direction of his Council, and now gives orders for a similar establishment at Yunnan-fu. Employment in the Bureau is to be honorary, so as to save expense. The Bureau is to serve as a model for others to be from time to time set up in the Prefectures, Departments, and districts.\n\nThe Governor-General's exordium is followed by the Regulations, or rather by some of them. Regulations 1-4, which apparently deal with the constitution of the Bureau and its personnel, are not published. The rest may be summarized thus:\n\n## Regulations\n\n| Regulation | Description |\n| --- | --- |\n| **5** | (1.) Local officials and police are to ascertain how many men and women, and of what ages, in Yunnan-fu and its suburbs smoke opium. A return must be made within one month. Smokers will either apply to the Bureau for a remedy or will buy elsewhere one approved by the Bureau. The more able-bodied must abandon smoking within six months; the old and feeble within one year. |\n| | (2.) Similar returns for the country districts will be made by the trainband captains (\"tuan-chang\"), who will be responsible in case of fraud. |\n| | (3.) Each shop purveying prepared opium in the city must be noted by the police, and the proprietor must within half a month procure from the Bureau a licence, good for one year, after which the business must cease. Selling without a licence will be treated as a crime. |\n| | (4.) Remedies cannot be sold until they have been tested by the Bureau and a certificate of efficiency issued. |\n| | (5.) The Bureau will publish quarterly returns of the number of those who have been cured of the craving. |\n| **6** | (1.) Smokers without families can stay at the Bureau for their cure, in a class of twenty and for a period of twenty days. The class complete, no more will be admitted; the period passed, all must go. Food will be provided by the Bureau at a cost of 5 candarins (say, 2d.) a-day. |\n| | (2.) Those crowded out will have their names entered on a list, and will receive remedies daily. At the close of the time allowed for cure—six months or one year, as the case may be (see Regulation 5)—the patients will be medically examined. |\n| **7** | (1.) Officials. Civilians will be supervised by the Financial Commissioner; the military, by the Ying-wu Chu (Military Secretariat). Each smoker's record of service will be sent to the Bureau. The time limit fixed by the Notification of the 1st moon (February), viz., the 8th August, will be extended to the end of the 8th moon (6th October), by which time all officials must have abandoned the habit, under pain of dismissal if less than 60 years of age or of forced retirement if over 60. Meanwhile, lists must be drawn up and sent in within ten days (that is, apparently, by the 29th July). |\n| | (2.) The scholastic and mercantile classes will be supervised by the Commissioner for Education and the Guilds respectively. Lists are to be submitted within one month; the habit must be abandoned within six months. Failure will entail ineligibility for appointment to a school or for freedom to set up in business. |\n| | (3.) Petty traders will be dealt with after the suppression of the opium dens. Within six months from the latter date, any trader who smokes will be compelled to close his shop. |\n| **8** | (1.) Farmers around Yunnan-fu. The Home Magistrate will order the militia and gentry to make returns similar to those for the land-tax, setting out how A has this year sown with poppy a mou, which should produce y oz. of opium. The Magistrate will issue a notification exhorting people to sow less each year. After three years, none is to be sown. Similar action to be taken in other districts. |\n| | (2.) The first year will be one for exhortation; the second, for zealous prohibition; the third, for recourse to force. |\n| | (3.) The manufacture of opium utensils, whether at Yünnan-fu or elsewhere, is forbidden and must stop within six months. By the 8th August, manufacturers must close their establishments; after which, all these things will become contraband and be liable to seizure and destruction. |\n| **9** | (1.) If, in the country districts, any one succeeds in starting an Association and, within six months, in eradicating the opium vice, the Bureau will recommend him to the Governor-General for a reward. |\n| | (2.) Any one contravening the Regulations of the Bureau will be liable to punishment. |\n\nIt will be noticed that instead of allowing ten years for the suppression of planting, as the ten proposals (Article 1) had suggested, Hsi Chih-t-ai announces that cultivation must cease within three years. It may be useful to draw up, from the above Regulations, a calendar of prohibitions:\n\n## Calendar of Prohibitions\n\n| Date | Prohibition |\n| --- | --- |\n| July 25, 1907 | Opium shops to take out licence |\n| July 29 | Return of smokers (officials) |\n| August 8 | Manufacture and sale of opium utensils to cease |\n| August 8 | Opium dens to be closed |\n| August 18 | Return of smokers (non-officials) |\n| October 6 | Smoking to cease (officials) |\n| October 16 | Quarterly return of cures |\n| October 16 | Return of acreage under poppy |\n| January 13, 1908 | Smoking to cease (non-officials, able-bodied) |\n| April 6 | Smoking to cease (petty traders) |\n| July 13, 1908 | Smoking to cease (non-officials, weaklings) |\n| July 19, 1908 | Sale of opium forbidden |\n| July 1910 | Cultivation of poppy stopped |\n\n307", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-345 - Public Offices & Foreign Office - 1907.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 421221, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 10, "title": "CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "## Decrees issued on November 15, 1908\n\nremains. Now that His late Majesty has departed this life, we decree that all Tartar-Generals, Governors-General, Governors, Manchu Lieutenant-Generals and Deputy Lieutenant-Generals, Commanders-in-chief, Brigade-Generals, and Military Commandants, the Military Governors of the Western and Northern Provinces, Provincial Treasurers, Directors of Education, Salt Commissioners, Superintendents of Customs and of Imperial Manufactories, and other officers shall not apply for permission to come to the capital for the purpose of paying their respects to the Imperial remains, as their posts would thereby be left vacant. It is incumbent on these officers to show the utmost zeal in the performance of their duties, and thereby, rather than by empty phrases, prove themselves worthy of the responsibilities intrusted to them.\n\nLet general instructions to this effect be issued.\n\n## Appointments for Mourning Rites\n\nNovember 15, 1908.\n\nPrinces Su and No-lo-ho, Duke Po-ti-su, Military Lieutenant-Governor of the Khor-ch'in tribe, the Assistant Grand Secretaries Jung-ching and Lu-ch'uan-lin, Lu Jun-hsiang, President of the Board of Civil Office, the Comptroller of the Household, Kuei-chun, the Senior Vice-President of the Board of Rites, and Ching-hou are directed to make all arrangements in connection with the mourning rites of Her late Majesty the August Empress Dowager.\n\n## Decrees issued on November 16, 1908\n\nIn addition to the Princes and officers already nominated, Prince Kung and P'u-t'ing, President of the Board of Agriculture, Industry, and Commerce, are directed to assist in carrying out the mourning rites for Her late Majesty the August Empress Dowager.\n\nOn the occasion of the death of Her late Majesty the August Empress Dowager, the Governors-General, Governors, and other high provincial officers, having all their respective duties to attend to, should not apply for permission to come to the capital for the purpose of paying their respects to the Imperial remains, but should display their zeal by exerting themselves to the utmost in the transaction of the affairs of the State rather than by means of mere ceremonies and phrases.\n\nIt is fitting that the gates of the Forbidden City should be guarded with the utmost care and reverence, and repeated instructions have been issued to the high officer responsible to prohibit the entrance of unauthorized persons, and to have a close watch kept on all entering or leaving the forbidden precincts. In spite, however, of these reiterated commands there has recently been some laxity in the enforcement of the prohibition, and it is therefore necessary to issue a further injunction on the subject. The Commandants of the Vanguard, the Captain-General of the Guards, and the Comptroller of the Household are directed to instruct the troops on duty that they must display the utmost vigilance and prevent the entrance or exit of unauthorized persons falsely claiming to be on official business. Should there continue to be any remissness after the issue of the present Decree, the high officer responsible will be severely punished.\n\n## Decree of the Empress Dowager\n\nOfficers on daily duty in the Imperial Palace are directed, in accordance with precedent, to reside and sleep within the Palace; no other officers of any description are permitted to do so.\n\n## Decree of the Emperor\n\nMembers of Her late Majesty the August Empress Dowager's own family are directed to wear full mourning during a period of 100 days.\n\n## Decrees of the Emperor, November 17, 1908\n\nEulogizes His late Majesty, and commands that a suitable posthumous title for his reign shall be composed, in accordance with custom.\n\nThe chief points noted in regard to the deceased Emperor and his reign are that throughout thirty-four years His late Majesty devoted all his care and attention to State affairs, under the guidance of the late Empress Dowager; that he kept a check over the officials, from whom he exacted conscientious labour; that he always showed solicitude for the welfare of the people; and that he inaugurated many reforms in education, the army, finance, currency, the pacification of frontier tribes, the cultivation of waste lands, the encouragement of trade and industry, the introduction of new weights and measures, the development of posts, shipping, railways, mines, &c. By honouring the memory of Confucius His Majesty paid respect for the past. By making Commercial Treaties foreign relations were cemented. With due regard for national customs and beliefs the Penal Code was revised. The differences between Manchus and Chinese were composed. All these steps led towards the establishment of constitutional government after nine years.\n\n## Decree\n\nHis late Majesty having selected no place of burial, let P'an Lun and Ch'en Pi proceed with diviners to the Eastern and Western Tombs and reverently investigate the location of a site.\n\nLet them prepare plans and a Report for submission to the Throne.\n\n## Decree\n\nCh'en Pin Chun and other physicians to His late Majesty are degraded two steps in rank.\n\n## Decree\n\nChang Chung Yuan and others, officials of the Imperial College of Physicians, are degraded but allowed to remain in office.\n\n## Decree received by the Grand Secretariat, November 18, 1908\n\nThe Princes and Ministers have represented to us the difficulties involved in three years' mourning, and have begged that the old rule may be followed.\n\nIn perusing the Memorial our grief has been increased. We have inherited His late Majesty's high estate, and even if we bore mourning throughout our whole life it would still be an insufficient recognition of the favour which has been bestowed upon us. How can it be said that three years' mourning suffices to demonstrate our affliction or to discharge the ceremonial observance of our loss? Moreover, three years' mourning is the right of every parent, from the lowliest to the Son of Heaven. It is so written in the Book of Rites, and how should we dare to disobey? If we dispensed with mourning after twenty-seven days our conscience would verily rebel!\n\nLet officials and people mourn in accordance with the old rule (i.e., twenty-seven days). We will verily follow the ancient rule and mourn for three years.\n\n[Note. The significance of this Decree is shaken by the discovery that it is textually the same as one issued in 1875 by the late Emperor under similar circumstances. TRANSLATOR.]\n\n## Decree\n\nPromotes various concubines of the late Emperor, and grants them each an allowance of 500 taels per mensem.\n\n## Decree\n\nTang Shao Yi memorializes by telegraph, asking whether his Imperial letter for the American President should be changed, and suggesting the alteration of the last character in his name. [“Yi,\" which is the same as the last character in the new Emperor's name, “P'u-Yi.”—TRANSLATOR.]\n\nLet the Board take note.\n\n## Decree handed to the Grand Secretariat, November 18, 1908\n\nTo-day the Grand Council received the mark of the Vermilion Pencil selecting the two characters \"Hsun-Tung\" [the Proclaimed Succession] as the title of the new reign.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-360 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 423191, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "page_number": 594, "title": "CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909", "content_text": "## The time passed on, however, without the rebel chief making overtures for his surrender-which, by the way, the authorities had announced must be unconditional. \nTowards the end of June it was reported that he had left his hiding-place in the jungle and come into the province of Phuc-yen, which has been for some time in a very disturbed condition. This rumour was shortly proved true in a sufficiently startling fashion. On the 5th July a Frenchman named Voisin, employé of a contractor for bridge-building, was seized by Ca-rinh, the De-Tham's chief lieutenant and adopted son, on the high road near the village of Velinh, some 16 miles only as the crow flies from Hanoi. Two motor-cars, one of them containing the resident of the province, which passed along the road shortly afterwards, were also fired on by the brigands, but escaped. The De-Tham himself was in the neighbourhood, and Voisin was brought to join him that night. A force of militia which was at hand might have attacked the band, but did not do so, Voisin having sent to the officer in command a letter, dictated by the De-Tham, stating he would be at once killed if the militia advanced.\n\nThe Government decided to take energetic measures in consequence of Voisin's abduction. The Dê-Tham was told that the only condition which would be granted to him was that his life would be spared if he gave Voisin up, but that if any harm happened to the Frenchman, the relations of the De-Tham in captivity in Phu-lang-thuong would answer for it. A column of two companies of European and two companies of native troops, with a portion of the Foreign Legion, artillery, and all the militia and irregular \"partisans\" available, was put under the orders of Commandant Chofflet, who was given full powers, civil and military, in the troubled district. This column closed round the village of Lang-Lai, whither the band had retired after the capture of Voisin, and where they had established themselves in a temple. The De-Tham had with him probably 100 men with rifles, and twenty or thirty carriers. Before the investment was actually complete, the Dê-Tham, profiting by a storm on the night of the 13th July, succeeded in passing through the lines and escaping with all his men and his prisoner. Commandant Chofflet executed several of the inhabitants of the village for complicity with the rebels, and burned some temples. This escape of the Dê-Tham came as a disappointment to Hanoi, where great hopes had been placed upon the new column.\n\nOn the 19th July, a small outlying party of brigands, numbering six men and a woman, were reported from the village of Lap-chi. Fifty men of the Legion and fifty militia were dispatched to search for them the next morning. The brigands were concealed in a sort of trench or cavern, and fired on the men of the Legion before the latter had discovered them. One légionnaire was killed and three or four seriously wounded. The brigands made a vigorous defence, but were all destroyed, being smoked to death in their hole.\n\nOn the 22nd July, the Dê-Tham and his band, said to number 102 rifles, were reported to have appeared suddenly in the village of Xuan Lai, about 3 miles east of Phu-lo. Troops were immediately dispatched there, and arrived about midday. The Dé-Tham commenced negotiations through the intermediary of Voisin, who was still with him, but as these were evidently merely to gain time they were broken off. The artillery bombarded the Catholic church in which the chief had made his headquarters. During the afternoon the Dê-Tham burned the village, executed several of the inhabitants, and took others prisoners for having told the French of his presence. Troops continued to arrive, and by evening the investment seemed to be complete, but the commandant postponed the attack until the next morning. About 11 P.M., however, it was found that the band had left, and once more got away intact. It has transpired since that it marched openly and with determination on a point of the investing line which was only held by native troops, and these gave way at once on the mere sight of the enemy without firing a shot. The De-Tham's party seems to have suffered no casualties on this day, and the French had only three or four militiamen wounded early in the engagement.\n\nThe commandant, however, speedily got information this time of the direction taken by the band, and started in pursuit. On the 25th, Hanoi was astonished to hear that Voisin had been released unconditionally by the Dê-Thum the previous night. He had been ill for some days and unable to walk, and had been carried in a litter. During the night he was suddenly, without explanation, deposited on the road and left. In the morning he dragged himself to a neighbouring village, and he was brought down to Hanoi by train the same day. I may mention that some of the Saigon journals have published suggestions that Voisin was really in secret relations with the De-Tham, and therefore never in any danger, but there appears to be no foundation whatever for these extraordinary rumours.\n\nThe release of Voisin seemed to presage the approaching surrender of the De-Tham, but the public was soon undeceived. On the 25th, the troops came up with the rebels at the village of Hien-luong. The colonial infantry and Foreign Legion attacked with much dash, and met with but little opposition until they found themselves at about 5 P.M. in a swamp, at the other side of which was a sort of rampart hidden by bamboos. From this position a murderous fire opened on the French, who were unable to advance, and in a short time a captain and thirteen European soldiers were killed and some forty wounded. The troops found such shelter as they could, and were not able to withdraw until darkness came on without abandoning their dead and wounded and exposing themselves to the enemy's fire. This, however, prevented the French artillery from bombarding the position. The Annamite tirailleurs are said to have again behaved very badly on this occasion. This affair, happening only some 14 miles from Hanoi, made a very painful impression here, but at first the French population comforted itself with the thought that the Dê-Tham had suffered even more heavily. The report went that about half his band had been destroyed, although it was a suspicious fact that no bodies were found and no rifles taken. It appears now certain that the losses of the band were extremely small, not more than five or six killed, if, indeed, there were any, and that, as a matter of fact, it succeeded in carrying off eight rifles belonging to killed or wounded Frenchmen.\n\nThe De-Tham evacuated Hien-luong that night. The next day, the 26th, the tirailleurs, with a European detachment in support, came into contact with what is believed to have been only his rear-guard at the village of Ninhbac. Four or five tirailleurs were killed and an equal number of the enemy, but the main body withdrew. The French did not continue the pursuit.\n\nSince then there has been no contact between the French and the Dê-Tham. He has completely disappeared, and there are the most divergent rumours as to his whereabouts. The special powers accorded to Commandant Chofflet have been withdrawn, and an influential Annamite functionary, the Tong-doc Le Hoan, an old adversary of the Dê-Tham, has been entrusted with the reduction to order of the province of Phuc-yen. He has received special powers and rank from the Annamite Court to that effect, and has enrolled a corps of 300 or 400 \"partisans\" who are to live on the country, and are expected to succeed in tracking down the Dê-Tham. This step had really been decided upon before the unfortunate affair at Hien-luong, but, coming as it does, it has proved very galling to the army here, and certainly is not calculated to enhance French military prestige in the eyes of the natives. It seems probable that some time will now elapse before the Dê-Tham is definitely brought to book.\n\nIn the meanwhile, however, another affair has occurred which, though apparently not directly connected with the De-Tham, has created a profound impression here. On the night of the 2nd instant the militia post at Hoa-hinh, capital of a province, about 50 miles from Hanoi, was attacked by natives, captured, and sacked. The post was occupied by about sixty native militia. They had had strangers in their quarters gambling with them during the night, and it is supposed that these had drugged some of the militia. At all events the assailants, who are said to have numbered about 100, attacked the garrison with knives and choppers only. The European inspector heard a noise, came out, and tried to rally his men; he was killed and cut to pieces. The four European civilians in the place hid, and then escaped by boat down the river.\n\nFour or five of the militia were killed and a few wounded; the rest fled in every direction. The robbers broke open the gaol and released the prisoners; they took all the arms in the place to the number of about 150 rifles and carbines, about 2,000 dollars in cash, and 5,000 dollars worth of opium, and then left. Up to the time of writing they have not been found, though they are said to have entrenched themselves in a village on the road from Hoa-binh to Hadong. The affair is believed not to be the work of the De-Tham, but to be an act of vengeance caused by the alleged unjust arrest of certain natives. However, it gives a poor impression of the value of the militia who garrison most of the small stations up-country, and it is most unfortunate coming just at this juncture.\n\nOther parts of the country are also disturbed, namely, Dong-Trieu, north of the Haiphong-Hanoi railway line, and Luc-Nam, east of the Yen-the. In both of these districts there are bands of marauders at large, among whom there are said to be a certain number of Chinese. Near Laokay, also, there has recently been an alarm caused by a band of Chinese raiders (probably workmen discharged from the railway), but this does not seem to be serious.\n\nAt present many rumours are current in Hanoi, and the papers even speak of the possibility of a general rising. There was an alarm on the night of the 6th, and the troops were all kept in barracks. Every night parties of military patrol the roads round.\n\nPage 532", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-362 - Public Offices - 1909.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 428240, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910", "page_number": 165, "title": "CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government]\n\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\nCONFIDENTIAL.\n\n(1973)\n\nNo. 1.\n\n163\n\nсо\n\n[January 18, 1910] SECT RES\n\nTRES 3 FEB 10.\n\nSir J. Jordan to Sir Edward Grey.--(Received January 18, 1910.)\n\n(No. 492.) Sir,\n\nPeking, December 29, 1909. IN my despatch No. 436 of the 26th ultimo I commented at length upon the dismissal of Tuan Fang and the intrigues in the Palace, of which it is an outward sign.\n\nI now have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a despatch from His Majesty's consul-general at Tien-tsin on this subject. The frequent changes in the Viceroyalty of Chih-li constitute, as Mr. Fulford points out, a great hindrance to the transaction of public business, and I have already had occasion to comment on this feature of the situation in my despatch No. 434 of the 24th ultimo respecting the affairs of the Chinese Engineering and Mining Company.\n\nCopies of a memorial by the present Viceroy at Nanking and of an Imperial decree concerning Tuan Fang's dismissal are enclosed herewith.\n\nIt is generally believed that the publication of these documents was an after-thought on the part of the Prince Regent to justify a step which has given rise to much dissatisfaction.\n\nEnclosure in No. 1.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nJ. N. JORDAN.\n\n(No. 80.) Sir,\n\nConsul-General Fulford to Sir J. Jordan,\n\nTien-tsin, December 20, 1909. I HAD the honour to report in my telegram of the 24th ultimo the dismissal of the Viceroy Tuan Fang.\n\nThe Treasurer of the province, Ts'ui Yung-an, having been appointed Acting Viceroy, arrived in Tien-tsin from Pao Ting Fu on the 27th ultimo, and was at the railway station on the departure of Tuan for Peking, which took place the same day.\n\nAs a proof of the genuine sympathy felt for Tuan, I would mention that apparently the entire body of Chinese Tien-tsin officials were present at the station to see him off. The consular body, the commandants of foreign troops, and many leading foreign residents were also there to wish the ex-Viceroy good-bye. Such a manifestation towards a fallen leader on the part of Chinese officialdom is unique in my experience.\n\nI have heard but one opinion on all sides, Chinese and foreign, with regard to the dismissal of Tuan, and that is surprise and indignation that so able a public servant should be deprived of the opportunity of working for his country on so trivial a pretext as the one alleged.\n\nTo turn to another aspect of such treatment of China's best officials, it does not conduce to satisfactory arrangement of international questions in this important centre that there should be such constant changes of the pivot of all progress. In the course of the last eight months, since my arrival in Tien-tsin, we have had four occupants of the vice-regal position. We shall soon have the fifth, and it is freely rumoured that his appointment is only temporary.\n\nIt is not surprising that difficulties appear to be experienced in finding suitable men for the post, liable, as it seems to be, to the caprices of Palace intrigue, and no doubt tenable only at the cost of large \"presents\" to influential persons about the Court.\n\n23\n\nThe Acting Viceroy Ts'ui, after some hesitation and suggestion that the consuls should pay him the first call, called upon the consuls on the 10th instant.\n\nHe did not, however, himself write to the consuls to announce his arrival, but the Customs Taotai did so by his orders. This has become the practice in Tien-tsin.\n\n* Not printed.\n\n[2605 -3]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-371 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 428687, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910", "page_number": 28, "title": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "2\n\nfound in a field. He had a slight but not mortal bullet wound, and had apparently been strangled to death--by whom it is not known.\n\nThese two affairs, small as they were, had a somewhat disquieting effect on the French population of Hanoi. The desperate nature of the resistance offered by this handful of men and their success in holding out for so long against largely superior French forces seemed to show a considerable change in the conditions since the time of the conquest of Tonkin twenty-five years before.\n\nOn the 28th August an anti-French plot was discovered at Hanoi, and several arrests were made, five of the accused being subsequently sentenced, by administrative measure without trial, to deportation for ten years. A secret society amongst the servants of Europeans was also brought to light, among the members of which were certain individuals who had already been suspected of complicity in the plot for poisoning the garrison during the summer of 1908, but who had escaped conviction.\n\nOn the 31st August the command of the column against the Dê-Tham was withdrawn from Commandant Chofflet and given to Commandant Bonifacy. On the 5th September a band of fifteen rifles under the command of Ca-rinh, the De-Tham's principal lieutenant, was reported some 3 miles west of Phuc-Yen. On the 6th they were attacked at the village of Yen-Lo by a force despatched by Commandant Bonifacy, consisting of a company of colonial infantry, a company of tirailleurs, a detachment of the Legion, and a section of artillery. The fighting lasted all day, and the band was more than half destroyed, their losses being said to be nine killed and one prisoner. The French loss was, however, also serious, consisting of three Europeans and one tirailleur killed in action, three Europeans dead from sun-stroke, and four Europeans and five tirailleurs wounded.\n\nThe De-Tham himself was at this time in the mountainous region between the Day River and the Rivière Claire, and his intention was to cross the latter stream, and eventually to gain the Province of Thanh-Hoa in North Annam. The river was, however, effectively patrolled, and a move in this direction was prevented. At the end of September, the De-Tham's position being accurately known, the Kham Sai and the column of troops—amounting to some 3,000 men in all—left the province of Phuc-Yen and concentrated in the north of the province of Vinh-Yen.\n\nIn the meantime, on the 26th September, the band of Kiem, (who on the 2nd August, had sacked the militia post at Hoa-Binh, as recounted in my despatch above-mentioned) had attacked another post of militia at Hoa-lae in the Sontay province. The band was repulsed after having killed four militiamen and wounded seven. Kiem did not, however, act in conjunction with the Dê-Tham.\n\nOn the 5th October Commandant Bonifacy attacked the latter's force. It had strongly entrenched itself in a ravine on the south-west side of the Nui-Lang mountain. The position was an extremely difficult one to attack and the French soldiers underwent great hardships. The De-Tham is said to have had seventy rifles engaged in the affair. His actual losses as far as could be ascertained were six killed, two wounded, and one prisoner, but his morale was badly shaken as he had thought himself secure. The band broke up and escaped in the night, the members dispersing in different directions. It has never re-assembled since. A portion of the attacking force was for four hours at twenty-five yards from the enemy's fire. It is not to be wondered at therefore that the French loss was serious---eight Europeans and eleven natives killed and thirty-four wounded. The evacuating of the wounded on Vietri was extremely difficult owing to the nature of the country and the troops were absolutely exhausted, all idea of pursuing the enemy being impossible.\n\n3\n\nThe De-Tham with a few followers left the Nui-Lang mountains and recrossed the Day. Bonifacy moved his column into the Tam-Dao region. The fight at Nui-Lang had evidently had a disheartening effect on the rebels and several of them came in and made their submission. On the 24th October the Dê-Tham's principal lieutenant, Ca-rinh, with six of his followers surrendered to the Kham Sai. This was a serious loss to the rebel chief. He gradually worked his way back through the province of Thai-Nguyen to his former district in the Yen-thé of which he had been for years the virtual ruler. On the 25th November he was definitely signalled there. On the 1st December a notable capture was made in the person of his third wife. This woman is a veritable Amazon; she took a personal and active part in most of the recent engagements, carrying a rifle herself and sometimes, it is said, commanded detachments on foraging and reconnoitring expeditions. A couple of days later the leader himself was nearly caught and an individual of his party was killed, who proved to be none other than the cook who had been the principal instrument in the plot to poison the Hanoi garrison in 1908. Numerous other submissions now took place and the position improved so far that early in December the greater part of the military column (which had been formed after the kidnapping of M. Voisin in July) could be sent back to garrison duty.\n\nAt the end of December the military authorities had to turn their attention to the Yunnan frontier. About 100 Chinese soldiers, at an isolated post, mutinied, and crossed into Tonkin with arms and ammunition. It was feared that they might repeat the exploits of the \"Reformists\" from Yunnan in the summer of 1908, and prompt measures were taken to deal with them. Troops were sent to bar their advance, and they were called upon to submit. They refused to do so, and announced their intention of marching across Tonkin. On the morning of the 5th January they were attacked and put to flight, losing sixteen killed and seventeen wounded. Unfortunately, on the French side a captain was killed and four men wounded. Further reinforcements were sent up and the remnants of the band were disposed of. A good many were killed, others were driven back across the frontier, and some were captured and handed over to the Chinese authorities, who executed them.\n\nMeanwhile, operations on a small scale had for some time been in progress against the band of Kiem, the sacker of Hoa-Binh. These operations were brought to a close at the end of December, when eighty of the rebels had made their submission. There had been little or no serious fighting; the French had had one man severely wounded, and the \"pirates\" had lost eight killed and five wounded. On the 13th January the chief, Kiem himself, surrendered, the only terms given him being that his life should be spared. It is believed that he was partly led to submit by the apparently generous fashion in which Ca-rinh and the other surrendered partisans of the De-Tham were being treated. To them also the Government had only guaranteed their lives, but they had been left in provisional liberty under the surveillance of the provincial authorities. Ca-rinh himself had, indeed, been treated with many marks of distinction. Five days after Kiem's surrender, however, Ca-rinh and some sixty other surrendered rebels, who had been left in the Yen-thé district, together with the third wife of the De-Tham, were simultaneously put into close arrest, brought by special train to Hanoi, and locked up in the prison there. Kiem and his followers have been similarly dealt with. The De-Tham probably congratulates himself on not having trusted to appearances.\n\nHe is still believed to be wandering in the Yen-thé jungle with one or two faithful attendants. The Kham Sai, having failed to effect his capture, was recalled on the 1st March and his band of \"partisans\" dispersed. The remains of Commandant Bonifacy's column were also broken up, the commandant himself, however, remaining to administer the Yen-thế. The pursuit is now entrusted to the militia, who are endeavouring to bring it to an end before the beginning of the hot weather. It is possible that the Dê-Tham might again cause trouble if not disposed of before the heat renders difficult active operations on the part of white troops, but it is not likely that he would still enjoy the prestige which a year ago gave him the support of a great part of the population in the provinces of Yen-thé and Phuc-Yen. On the whole, it appears that M. Klobukowski, the Governor-General (who is now in France), is quite justified in describing the affair of the Dê-Tham as virtually at an end.\n\nI enclose a rough sketch-map showing the relative positions of the principal places mentioned in this despatch.\n\nI have, &c.\n\nT. Ff. CARLISLE.\n\n26", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 428877, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910", "page_number": 218, "title": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "attended out of 3,000. The taotai again repeated that I might calm my fears as no trouble would ensue.\n\nOn the 13th April I sent for and warned Mr. Gregory, of the Polytechnic, who assured me that the students, if silent, appeared peaceful.\n\nThe same evening at 7:15 P.M. a telephone message came from the governor to the consulate asking me to request Commandant Yang, of the river guard-boats, to send reinforcements to the South Gate as there was a serious disturbance just outside the city.\n\nAt 7:30 this warning was repeated and, as I was dining on board the steam-ship Siangtan, I requested Commandant Yang to keep a man at our telephone. I went right through the city within fifty yards of the governor's yamên and right past the door of the taotai's yamên where there was a big crowd assembled. No notice was taken of me except one man, on seeing my chair pass, called out \"The British consul,\" and laughed heartily.\n\nAt 8-15 I received a letter from Dr. Hume, telling me of the riot, and asking if I was aware of it. I replied that I was fully informed, but that he need have no cause for apprehension, as I had the governor's assurance that full protection would be afforded.\n\nDr. Hume followed this up with another note, stating that the governor's yamên was being attacked. I thereupon went to the customs office and telephoned to the governor's yamên for information. I was told that about 2,000 men were in the yamên making a disturbance and demanding that the price of rice should be officially lowered. I stated that I was returning through the city and should pass near the yamên, and asked if it were safe; to which the reply came that it was perfectly safe, as the crowd would soon disperse. I then sent for Mr. Kwok, who, knowing of the trouble, repeated the assurance that I could easily pass through the city, though he qualified this remark when I asked him if it would not be wiser to return by water.\n\nI then returned to the steamer, and on arrival was met by one of the men of the consulate guard-boat, who begged me to return by water and to avoid the city, as the riot was very serious.\n\nI thereupon returned to the consulate and telephoned to the governor for more information. On being told that the rioters were still in the yamên, I telephoned to the taotai and asked him to send troops to all the missions to protect them. He replied that this had been done. I also asked whether, as a sign of friendship, and to help the officials in a difficult position, I should not telegraph to you to send one of His Majesty's ships. He replied that it was unnecessary to send a ship on account of the rice riot, but that if one was leaving I might as well ask it come at once. I thereupon sent my first telegram to Mr. Fraser, informing him of what had happened.\n\nI again asked the taotai whether troops had actually gone to the missions, and again received an affirmative reply.\n\nAt 2 A.M. the next morning, the 14th April, Mr. Warren, of the Wesleyan Mission, came to me and informed me that his mission had been burnt to the ground, and that all the members had only just managed to escape through the back door. They had fled to the West Gate, and were there kept in the guard-house until the gate could be opened, when they passed out unhurt. I at once sent my wife and child and Mrs. Cooke, who lived near to us, across to the island, and sent a message to Captain Agassiz to retain his ship. I again telephoned to the taotai, who replied that the destruction of the Wesleyan Mission must have been an accident, and that all other missions were being protected by troops.\n\nAt 3.30 A.M. a message came from Dr. Keller, of the China Inland Mission, that his mission and the Norwegian Mission had gone; that he was safe in a yamên, but that the Norwegians were fleeing for their lives. I then sent a messenger to every mission in the city to tell the members to leave as quickly as possible, and to get on board the steamers. I also telephoned to Mr. Gregory in the Polytechnic to leave by the East Gate, and to find his way to the consulate or to General Yang's camp. I further sent river guard-boatmen into the city, and gave them money to get covered chairs and bring the people to the consulate or to the steamer. I cannot speak too highly of the work done by these men. They went with the consulate writer repeatedly into the city, and did all in their power to get the people out quietly, and I think that the fact that no lives were lost is not only due to an apparent and inexplicable care on the part of the rioters that no lives should be sacrificed, but also to the prompt and skilful assistance they rendered.\n\nAt 9 A.M. I telephoned for, and got, the governor's launch, and she has rendered great assistance ever since. The launch was handed over quite unreservedly, and her \"lac yeh\" told to put himself entirely under my orders.\n\nAt 6 A.M. a detachment of the regular troops came to the consulate, and I was told that a large force had been sent into the city, and that order would be restored. At 10 A.M. General Yang sent an aide-de-camp well known to me, who assured me that the general could protect me if I went to his camp; but I felt that I ought to stay where I was most use to the whole community.\n\nAt noon the second-in-command of the guard-boats came to me to say that the governor's yamên was on fire, and that protection could no longer be afforded. He said that the message came from the governor direct, and he urged me to leave at once. He further stated that property would be preserved if we would leave the mainland. As I was strongly of opinion that the loss of one life would seriously prejudice the whole situation, I followed the advice, and after seeing everyone else embarked, I abandoned the consulate and went to the steam-ship \"Siangtan.\"\n\nI then requested the captain of the steam-ship \"Changwo\" to move down the river to opposite the consulate, in case any foreigners had been forgotten, and in case two, who had refused to leave until I wrote a personal note, should make for the consulate.\n\nAt that time the steam-ship \"Siangtan\" was lying alongside her bulk, but the Chinese began pouring on board in such numbers that I thought it advisable to move into the stream. At this time several places, including the governor's yamên, were blazing. We had only just moved from the hulk when we heard firing from the yamên, and hoped that orders had finally been given to put down the disturbance by force. I heard subsequently what happened. On the approach of the mob, with enormous torches, the general gave the order to fire, and one or two volleys were fired, by which about nine were killed. The treasurer thereupon threw himself at the feet of the general and implored him to cease fire, and at the same time the gentry coerced the governor. The result was that the governor put out a proclamation that the soldiers would not fire. This was promptly torn down. The treasurer then put out the order, and this was respected. After the issue of the treasurer's proclamation an officer of the governor's body-guard dared to give an order to fire, which one soldier obeyed; both were promptly executed. All this time the regular troops stood up against volleys of large bricks and tiles, and sustained about 120 casualties, all, I am told, more or less severe. One of the regular troops then said if they might not use rifles they could use swords, and killed a looter; but this was also forbidden, and from this moment a slow, deliberate, methodical destruction of property commenced.\n\nAt 4 P.M., as too many Chinese were still flocking to the \"Siangtan,\" I asked the captain to drop down to the consulate, and there we transferred passengers for Hankow on to the \"Changwo.\"\n\nAt 6:30 P.M., while we were about 50 yards from the Bund, the mob, just having completed the destruction of the London Mission, came to the consulate. They were headed, as I was told by one or two eye-witnesses, by a gang of men dressed all in black—black short coats opening in the front, black short trousers with broad white bands round their ankles. They were provided with implements to destroy houses, and the consulate writer, who watched the destruction of the London Mission, told me they went about their work with quietness and method. He said they were certainly not Changsha men, were from 20 to 30 years of age, very emaciated and with black faces. The officer in charge of the river guard-boats, of which there were eight, in addition to about sixty of the regular troops, came and asked me for permission to fire, but as I had all archives, English and Chinese, and the cyphers safe, I requested him to tell the heads of the looters they were free to enter the consulate and burn or loot it, provided they took special precautions that no lives were lost. I also asked him to move the guard-boats from the Bund to give proof of my intentions. He returned and executed all I had said. He added, however, that all the men of the river guard-boats were personally fond of me, and it seems that the villagers echoed this statement and made an earnest appeal to leave the property alone. The mob then asked the consulate gate-keeper, who kept the flag flying the whole time till the return of His Majesty's ship \"Thistle\" on the 17th, to open the main gate. This being done, they then asked him to hang out lamps, and the gate-keeper hung out the large consulate lamps. The mob never even entered the gate, and throughout the whole time not a single article of any kind whatsoever was touched in the building. The mob, it is interesting to note, then went and raided\n\n[2751 -4]\n\n216", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 429135, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910", "page_number": 476, "title": "CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910", "content_text": "2\n\nthese various chiefs, but, in view of the difficulty of obtaining supplies for any length of time, I am of opinion that Tengkeng could scarcely bring more than 500 men, whilst 500 might be raised by the combined forces of Mingkuang, Tien-tang, and Tatang. Such forces would be poorly armed and badly organised, and they would have little eagerness for action.\n\n3. Under the third head the nearest troops to the frontier would be 200 men of the 11th Ying, who are stationed at Kuyung Kai. These men all carry Mauser magazine rifles (nine cartridges), which are in good order, and they are the best of the Tengyuch brigade. Their commandant, Major Ma, is an intelligent Mahommedan, and his men show better discipline and better spirit than is usual with the Chinese forces. The ying includes a number of Kachins (Chashans) from Sansi, who speak a dialect almost identical with that of the Pienma Lashis. The 4th and 5th Ying are stationed at Tengyuch, and comprise together about 500 men, chiefly armed with single-loading Mausers, which are antiquated and in poor condition. They are led by Chinese officers of the old school, and have had no Japanese training, though they show a marked improvement on the troops of a few years ago both in physique and discipline. I had an opportunity a few days ago of witnessing their target practice, and they showed an invariable tendency to shoot low, though I have seen men of the 11th Ying showing excellent marksmanship. Colonel Chiang, one of the officers stationed at Tengyuch, is a man of undoubted energy and courage, reputed a tribesman by birth, and showing a forceful personality which is entirely un-Chinese.\n\n4. There are 1,500 troops at Talifu, and I have information that many of their officers are in reality Japanese, though they speak Chinese fluently, and the greatest secrecy is observed in regard to their nationality. They would be able to reach Hpimaw through Yun-lung Chou, crossing the Mekong by the Feilung Bridge and the Salween by the ferry below Tengkeng. It is probable that they could reach Hpimaw in about the same time as troops from Myitkyina, but I have been unable to gather any reliable information as to their transport and commissariat. Large numbers of mules are, however, constantly available at Talifu, the roads are fair, and local supplies would be obtainable until they crossed the watershed. A detailed account of these troops is given in my despatch of the 3rd March last (printed report, p. 18).\n\nI am of opinion that the Chinese would be unlikely to move up regular troops either under heads (3) or (4) to the unadministered territory, and think that the only probable resistance would come from the Lisu irregulars reported under head (2).\n\nLines of Advance.\n\nThere are eight possible lines of advance for the Chinese into the unadministered territory. From west to east they are as follows:--\n\n1. From Ku-yung Kai by San Cha-ho, across the watershed near Manung Pum, and into the Shingaw Valley,\n\n2. From Tan-tsa, across the Lang Ya Pass, into the Tummaw Valley.\n\n3. From the Tien-tang Valley by Malipa, across the Pan-wa Pass, to Chang Yin-kou on the Chipway River. Malipa is 8 miles to the south and Chang Yin-kou 6 miles to the north of the pass. This is probably the easiest route from China, Tien-tang being cultivated up to the head of the valley.\n\n4. Along the Mingkuang Valley, striking off at Ta-chai, then up the Cha Shan Ho to Ta Ya-kou Pass-12 miles from Ta-chai. This leads to Hparé, which is 9 miles beyond the pass. This is also a comparatively easy track, and, with No. 3, would probably be open for lightly-laden mules throughout the dry season. Supplies would be abundant right up to the watershed. Lisu porters are generally available throughout this district, and can carry from 60 to 70 lbs. in the baskets on their backs. They are most satisfactory in this capacity, uncomplaining in spite of hard marches and heavy weather, requiring no bedding, as fast as mules, and unfailingly cheerful.\n\n5. Also from Mingkuang. About 5 miles north of Ta-chai, the Hsiao-tang Ho Valley leads off from the main valley to the north-west; the track follows the river and crosses the pass at 10 miles from the Mingkuang Valley, then leads down to Lagwé (Tzu-chu), which is 12 miles to the north of the pass.\n\n6. From Mingkuang, at Ta-chu-pa, across Fen Shui Ling Pass, to Hpimaw, 28 miles. This is the track I followed, but it is regarded as the most difficult, and mules should not be taken unless weather conditions are most favourable; they would then need to be very lightly laden, and an advance guard would be necessary to clear the track. Three days' journey, the second very hard, as animals cannot stop all day, owing to the poisonous herbs in the jungle.\n\n7. From the Salween Valley, at Tengkeng, westwards up the Ku-tan Ho Valley, across the pass to Hpimaw; one and a-half days' journey. Difficult track, but open for lightly-laden mules in favourable weather conditions; path very steep and narrow, and difficult streams to cross. The Tengkeng levies would come from this direction, also any troops from Talifu or Yungchang.\n\n8. From the Salween, at Chengka (latitude 26° 15'), by Pai-pa, into the north of territory. This route is little known, and is not likely to be used.\n\nOf the above eight routes, 3, 4, and 7 are those which would in all probability be chosen in the event of any expeditions from the Chinese side. They could all be watched without difficulty, and the main party in the unadministered territory could be kept constantly in touch with news from the passes. This could be arranged from the Burmah side of the watershed more easily than from Tengyueh, as it would be difficult to obtain reliable men among the Chinese, whereas the Kachins proved themselves during my recent visit to be both eager and quick at gathering and carrying news. I could arrange for trustworthy information from Talifu and Tengyueh in regard to movements of troops, and possibly also from Ku-yung Kai, but it would be preferable, whenever possible, to use men for intelligence work whose homes are in Burmah, and who would be able to get through to Sima or Sadon in the event of any difficulty with the Tengyueh-Bhamo telegraph line.\n\nARCHIBALD ROSE,\n\nHis Majesty's Acting Consul.\n\nTengyueh, May 24, 1910.\n\n473", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-372 - Public Offices - 1910.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 434339, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-382 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 340, "title": "CO129-382 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "# May 2\n\n2 \n\nbelieves that in the present unsettled condition of western Yünnan, the Chinese will be unable to send troops from Tengyueh across the frontier, and this view finds some support from the recent report (in my telegram dated the 10th October, 1910) that it had been found necessary to send troops from Tengyueh and Talifu to oppose Szechuan army deserters, who were invading Yünnan from the north. Although the Lieutenant-Governor is disposed to think it probable that Mr. Rose's anticipation of a peaceful issue to Mr. Hertz's expedition will be realised, his honour cannot disregard the possibility of the other alternative. Mr. Rose has recently reported the preparation by the Chinese at Tengyueh of a large-scale map including the unadministered territory in question. The object of this map may be merely in connection with the ordinary administration of the tract by Chinese officials, which is known to be imminent, and which Mr. Hertz's expedition is intended to forestall. But on the other hand, the preparation of a map is consistent with an intention to move troops, and it is not more difficult for troops to enter the unadministered territory from Tengyueh than from Myitkyina. It must be noted that Mr. Rose's memorandum indicated several possible routes from Tengyueh into that territory, any one of which might bring a Chinese force directly on to the flank of Mr. Hertz's march. Having regard to this possibility, the Lieutenant-Governor thinks that it is no longer wise to adhere to the original arrangement by which Mr. Hertz's escort, exclusive of the rationing base, was to be split up into two small parties; and his honour is not satisfied that the total strength originally proposed would be sufficient to ensure a peaceful or even a successful issue. Small isolated parties might invite opposition or attack, whereas by a substantial show of force we should be more likely to avoid all risk of hostilities. The sanctioned arrangements, moreover, include no provision for the dispatch of a relieving force, in case Mr. Hertz's escort found itself in a difficult position. No effective relief could be afforded by the military police even if sufficient men could be furnished, because magazine rifles and ammunition have not been provided except for the escort itself. If Mr. Hertz were forced to retire or if a portion of his escort were cut off, there would be the most serious loss of prestige; and on the other hand, if the expedition does not proceed this year, the almost certain loss of the entire territory and the establishment of the Chinese on the upper reaches of the Irrawaddy must be accepted. In these circumstances, the Lieutenant-Governor is strongly of opinion that the expedition ought to proceed; but his honour recommends that the original arrangements should be modified so as to make a greater show of force, (1) by rendering Mr. Hertz's escort stronger and more compact, and (2) by stationing a force of regular troops in readiness in the neighbourhood of Myitkyina, in case it should become necessary to extricate or support Mr. Hertz's party.\n\n4. As already reported by telegram, the Lieutenant-Governor now recommends that the proposed expedition of a civil officer to the Shan State of Hkamti should be postponed for one year, his escort of 125 rifles being added to the escort originally proposed for Mr. Hertz. Mr. Hertz's escort will then consist of eleven British officers (including a medical officer) and 607 native ranks (including thirty-two signallers). A rationing base of 100 rifles will be established at Makawng, leaving a force of 475 rifles to accompany Mr. Hertz as his escort. A compact force of this strength is less likely to be attacked or to meet with resistance, but as an additional precaution the Lieutenant-Governor recommends that one native infantry battalion shall be stationed temporarily in the Myitkyina district, one-half of the battalion being kept at Myitkyina as a garrison, and the other half provided with transport and moved out to Seniku in readiness to follow Mr. Hertz into the unadministered territory and relieve him if required. The Lieutenant-Governor has already requested the Major-General commanding the Burmah division to be so good as to obtain sanction to the dispatch of a wing of a native regiment to garrison Myitkyina during the absence of the military police; his honour's present proposal is that a whole battalion should be sent, one-half being mobilized and pushed forward to Seniku. This movement of regular troops into the Myitkyina district will doubtless impress the Chinese and render them less disposed to interfere. The Lieutenant-Governor has discussed the matter with the Inspector-General of Police and the Major-General commanding the division. His honour's present proposals have been framed not only with a view to ensure the safety of Mr. Hertz's party, but also to avoid hostilities by removing from the Chinese all temptation to attack. As the proposals are more likely to lead to a peaceful solution, his honour hopes that they may be approved. They will entail some alteration of the instructions which formed Enclosure 2 of my letter of the 10th May, 1910, and I am accordingly to submit a revised set of instructions for the approval of the Government of India. There is one other suggestion which has not yet been mentioned, and which was made to the Lieutenant-Governor by the Major-General commanding the division, namely that the military authorities should furnish a Maxim gun section of ten men, under a junior British officer, to accompany Mr. Hertz's escort. This arrangement seems to the Lieutenant-Governor to be highly desirable as an additional measure of precaution, and I am to recommend that the Government of India may be pleased to issue the necessary orders for its adoption.\n\n5. I am now to describe the arrangements proposed for the establishment of a military police post in the unadministered tract, so as to ensure the permanency of our occupation. The country is at present almost unknown, and the location of the post cannot therefore be definitely settled until after actual inspection. But it is probable that the post will be established at or near Atawgaw, and it will also be necessary to establish a small connecting post at Makawng. The Lieutenant-Governor proposes that Mr. Hertz should leave a civil officer, two British officers of military police, and 175 rifles to garrison the post at Atawgaw, and 50 rifles under a native officer to occupy the post at Makawng. If the Chinese do not interfere with Mr. Hertz's operations, these posts can be withdrawn at the commencement of the rains and sent out again in the following open season. Otherwise, it will probably be necessary to leave them out throughout the rains. In order to ensure a sufficient supply of ammunition, the Lieutenant-Governor has already asked for 500 rounds for each of the magazine rifles lent to the military police, in addition to the 400 rounds of ball ammunition already supplied, and his honour hopes that this request will be granted. The estimated cost of establishing posts at Htawgaw and Makawng, and the total estimated cost of Mr. Hertz's expedition are now being calculated, and will form the subject of a separate report.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n## Enclosure 2 in No. 1\n\n**W. F. RICE, Chief Secretary**\n\n### Instructions concerning the Tour to be made for the purpose of bringing under Administration the Unadministered Country East of the 'Nmaikha\n\nMR. HERTZ, Deputy Commissioner, Myitkyina, with Mr. Scott, Assistant Superintendent, as his assistant, will proceed with an escort of military police to visit the unadministered country east of the 'Nmaikha, including Pienma and villages within easy march of that village. Mr. Hertz will be in exclusive civil and political charge, and will decide all administrative questions on his own responsibility, subject to such references to the Commissioner as he may consider necessary.\n\n2. The object of the tour is to bring under direct administration the country between the 'Nmaikha and the watershed between that river and the Shweli and Salween as far as latitude 26° 15' or thereabouts, including the villages on both sides of and in the valley of the Ngaw Kha and its junction with the 'Nmaikha, to nullify the recent attempts by the chief of Teng Keng to establish his authority over villages in British territory, and to effect the removal from the tract in question of all traces of occupation on behalf of China.\n\nTo effect this, Mr. Hertz will visit as many villages as possible, issue appointment orders to headmen, settle any disputes which may be brought before him between villages in the aforementioned tract, levy a nominal tribute, the amount of which will be left to his discretion, but should not exceed 1 rupee per household, destroy any boundary pillars which may have been erected by the Chinese within that area, and generally collect all available information, and explain to the villagers that they will henceforth be under British rule, and that they are entitled to British protection and will pay tribute.\n\n3. The force will be furnished by the military police and will consist of—\n\n| Category | Strength |\n| --- | --- |\n| Escort | 475 rifles and 20 signallers |\n| Ration base | 100 rifles and 12 signallers |\n\nIt will start from Myitkyina as early as possible in November or December 1910.\n\n4. Major ffrench-Mullen will be in command of the escort; Captain Moule will be second in command; Captain Gilchrist will be in command of the rationing base, with Lieutenant Pickthall attached to it as assistant commandant. They also will be ...\n\nPage 338", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-382 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 434782, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 196, "title": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "# [This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government.]\n\n**OPIUM, 14357**\n\n[April 10.] 193\n\n**CONFIDENTIAL.**\n\n[13304] REC DROP & SECTION 3. No. 1.\n\n(No. 2.\n\nSir,\n\n**Acting Consul Rose to Sir Edward Grey.-(Received April 10.) Confidential.)**\n\nTengyuch via Bhama, Upper Burmah, March 9, 1911.\n\nI HAVE the honour to enclose a report on the opium crops of Western Yunnan for the season 1910 to 1911.\n\nI have, &c.\n\n**ARCHIBALD ROSE.**\n\n## Enclosure in No. 1.\n\n**Report by Acting Consul Rose on the Opium Crops in Western Yünnan for the Season 1910 to 1911.**\n\n**(Confidential.)**\n\nGeneral Condition of Crops.-In my reports of the 9th June, 1909, and the 9th June, 1910, I have endeavoured to outline the general opium situation in Western Yüuman, and the information which has been available during the present season shows little change in the main conditions, though I am unable to report such satisfactory results from the measures of opium prohibition as have marked the course of the two former years. There appears to have been a decline in the vigour and sincerity of official action resulting in an increase of production, and, whilst last year's figures probably indicate the low-water mark in the supply available on the markets, the extent of cultivation shown during the present season appears to mark a more normal situation, and may thus serve as a clue to the probable future of the poppy crops in the frontier districts. In submitting the present notes I propose to adhere to the general lines of my report of the 9th June, 1910, indicating the changes which have come under my observation in the course of the present season.\n\nLimit of Prohibitive Measure.-I have recently returned from an annual frontier tour, which took me through many of the tribal districts, and the frequency of the poppy crops along the route evidenced a falling off in the severity of the preventive measures. The district officials have made tours throughout their districts, but have confined their observations to the main roads; bodies of troops have patrolled the country and established temporary camps in the hills bordering the Shan States, whilst the deputies from the provincial capital have followed the lines of local action as in the two former years. All, however, are reported to have benefited financially from their efforts, and the flourishing crops awaiting harvest in many of the districts through which they have passed are abundant proof that their vigilance has been devoted to personal rather than to public ends. In the plains surrounding the cities there is no trace of the poppy, nor is there any extensive cultivation in the hills of the purely Chinese zone, but the tribal area shows a considerable increase of crops, and the plains of Mengting and Kengma are largely devoted to the poppy, whilst the hill districts of Kangai, Nantien, Changta, Lungchuan, Mengmao, Ta-Meng-Tung, Hsiao-Meng-Tung, and Lu-Chiang Pa (the Salween valley plains) will produce considerably increased supplies.\n\nTribal Belt.--A feature of the cultivation in the tribal belt during the present season is the number of Chinese cultivators who have migrated to the Kachin hills surrounding the Shan States, thus introducing more thorough and more organised methods than were known to the tribesmen, whilst presenting a stronger opposition to official action. These emigrant Chinese band themselves into groups, many of whom are well armed and who understand the financial weaknesses of the preventive agents. I travelled through one district, where a colonel and about 150 men were engaged in enforcing the prohibition measures, and was surprised to find an extensive belt of cultivation still awaiting the harvest in their immediate neighbourhood. The commandant is a good soldier, much respected in the district, and neither he nor any considerable number of his men use the drug. He told me that he estimated his...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 435027, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 441, "title": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "# Mr. H. A. Thornton, I.C.S., superintendent, Northern Shan States; Mr. W. H. L. Cabell, I.C.S., deputy commissioner, Bhamo; Mr. D. W. Rae, assistant superintendent, Sinlumkaba; Mr. D. W. Kiernander, assistant superintendent, Kutkai; Captain B. E. A. Pritchard, I.A., battalion commandant, Lashio; Mr. Smart, R.A., Bhamo Battalion; and \n\nThe consul. \n\nColonel G. Pereira, C.M.G., D.S.O.; Captain Blackwell, R.A.M.C.; and Mr. Morris, \nof the East Surrey Regiment, also visited the camp. \n\nThe Chinese representatives were: \n| Name | Position |\n| --- | --- |\n| Keng Pao-kuei | Tuotai of Tenguch |\n| Chao Kai-bsuan | Frontier deputy |\n| Hsu Chai-yu | Sub-prefect of Lungling |\n| Kuang kuei-yuan | Newly-appointed assistant frontier deputy |\n| Colonel Wang Kuei-ching | |\n\nColonel Chung was also under orders to attend, but was retained at his post owing to the northern unrest. \n\nThe meeting commenced very satisfactorily, the Chinese party calling upon us first with a large escort and considerable state. The Burmah officers, who have been responsible for the British camp during the last two years, have carried out the plans in a way which certainly did credit to their Government, and it was evident that the Chinese had been impressed, for the taotai had spared no pains this year in arranging that his staff, his retinue, and his banquet should be worthy of his post, and that he should not be eclipsed on this occasion of international meeting. \n\nAfter the unsatisfactory relations which had existed at Tengyuch during the past year, the first meeting was anticipated with some interest, and the taotai lost no time in endeavouring to establish a better understanding, for he at once offered a full and frank apology for his previous behaviour. He was unfailingly courteous throughout our stay at Namkham, meeting us practically every day either at public or private discussions or at those social functions which form part of the usual programme, and he interested himself in all that was passing, showing the greatest keenness to behave in a manner which was correct. \n\nThe different courts were constituted as usual, and the junior Chinese officers met their British colleagues on satisfactory terms, a heavy roll of cases being settled during the three weeks' conference, which involved long and unbroken sittings, and must have proved very trying for Mr. Rae and Mr. Kiernander, who were constantly in court. When it is remembered that the British and Chinese officers on the bench have not only to convince themselves and one another of the desirability of certain settlements through the medium of interpreters, but that the British officers must marshal their witnesses and sift their evidence in the dozen different languages of the frontier tribes, it will be realised that the settlement of a long case-roll in the mixed courts of the frontier is no easy matter, and calls for an endless patience and unflagging persistency of purpose. Our officers are sometimes discouraged at the fact that their Chinese colleagues have so little perception of abstract justice, and that they find difficulty in resisting a temptation to bargain over the settlements when monetary compensations are awarded by the court. Such bargaining is, I think, inevitable to the mind of the Chinese magistrate, and when it is remembered that the awards come first of all from his own pocket, and that he is dependent on the recovery of his outlay from numerous other officials and loosely-held tribal villages—a process requiring another long and enduring struggle—these shortcomings may perhaps be charitably forgotten. Judging by their results, it is evident that relations were entirely satisfactory, for their settlements were excellent, and they parted the best of friends. \n\nIn the appellate court, the taotai sat with Mr. Thornton or Mr. Cabell and myself, and we realised at an early date that he was not prepared to do business. I am inclined to think that he had tied his own hands; that he had boasted to the Viceroy that he would show a bold face to the British at the frontier; and that he found himself bound to justify his promises, but placed in consequence in a foolish and undignified position from which he would gladly have retired had it been possible for him to do so without loss of prestige with the authorities at Yunnan-fu. The fact remains that he refused to settle any case which came before him, and by so doing, he cut at the root of the joint court and compensation system which had been accepted formally by China as our basis of procedure at last year's meeting. \n\nIn the settlement of frontier cases, old-established custom, reduced to writing in the frontier agreement of 1910 (attached to my last frontier report), has decided that trans-frontier thefts, bodily injuries, and murders shall be paid for on a fixed scale of compensation by the offending country, in addition to the arrest and punishment of the offender, and that the compensation account shall be balanced and settled before the representatives of Burmah and Yunnan leave the meeting. It not infrequently happens that we have to pay more than China, but we never quibble over a case which has been proved. \n\nThis year, however, the taotai set custom and agreement at defiance. There were five murder cases before him—murders of British subjects by people whom we claimed to be Chinese. I had brought the cases to his attention again and again during the year, asking him to make some attempt to arrest the culprits; but his only replies had been either that the murdered men were Chinese subjects or that the murderers were British, and as he offered no reasons for his statements and frequently worded them in unfriendly and discourteous terms, there remained no alternative but to await the results of the frontier meeting. The cases came up in due course to the appellate court, and the British evidence was produced—in each case full, satisfactory, and to us entirely convincing. The natural course would have been for the taotai to produce any counter-evidence, but he made no attempt to do this, nor did he produce the offenders or witnesses who could rebut the evidence in any way. We therefore claimed compensation on the fixed scale, which he flatly refused. The cases had been through all the stages of the frontier courts, and there seemed no hope of settlement. The object of the frontier meetings is to replace those old blood feuds, in which the Kachins settle such matters amongst themselves, by properly organised courts and by settlements which would be enforced if necessary. The result of the meetings and of this procedure has been a steady decrease of lawlessness along the frontier, to the benefit of both nations concerned; but, earnestly as we tried to persuade him to better counsels, the taotai appeared determined to set all precedent at defiance, and thus to undo the effect of many years of steady work and mutual co-operation. This was the situation in regard to case work on the last day of the meeting. \n\n## Trans-frontier Cultivations \n\nThere remained another matter of importance—the question of trans-frontier cultivations. This subject has been discussed and dealt with perfunctorily for several years past, but it was surrounded with difficulties, and it was not until the last twelve months that our information was sufficiently full to render a settlement possible. I have had the honour to address you on several occasions in regard to this question, but it may be well to recapitulate the position briefly in view of the settlement which has now been effected. \n\nIn delimiting the middle section of the Burmah-China frontier, it was found by the commissioners that the acceptance of their line, which frequently followed a zigzag course between paddy fields and irrigation dykes, would occasionally have the result of placing a village on one side of the border whilst the whole or part of the lands worked by the villagers would belong to the other side. They therefore made specific arrangements in the joint \"Description of the Boundary\" safeguarding the rights of the villagers in such cases to their original cultivation rights over the land in question. This was the commencement of the trans-frontier cultivation. As time went on, however, the original claims became considerably extended, for the farmers on the China side—mainly inhabitants of the Shan States—found that they could escape from the exactions and oppression of their own sawbwas by removing their homes to Burmah while continuing to cultivate their original fields in China. On the strength of the fact that they became subjects of Burmah by frontier custom of domicile, they now refused to pay taxes for their land to the Chinese suwbwas, and from this fact has arisen the matter in dispute. \n\nFor the past three or four years, the Yunnanese authorities have shown an active interest in the question. They have found that in the worst administered of the States—notably in Lungchuan and Mengmao—a great number of Chinese cultivators have moved their domicile to Burmah, and thus avoided payment of all taxes to China, with the result that the revenues of the Shan sawbwas in question have been considerably affected; the sawbwas themselves reported that their subjects are crossing to Burmah and \"taking their fields with them,\" thus touching the Chinese on their most sensitive spot, the possible alienation of Chinese territory. \n\nPage 436", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 435028, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 442, "title": "CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "## 8\n\nI have had considerable correspondence with the Government of Burmah on the subject during the year, and the lieutenant-governor has expressed a desire to meet the Chinese on fair and reasonable terms if a satisfactory settlement could be reached. His Honour mainly desired from China a recognition of the claim that farmers who moved their domicile to Burmah should not by so doing forfeit the right to cultivate their original fields in China; in return for such recognition he expressed his readiness to admit that such trans-frontier cultivators should properly pay the customary land taxes to the sawbwas, and that, should they fail to do so, their land or their cultivation rights over the communal land should be subject to forfeiture. The Chinese, on the other hand, sought to secure the extinction of all rights of cultivation for people who were no longer domiciled in China. The question was complicated by the fact that in the Chinese Shan States there is an undoubted custom of communal tenure, the lands worked by the village belonging to the sawbwa, and so to his overlord, the Emperor of China. There were reasons for refusing to admit this claim in the sweeping form in which it was presented by China, but the expression of a definite opinion as to its validity has been as far as possible avoided, both in discussion and in the draft regulations which we have drawn up for the settlement of the question.\n\nAt intervals during the year I have considered this subject at interviews with the taotai and other officials, but we were unable to effect any settlement satisfactory both to the Governments of Burmah and Yunnan, and the subject was therefore brought up for discussion at the frontier meeting. In the meanwhile the Government of Burmah, hoping to clear the issues and to obtain more definite information in regard to these claims, consented to the request of the Chinese authorities that a cadastral survey should be made of all fields along the border line, either in Burmah or Yunnan, over which cultivation rights were claimed by trans-frontier farmers. The whole cost of this survey was borne by the Government of Burmah. One of the Chinese officers accompanying the party (the Lung-ling Ting) was dismissed from office for obeying the orders of the taotai and sealing the maps which were to serve as proof of the claims; the other (the assistant frontier deputy wang) offered every possible obstruction to the party, and on completion of the survey stated that the maps were incorrect. When the maps reached Tengyueh, and I asked the taotai if he would accept and seal them according to agreement, he repudiated them entirely, offering no reason for, or explanation of, his attitude. The question of the regulations and maps in cultivation were at this stage when we reached the meeting at Namkham.\n\nOn arrival at the frontier meeting I discussed the question at length with Mr. Thornton and Mr. Cabell, and a draft agreement was drawn up based on the recommendations of the lieutenant-governor, and conceding all that was possible to China in a generous and conciliatory spirit. On the draft being presented to the taotai he admitted the concessions, and stated, indeed, that he could find little to add to our draft; a few immaterial suggestions were made by him and were adopted at once. He stated, however, that he had no power to accept these regulations, to recognise the maps, or, indeed, to do anything towards a settlement in this long-standing and difficult question. He withdrew, however, his sweeping denunciation of the maps, and consented to outline specific lines along which he claimed that the maps were incorrect.\n\nAfter careful inquiry into his points it was found that they all hinged on one difficulty. At certain places along the frontier the boundary line followed the course of river beds, and was so described at the time of the boundary commission; in the course of the cadastral survey, however, it was found that these sandy river-beds had in many instances changed their course, thus absorbing some fields, and apparently placing others on the wrong side of the frontier. The survey party had adopted, as far as their information allowed, the line of the old river-beds as the correct boundary. We pointed out to the taotai that the actual course of the river-beds at the time of the boundary commission was a question of evidence, which could and should have been obtained from the villagers at the time of the survey; that a Chinese deputy accompanied the party mainly for this purpose, and that, if he had been dissatisfied with the line taken, he had his remedy in the evidence procurable on the spot; that he had not adopted this simple procedure; and that the Government of Burmah had thus been put to much unnecessary expense and annoyance. It is a fact, however, that the question is difficult and intricate, and that the deputy in question was utterly incompetent for the work; the actual facts, however, were put before the taotai so clearly at the frontier meeting that he certainly understood the points at issue. In spite of this he refused to accept the responsibility of arranging a settlement, and the questions of the regulations and maps in cultivation were in this position at the close of the meeting.\n\n## 9\n\n### Our Plans of Settlement\n\nI have endeavoured to outline clearly the case work and also the cultivation question at the frontier meeting, as the Chinese attitude towards both subjects is of more than passing interest, and is likely to occupy more of the attention of frontier officers as time goes on, and it is of importance that sound precedence should be established in these early years. Until two years ago the Yunnan Government had considered a handful of frontier commandants, of little or no official status, of sufficient importance to meet the representatives of Burmah, but it is clear that they now realise the importance of frontier affairs and the need for the attendance of responsible officers.\n\nThe Burmah officers had done their best to close the affairs of the present season with a clean sheet, and on the taotai's own admission they had shown a patience, a courtesy, and a desire for conciliatory settlement which was beyond his anticipation, and was certainly beyond his deserts. It was therefore with keen disappointment that we realised that the meeting had reached its close, and that the serious cases and the important questions of the year still remained unsettled.\n\nAfter consultation with Mr. Thornton and Mr. Cabell, we decided that the only possible way of forcing a settlement was by breaking up the meeting and by addressing a joint despatch to the taotai clearly defining his responsibility in leaving the frontier without effecting settlements, and the possibility of serious trouble among the border tribes which was threatened by his action. We indicated at the same time the fact that the responsibility of the Yunnan Government had been indicated by the Burmah Government's message to the Viceroy when requesting him to appoint a representative for the frontier meeting. A copy of our despatch is attached to this report (`Enclosure 1`). We left the frontier without any of the usual formalities or an exchange of calls, and the taotai immediately sent a verbatim report of our despatch to the Viceroy by telegraph. I am happy to be able to report that our action succeeded entirely in effecting the desired result, though the extraordinary change of front shown by the Yunnan Government would suggest that our efforts were aided by unexpected good fortune, and by circumstances which were beyond our control, whilst events appeared to indicate, though I had no direct evidence of the fact, that moral pressure had been brought to bear on the Viceroy through the Wai-wu Pu at Peking.\n\n### Unrest and Boycott at Tengyueh\n\nAfter leaving the Namkham meeting I hurried back to my post, and on arrival at Tengyueh I found a most unsatisfactory situation there. It appears that the taotai, whilst still at the frontier, had telegraphed to Yünnan-fu recommending an aggressive attitude in regard to British activity in the unadministered territory, and that the modern-drilled troops of the province had at once been mobilised, 1,000 men leaving Talifu in the direction of the border, whilst preparations were made to strengthen the depleted Tali garrison by a regiment from Yunnan-fu. The old troops from Tengyueh were being hurried into the Shan States, and all was ready for a demonstration on the frontier should it be necessary. In Tengyueh itself public feeling was greatly excited by distorted rumours of British action in the neighbourhood of Hpimaw (Pien-ma); the people were disturbed by the hurried movements of troops. Agitation had been worked up in regard to the acquisition of the new consulate site, and a boycott of British goods, not reported officially until some ten days after the event, had already been declared, though its incidence was fortunately postponed owing to the fact that business was suspended during the New Year holidays.\n\nI immediately sent for the sub-prefect (ting), who had been in charge of affairs during the taotai's absence, and informed him that the situation appeared to me to be very grave, that riots might be expected unless steps were taken to allay popular excitement, that I held him entirely responsible for having allowed things to reach so serious a pass, and that I should appeal to the Viceroy direct and take other definite measures unless the position changed within twenty-four hours. The local situation borrowed for a moment a certain humour from Chinese official tactics. The taotai received news on the same day that a considerable force of British troops was mobilising on the broad grassy plain at Lweje, a post actually on the frontier between Bhamo and Tengyueh, and he apparently decided that the moment had arrived when a careful policy was at last essential and a scape-goat must be found in case of need.\n\n*Not printed*\n\nPage 437", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-383 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 435300, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911", "page_number": 80, "title": "CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911", "content_text": "**CONFIDENTIAL**\n\nCO 23530\nAFFAIRS OF CHINA.\n\nNo. 1.\nJune 2.\n\n## SECTION 3\n\nIndia Office to Foreign Office.-(Received June 2)\n\nTHE Under-Secretary of State for India presents his compliments to the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and, by direction of the Earl of Crewe, forwards herewith, for the information of the Secretary of State, copy of a telegram from Viceroy, dated the 1st June, 1911, relative to Pieuma.\n\nIndia Office, June 2, 1911.\n\n### Enclosure in No. 1\n\n**Government of India to the Earl of Crewe.**\n\n(Telegraphic.) P.\n\nJune 1, 1911, BURMAH-CHINA Frontier. Burmah Government telegraphed the 29th ultimo as follows:-\n\nReport from Mr. Hertz states that information has reached him from Labaonu, who, as reported in our telegram dated the 12th ultimo, is stationed at Lungpang, to the effect that Chinese officers and men have crossed by track north-west of village of Lao-wu-lu, accompanied by Dawa of Hpawte village north-east of Kangfang, with many crossbowmen and 20 Chinese troops, and that they have proceeded down the stream of the Gnanong Kha to Nangwo and Mangkyi villages near confluence of N'Maikha and Ngawchang, and thence up the N'Maikha valley northwards, giving the headmen presents. The Mehkha is said to be their ostensible object. With the exception of the Mehkha, which is a tributary of the N'Maikha, joining the latter river some 30 miles further north from the north-east, the places mentioned are shown on the map submitted with my letter dated the 15th ultimo. Lieutenant-governor can see no justification for invasion of our territory by an armed force, the Chinese having no claim whatever to territory west of alternative frontier near Lao-wu-lu. On the suggestion of Mr. Hertz, directions have been given by lieutenant-governor that Clerk and Geoghegan, civil officer and assistant commandant, Lawkhaung post, should proceed to Mangkyi with thirty military police and prevent Chinese force using this route on their return. We are informing Hertz that strength of force may be increased to fifty military police unless he is satisfied that thirty are sufficient. Instructions to watch and report on movements of Chinese force are being given to Labaonu. We are asking consul at Tengyueh if any information regarding force can be furnished by him. His Honour recommends that a strong protest be addressed to the Chinese Government against this act of aggression, and that they be told that we shall not be responsible for any collision that may occur if armed Chinese forces enter country to west of main watershed.\n\nWe recommend that protest as suggested in last sentence of telegram from Burmah Government should be made at an early date. We agree that there is no justification whatever for visit.\n\n(Repeated to Peking.)\n\n[2062 h~3]\n79", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-384 - Public Offices - 1911.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 445548, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-406 - Public Offices - 1913", "page_number": 19, "title": "CO129-406 - Public Offices - 1913", "content_text": "## Report on Opium Trade in Hunan Province\n\nI visited the town of Hung-chiang, on the Yuan River, which was formerly the great market for Kueichou opium, and which has grown into a busy and prosperous centre on this trade alone, the likin on native opium amounting to as much as 15,000,000 taels a-year when the trade was at its zenith. The people are now reduced to poverty and the town already bears evidence of decline, which appears to show that the trade has really suffered a fatal blow. A small quantity is still smuggled in by the small roads in the Yuan-chou district and distributed from Hung-chiang with the greatest precaution, but the most liberal estimate places the amount annually introduced at about one-tenth of that originally dealt with.\n\nIt will be extremely difficult to eliminate the trade in, and the consumption of, opium from centres such as this, and the slightest relaxation of official measures will probably lead to the recrudescence of a trade in which officials, farmers, merchants, and people have so great a stake.\n\nThroughout the journey we received the greatest courtesy from the officials and gentry, who did their best to ensure our comfort and to afford us protection. Vigorous efforts were made at first to hamper my movements, to confine me to the main roads, and to prevent my penetration into the tribal country. I was inclined to attribute this to a fear that poppy might be discovered in the loosely administered mountain country. The result of a careful search, however, appeared to show that official opposition was dictated either by the anxiety of the local officials for our safety or by the natural reluctance of our Chinese colleagues to undergo the hardships of a mountain tour. We walked most of the way, after abandoning our ponies and finding our sedan chairs too exciting, but to the Chinese delegates, unaccustomed as they are to any form of exercise, the exhausting marches and the comfortless nights proved a terrible experience. The fact that they completed the tour in a friendly and helpful spirit was therefore very gratifying.\n\nTo sum up the results of the tour, we have conducted a searching examination of the province of Hunan, and we have neither seen any poppy nor obtained any evidence of cultivation. The campaign of destruction has evidently been carried over several years, and although a certain amount was sown this year in the remoter districts, in the mountains and in tribal country, I am of opinion that little, if any, remains, and that a certain amount of the heroic measures of the last few months have been successful. Smuggling from the neighbouring provinces still continues, but it is inconsiderable and decreasing. A certain number of people still use the drug, but the high prices and the severe punishments meted out to smokers have had far-reaching results.\n\nHunan is in a favourable position for the elimination of the drug, in that it is fertile and prosperous, other crops being economically possible in most of the country, though the mountain districts will suffer considerable loss from the campaign. The agricultural and mineral wealth of the province is so marked, however, and the water transport is generally so good, that the province will be better able than many of the other provinces to tide over any loss in connection with the opium trade, should the present policy continue. At the same time, the high prices of the drug now prevailing, and the demand which still exists, will form a great temptation to producers, and the least slackening of the repressive measures may lead to an immediate recrudescence of cultivation.\n\nThe student-class in the big towns of Hunan are reported to be really desirous of eliminating the drug, and they have voiced their opinions through the medium of the press. The bulk of the people, however, are frankly interested in it, either as producers, consumers, or tax-collectors, and they constantly expressed the opinion that the drug could never be entirely abolished. A number of the gentry, the most powerful element in the province, remarked one day that the question at issue was surely that of Italian opium, not of opium pure and simple, and I have little doubt that he expressed the general opinion of the people of Hunan. Whatever may be their motive, however, there is definite evidence for the moment of a sincere desire on the part of the Government to free the province from the cultivation of the poppy and, after an experience of the opium question in several other provinces, I am able to report that Hunan has dealt with the problem with unexpected thoroughness and success.\n\n**ARCHIBALD ROSE**\n\nMay 25, 1913\n\n## Enclosure 3 in No. 1\n\n### Report on Journey in Hunan (Eastern Section)\n\nA careful search and exhaustive enquiries have alike failed to disclose the existence of any poppy crop this season.\n\nMy investigation began at Ch'i-yang Hsien, which was reached from Changsha viâ Pao-ching Fu, and ended at Hsiang-Yin Hsien, 40 miles due north of Changsha. The journey falls into five distinctive divisions, which are as follows:\n\n| Division | Route | Distance (li) | Distance (miles) |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| 1 | Ch'i-yang Hsien to Liang Tien | 415 | 1384 |\n| 2 | Liang Tien to Kwei-yang Hsien | 165 | 55 |\n| 3 | Kwei-yang Hsien to Lung Tang | 205 | 683 |\n| 4 | Lung Tang to P'ing-chiang Hsien | 785 | 261 |\n| 5 | P'ing-chiang Hsien to Hsiang-Yin Hsien | 185 | 613 |\n\nThe first division comprises lands which are favourable to poppy growing, and which have produced poppy in former years to a considerable extent.\n\nThe second is a fair example of those remote and outlying districts in which the poppy is generally supposed to be still in evidence. The path I travelled was an unfrequented one—well away from the beaten track.\n\nIn the third stage, my road ran parallel to the Kiangsi border at a distance of 10 miles from it. The lands passed through were mountainous border lands with cultivated valleys.\n\nThe fourth division comprises border districts, but of more open and less mountainous aspect.\n\nThe fifth stage surveys the country from the Kiangsi border district of P'ing-chiang Hsien, eastwards to a point 40 miles due north of Changsha.\n\n### Poppy Cultivation\n\nPoppy was successfully grown in the season 1911-12 in some of the districts through which I have passed; in others, the officials intervened, the crop was torn up, and the grower punished. At P'ing-chiang Hsien, for instance, in April 1912, a grower was fined 1,000 tiao (about 720 dollars) and his crop destroyed.\n\nDuring the summer of 1912, proclamations were issued and notables sent round to impress on the local officials, elders, and landowners of the province that no poppy would be tolerated in the coming season, and that the provincial authorities would shrink from no extremity of action to ensure the final freedom of the province from opium.\n\nSince November last (the sowing season), all the districts through which I have passed have been visited from time to time by search parties of soldiers, with orders to root up any poppy found, to arrest the growers, and to shoot down all opposition. A landowner in the Chien-chou district was shot in January 1913 under such circumstances, though I understand that he was the victim of a false accusation.\n\nSecrecy of cultivation is scarcely possible, conditions being such as they are in country districts in China; and discovery was rendered doubly sure by the offer of rewards to informers, and by the posting up of boxes for the receipt of anonymous denunciations.\n\nThe Tzu Chih Chu (local government councils) and the Tuan Tsung (militia captains) have been made collectively and individually responsible for their districts. And finally, notables have been sent out periodically by the General Opium Suppression Bureau. The activity of this bureau has rendered impossible any apathy on the part of the district officials; and this result has been assisted by the fact that since the revolution, local authority is vested no longer in one man, but is divided between three officials respectively: the magistrate, the judicial officer, and the commandant of the local troops.\n\nPoppy cultivation in this province is only possible, in my opinion, where the local landowners are in a position to defy their officials; in none of the districts visited by me does such a state of affairs exist. All these districts are well supplied with troops of the regular army, and are within easy reach of the provincial capital.\n\n`[2965 q-1]`", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-406 - Public Offices - 1913.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 448055, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-411 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [5-7]", "page_number": 274, "title": "CO129-411 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [5-7]", "content_text": "Canalvoure\n\n100 P Y.\n\n271\n\n24754\n\nPlayd\n\n6 July\n\nHead Quarters,\n\nSouth China Command,\n\nHongkong, 7th May, 1914.\n\nYour Excellency,\n\nIn continuation of my letter No. 3458(G) dated 25th February, 1914, forwarding a report on the Hongkong Volunteer Camp at Hang Hau - 9th to 18th January, and an Artillery Report, I have the honour to forward;\n\n(a). A Report by the Commandant on the Hongkong Volunteer Corps for the year ending 31st March, 1914, together with the Regimental Musketry Return.\n\n(b). A Report by Captain F. C. C. Rogers, M.V.O., 2nd Bn. the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry on the Hongkong Volunteer Reserves.\n\n2.\n\nAs regards the Hongkong Volunteer Corps, what I saw of them at the formal inspection on the 17th January, as well as at the Naval and Military Manoeuvres 23rd-26th March, has confirmed my opinion of their keenness and usefulness. I am glad to see there is a slight increase in their numbers, but I deplore the fact that so many men in this Colony are content to stand aside and let other people prepare to defend them.\n\nVery great advantage to the Corps would accrue if the Annual Camp could be located alongside a Camp of Regulars - the Artillery during the regular Movable Armament Camp and the remainder during Infantry Battalion or Company Training.\n\nI am not sure that in the training of the Scouts Company it is sufficiently realised how invaluable as Scouts or Guides in time of war, a body of men would be who knew the Colony, - or at all events the Island and the Mainland up to and East and West of a line through Taipo thoroughly. I think more time should be spent in training them in this direction. It should be remembered that the regular troops are constantly changing, a fact which very largely increases the importance and value", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-411 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [5-7].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 448067, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-411 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [5-7]", "page_number": 286, "title": "CO129-411 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [5-7]", "content_text": "From\n\nCommandant I. K. V. T.\n\nTo\n\nG. O. C. South China.\n\n283\n\n1\n\nPlace Hongkong Date 30th April 1914.\n\nArthur H. H. Chapman\n\nLt. Col.\n\nCommanding Hongkong Volunteer Corps\n\nREMARKS BY OFFICER COMMANDING INFANTRY BRIGADE, DIVISION, &c. (Should be typewritten if possible.)\n\nPlace\n\nDate\n\nCommanding\n\nREMARKS BY THE GENERAL OFFICER COMMANDING-IN-CHIEF.\n\nA satisfactory report on the whole. 5 Marksmen and 9 First-Class Shots out of the 19 who fired the Regular Soldiers' Course is quite creditable. I should like to see this number (19) increased, and hope that it may be possible to find time to exercise all those who qualify. The provision of a 30 yards Range which is now nearly finished will be a great help in Musketry Training.\n\nPlace Hong Kong,\n\n7th May, 1914.\n\nDate\n\nH. H. H. Major General,\n\nCommanding the Troops in South China.\n\nSir,\n\nVolunteer Headquarters,\n\nHongkong 6th Feby. 1914.\n\nI have the honour to forward the following report on the Volunteer Camp at Hang Hau, New Territories from 9th to 18th Jany. 1914. I also forward a duplicate copy (with accounts attached) for the information of His Excellency the Governor.\n\n1. Members.\n\nOut of a total strength of 21 officers and 271 other ranks (men absent on leave having been deducted) 21 officers and 210 other ranks attended Camp. Of these 87 attended for 5 days or over and 144 for a shorter period.\n\n2. Work Carried out in Camp.\n\nProgramme of work was as follows:-\n\n(1) All Units.\n\nDaily Parades\n\n8.15 a.m. to 9.45 a.m. 10.0 a.m. to 12.0 noon 2.0 p.m. to 5.0 p.m.\n\nAt these parades instruction was given in the technical work of the various Sections in the morning, and general instruction in Skirmishing &c. in the afternoon.\n\n88 Officers and men fired Machine Gun Course Table \"G\" Pt. I Practices 1 to 6 inclusive.\n\n3. Gun Practice &c.\n\n(a) 5\" B.L. Howitzer and 10 pdr B.L. Gun Practice was carried out by the Artillery Battery on 15th, 16th & 17 January.\n\n(b) Field Firing was carried out by the Maxim Gun Sections on three days.\n\n4. Inspection by H. E. the G. O. C. South China.\n\nThe G. O. C. inspected the men at their work on 17th January.\n\n5. Inspection by C. R. A.\n\nThe C. R. A. inspected the Artillery Battery at Gun Practice on 15th, 16th & 17th January,", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-411 - Governor Sir May - 1914 [5-7].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 450638, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-416 - Public Offices - 1914", "page_number": 220, "title": "CO129-416 - Public Offices - 1914", "content_text": "(A arrear.\n\n7 ransacked on the 20th October by its republican guard, whose pay was considerably in arrears. In Lin Tse Hsien a riot occurred about the same time, owing to students destroying the gods in the city temple. Towards the end of November a mutiny took place in the Manchu garrison in Tsing-chou fu.\n\nOperations have been carried on against the robbers in the Tsaochoufu and Yenchoufu districts, and the governor now claims that brigandage has been practically suppressed in this part of the province. The most notorious of the leaders was seized and executed in December, but two others remain to be captured. The newspapers have recently given accounts of brigandage in the Wutingfu district, north of the Yellow River, which is usually free from such troubles.\n\nDisbandment of the troops is steadily proceeding, and is causing little trouble except for a mutiny at Chefoo in the beginning of January. This occurred on the 4th January, after nearly all the Manchurian troops had been paid off, and had handed over their arms to their commandant. A large number of them had gone on board the steamer, which was to take them to the north. Owing to some interference, and an attempt to deprive them of a portion of their pay, the troops returned to shore, rushed the arsenal, overcame the guard, possessed themselves of rifles and ammunition, and started to hold up the traffic on the streets. They were soon joined by others anxious for possible loot. A force of 2,000 lu chun and 200 sailors from the cruiser \"Haichi\" were soon under arms and patrolled the streets, taking special care to safeguard the foreign quarter. Order was restored on the following day, and the mutinous troops shipped off to Dairen. There is some apprehension, however, of further trouble, owing to the disagreements between the commanding officers. A Japanese man-of-war is lying off Chefoo to watch developments.\n\nIn Shantung, as elsewhere, the elections for the Peking Assembly are resolving themselves mainly into a contest between the Kung Ho Tang and the Kuo Min Tang, the latter of which seems to be the more strongly organised. The bulk of the population, however, are quite uninterested, and the number of voters is very small, the majority of the people being quite apathetic towards the new régime.\n\nChinkiang.\n\nRobberies by disbanded troops in the neighbourhood of Chinkiang seem to have continued intermittently throughout the past few months, but the authorities are doing what they can to maintain order. His Majesty's consul asked for and obtained a guard for the district where the missionaries chiefly live, and this measure has proved effective in preventing further robberies in that quarter. The general reduction in the number of cases of serious crime is credited to the action of one Yang Piao, battalion commander in the 64th regiment, formerly a village bully in Hupei, who has now acquired a great reputation as a merciless hunter of bad characters. He has made a number of important arrests from time to time, and the accused, disbanded soldiers or civilians, have been put to death. Colonel Yang executed the condemned in several cases with his own hand, using a revolver.\n\nThe operations against brigands in the Hsüchoufu country have evidently been of good effect, the district of Pei Hsien being now comparatively free from robbers, and merchants are resuming their normal business there. A party of disbanded soldiers, mostly Tsingkiangpu men, left Hsüchoufu about the end of December for Chinkiang. Thence they were moved on in boats towed by launches until, on arriving at Shaopo, they broke out and looted all the launch stations at that place. They eventually reached their destination without further trouble and dispersed.\n\nThe primary elections for the Provincial and National Assemblies took place in December. For the National Assembly, Chinkiang is the centre of the third district, which contains an electorate of 612,341. The primary elections were, here as elsewhere, accompanied by every kind of fraud and trickery, but without disorder. The Kuomintang were again the most active party.\n\nThe condition of the Grand Canal within Kiangsu province is worse than it has been for many years. Launch traffic on certain sections has been intermittent, and the movement of native boats impeded. His Majesty's consul at Chinkiang is endeavouring to rouse the local authorities to the seriousness of the matter.\n\nKiangsi.\n\nThe last quarter of 1912 passed, for the most part, uneventfully, as far as the province of Kiangsi was concerned. The flow of administrative reforms which\n\n216", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-416 - Public Offices - 1914.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 458880, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-429 - Public Offices & Others - 1915", "page_number": 441, "title": "CO129-429 - Public Offices & Others - 1915", "content_text": "439\n\n1\n\n嗚岐)。\n\nCheung Ming Ki (\n\nHe states that General Lung has recently received so many reports as to an outbreak that he does not know what to think or do. Tang Yiu Kwong expressed a hope that Cheung would not suddenly leave Canton as he did last time.\n\nMr. Li Ping said casually that he had heard there was going to be trouble. Asked if he had heard any date suggested and he said no but that it would be quite soon. He also said that the Wai Chau men would start the business.\n\n2. Under date of August 28th, the following information has been received through the medium of Captain L.E. Canning, Staff Officer, Shanghai Volunteer Corps :-\n\nWith regard to the Sikhs I enclose two cuttings from the \"Shanghai Times\"; there is a lot of discontent among them and they show it to a certain extent, They are now being registered here and so far over 500 watchmen have come forward, this is excluding police.\n\nThere are a good many returning from America and fetching up here and I am sure they are up to no good. As soon as the registration boom is over Sir Everard Fraser is going to have those not registered run in and then perhaps there may be an attempt by their pals to rescue them, anyway, Major Trueman, Commandant S.V.C., has informed the British unit commanders to test their mobilization schemes. This Sikh registration certificate has a photo of the gentleman who holds it on and shipping companies have been warned they are not to be taken as passports. Sir Everard Fraser has also asked Sir John Jordan to issue an order that Sikhs can no longer act as watchmen to Germans and if this comes out and the men get sacked, they will have no visible means of support and they will be taken before the Police", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-429 - Public Offices & Others - 1915.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 463717, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-435 - Governor Sir May & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1916 [9-11]", "page_number": 809, "title": "CO129-435 - Governor Sir May & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1916 [9-11]", "content_text": "## 5.\n\n791\n\nThe Engineer company has been continuously engaged on the Defence Electric Lights since the war began and provides nightly three officers and 26 rank and file for this very arduous duty which is carried out in addition to the ordinary civil employment of the members. The valuable work done by this company released a number of regular Engineers for service in Europe.\n\n4.\n\nThe following is an extract from a letter dated 1st May, 1916 by my predecessor to His Excellency the Governor speaking of this Corps and the Volunteer Reserve:-\n\n\"Had it not been for their patriotism in coming forward it would have been impossible for me to release the British Infantry Regiment and so many Artillery and Engineers.\"\n\n5.\n\nI desire to bring the following names to notice:-\n\n**LIEUT-COLONEL ARTHUR CHAPMAN V.D.** Commandant. Commanded the Corps with zeal and efficiency during the war. Much extra work has fallen upon him.\n\n**SURGEON MAJOR GEORGE DUNGAN RALPH BLACK**. In addition to his Volunteer duties has done daily duty at the Military Hospital since 22nd January, 1915, and given up half his time from a very busy private practice, thereby enabling a Royal Army Medical Corps officer to be sent on service. Paid two hundred dollars a month from Army funds.\n\n**CAPTAIN WILLIAM RUSSELL**, **LIEUTENANT ROBERT HALL**. Have been conspicuous and untiring at duty with the electric lights and have been on night duty alternate weeks ever since the war and as they are fully employed at their profession by day have had to rest when they can.\n\n**CAPTAIN GEORGE PHILLIP LAERT V.D.**. Has been attached to the Army Service Corps since the outbreak of the war. His services have contributed to the release of two senior Army Service Corps officers for active service as well as a subaltern of the 2nd Battn. Duke of Cornwall's L.I. formerly attached to the A.S.C., also a quartermaster Army Service Corps for service in North China.\n\nFor the last eighteen months Captain Lammert has been in sole charge of the A.S.C. water and coolie transport and has in addition rendered considerable assistance in the Supply Office. Paid five shillings per diem from Army funds.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-435 - Governor Sir May & Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1916 [9-11].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 469428, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-445 - Public Offices - 1917", "page_number": 302, "title": "CO129-445 - Public Offices - 1917", "content_text": "fail to find a single opium-poppy. On arrival at Lungling, the consulate writer and I were entertained to a Chinese dinner-party in his yamên,\n\nThe discovery of only one solitary field of opium along the route between Nantien and Lungling must, I think, be taken as evidence of the strenuous efforts which have been made during the past few months to eradicate all traces of the prescribed plant; from one or two more talkative residents encountered en route I obtained admissions of a considerable recrudescence of cultivation during last year, but all agreed as to the thorough measures of suppression carried out since November last. In the T'engch'ung district, for instance, no less than three separate expeditions of eradication had been sent out, under territorial, military, and police officials respectively, and it is only just to place on record that their duties were performed in a very thorough manner.\n\nThe normal order of procedure was for my caravan, headed by the writer and myself, to take the lead, and for the Taoyin's more imposing party to bring up the rear. The 1st April was, however, appropriately celebrated by the failure of the Taoyin's party to keep touch with us at a parting of the ways, this added some 2 miles for them to the long and undulating road to Siangta. Thence to P'ingka is normally reckoned as a single though lengthy stage for caravans; at the Taoyin's request we split it into two, halting at the small hamlet of Huchiachal, 7,000 feet high, picturesquely situated in the midst of dense groves of bamboos. At Huchiachal we encountered our first rain, and thereafter we had not a single rainless day until the 19th April. From Pingka to Hankuai, high above the right bank of the Salween, with a magnificent view of the lofty mountains on the other side, was another long day's march.\n\nThe crossing of the Salween was a tedious business for so large a cavalcade; two bamboo rafts were provided, taking only some five mule-loads or ten men on each trip; the method of propulsion across the swift current was by a species of flat umbrella fashioned of stout bamboo; at each end of the craft an \"oarsman\" plied one of these cumbrous weapons by plunging it into the water and pulling it towards himself with powerful strokes.\n\nArrived at the left bank of the Salween, we were in the Chênk'ang district; and at the head of the very long and stiff ascent from the river we were met by the local magistrate, Tang Te-ch'uan, a pleasant elderly official, who travelled with us until we left his jurisdiction. Tê-tang, where his official residence is, was our third halt after crossing the Salween; this place was made memorable for me by a sufficiently unhappy experience. Somewhere about A.M. a gale of wind, accompanied by torrents of rain, brought my tent down over my head, and my slumbers to a beautifully abrupt close.\n\nThe town of Chênk'ang was reached next day. Formerly there was a Chinese Shan Sawbwa of Chenkung, but his downfall was brought about as the result of the Manchu viceroy, Hsi Liang's, policy for the gradual absorption of the Chinese Shan States into direct Chinese administration; and save for a few picturesque ruins of the Sawbwa's palace, the place is now shorn of any pomp and circumstance it may have once possessed.\n\nTwelve days' travel, although for the most part along comparatively unfrequented routes, had now disclosed but one solitary field of opium-poppy, and I therefore decided on a somewhat rash experiment. None of the four maps of Yunnan which I took with me gave any indication of a road from Chênk'ang to Mienning, the next district town on my list, and the recognised routes between these two places are circuitous in the extreme, passing through either Shunning or Yünchow. I ascertained, however, that a road practicable for chairs existed, and elected to attempt it. Fortunately, by this time the Tengyueh Taoyin had resigned himself to accepting my lead, or he would almost certainly have protested. For five days we followed the roughest of mountain paths, which had in many places to be prepared overnight for our transit by the felling of trees and clearing of jungle. At none of the intermediate halts, Pank'a, Maulung, Hup'o, and Manlai, we were assured, had a white traveller ever been seen, and I cannot recommend my example as one to be lightly followed. The only camping-ground to be found at Manlai was on a wind-swept spur projecting out of a deep ravine, and once again a sudden hurricane brought my tent crashing down.\n\nBelow Manlai our route crossed the Namting River by a ford which would obviously be impracticable during the heavier rains of midsummer. At the Namting we quitted the Chênk'ang district and entered the jurisdiction of the Chinese Shan Sawbwa of Kengma. During our six days of travel through Chenkang territory we had found no opium crops whatever, though I learnt that there had been a small harvest of the earliest sown poppy. The magistrate was said, however, to have been indefatigable in the work of eradication, and I was assured—not by himself—that since November of last year he had never been in residence at his post for five consecutive days.\n\nDuring our day and a-half through the jurisdiction of the Kengma Sawbwa we were escorted by his Shan-Chinese clerk, who was full of his recent visit to Rangoon and Lashio in attendance on his master. The road from the left or south-east bank of the Namting River was a terribly steep ascent for some 3,000 feet, which we negotiated in pouring rain; this was succeeded by a hair-raising path—with an average breadth of 14 inches at the most—for some 5 miles along the edge of a precipice. After the heavy rain the surface of red laterite was so treacherously slippery that I felt safer on my sure-footed Yunnan pony than on my own legs.\n\nOur next halt, the Shan village of Chepi, was on a route traversed more than twenty years ago by H. R. Davies, the standard authority on the province of Yunnan, and doubtless by other foreigners since; here for the first time I abandoned my tent, in favour of a comparatively clean temple.\n\nAt this point we were met by a guard of honour sent out to meet us by the P'uêrh Taoyin, who had arrived at Mienning, our pre-arranged meeting-place, on the 11th April. I owe the noisy but efficient commandant a debt of gratitude for his thorough arrangements for my comfort at each of our halting places throughout the Mienning district.\n\nFor several days in succession I had seen nothing whatever of the Tengyueh Taoyin; at Chêpi, however, much to my surprise, he rode over to call on me. The reason for the visit was only apparent when he propounded the astonishing request that as during seventeen days' travel in his circuit we had only found one field of opium-poppy, I would overlook it in my report to His Majesty's Chargé d'Affaires.\n\nOn my replying that, had we found one hundred I should be bound to report one hundred, and that I must equally report the one; he then suggested that I should add a rider that the field found was close to the scene of military operations against the offending Kachins. To this I rejoined that I had been over the country in question and he had not, and that I knew for a fact that the two places were at least two and a-half days' journey apart. Soon afterwards he took his leave, considerably crestfallen.\n\nApril 14th: Shortly after leaving Chêpi the road to Mienning makes a very steep ascent of some 3,000 feet, on to a lofty shoulder, the view from which on a clear day must be magnificent, embracing extensive country in the jurisdiction of Shunning and Kengma, in the Tengyueh circuit, and Mienning in the Puerh circuit. On an open bit of grass land just beyond a pillar marking the boundary, a large booth had been erected, and we were met by the Puerh Taoyin and the Mienning district magistrate, each of whom furnished a guard of honour. The Puerh Taoyin, Lu Pang-shun, a Kiangsu man aged 56, has held office for the past twenty-one years in Yunnan, and possesses a very thorough knowledge of the province. Two periods of service he has spent in Tengyueh, first as sub-prefect in Manchu times, and secondly as taotai under the Republic in 1913. The Mienning magistrate, Hsieh Yunan, has formerly held a billet in the War Office in Peking; he struck me as being unusually intelligent and capable.\n\nAt Pingyehhsün, where we halted for the night, the two Taoyins came over to call. From the first, Mr. Lu showed up very favourably beside his Tengyueh colleague, and displayed a friendly acquiescence in my suggestions with regard to our joint tour.\n\nThe following day we reached the ancient walled city of Mienning, inhabited by a mixed population of Chinese and Shans, while Lolos and natives of several other tribes inhabit the surrounding villages. On arrival at the city, we were escorted for a sort of Jericho-tour round the walls before being conducted to the old lieutenant-general's yamên, especially done up for the occasion, where ample quarters were provided for both Taoyins and their escorts, and a refreshingly clean and well-aired suite of rooms was set apart for me.\n\nMy caravan had now been on the move for nineteen consecutive days; men and animals had, I felt, well earned a rest, and I accepted without compunction the friendly invitation of Lu Taoyin and the magistrate to stop over one day in Mienning. The first night they entertained the Tengyueh Taoyin and myself at dinner; the next day they gave me a bathing-party picnic at a hot sulphur spring some 3 miles outside the town.\n\nFor the journey from Mienning to Szemao my first care was to ascertain the route followed by Lu Taoyin to the rendezvous; he had come, as I expected, by the most direct road through Chingku hsien (the modern name of Weiyuant'ing of Manchu times). I asked Mr. Lu point-blank whether he had seen any opium cultivation on his outward journey; he replied that a few isolated patches had been sown at the beginning of the season.\n\n[2729 -1]\n\n298", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-445 - Public Offices - 1917.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 480121, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-454 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [4-6]", "page_number": 538, "title": "CO129-454 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [4-6]", "content_text": "# JOPY.\n\nNo. C.R.8008 \"G\".\n\nSir,\n\n## Enclosure 1\n\n534\n\n**Head Quarters, China Command, Hongkong, 24th May, 1919.**\n\nI have the honour to submit for Your Excellency's information the Annual Report on the Defence Corps for the past year, together with brief reports by the Officer Commanding, Royal Artillery, on the Artillery Company, and by the Chief Engineer on the Engineer Company.\n\n2\\. All three arms are in an efficient condition. The Artillery frequently, and the Engineers continuously, have performed invaluable work on the Examination Service from the outbreak of war until the Armistice. The Infantry show a remarkable improvement in Musketry due to the exertions of Major Lorgan, the Commandant.\n\n3\\. Your Excellency will no doubt regret with me that the move of the 18th Infantry up North deprived us of Major Morgan's valuable services. His undoubted success as a Commandant encourages me to recommend a continuance of the system under which he was appointed if a suitable successor can be found in the Garrison to replace him.\n\n4\\. I beg to endorse Major Morgan's commendation of Captain Stewart, the Adjutant.\n\n5\\. I was present at most of the Artillery practices and many of their drills during the year. I have visited the Searchlights occasionally by night, and I was present at the three days Field Firing Practices of the Infantry which took place at Camp, so I have a personal knowledge of the state of efficiency of all three Arms.\n\nHis Excellency \nThe Officer Administering the Government.\n\nI have etc., \n(Sd.) F. Ventris, \n**Major-General, Commanding the China Command.**", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-454 - Acting Governor Claud Severn - 1919 [4-6].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 480974, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-456 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1919 [10-12]", "page_number": 211, "title": "CO129-456 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1919 [10-12]", "content_text": "192\n\n: HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL\n\nI have read with much satisfaction the excellent record of the work done by members of the Police Force during the war. Their numbers have been much depleted while their duties have increased, and they are to be congratulated on the manner in which they have grappled with the situation. In doing so, they have been ably assisted by the Police Reserve, which has been recently demobilised, and to which I now desire to express the gratitude and appreciation of the community. Those members of the Police Force who went on active service have nearly all returned, though some have given up their lives. The war record of the Force will always redound to its credit, and will, I hope, be suitably commemorated in the new building of the Central Police station.\n\nIn the Prison Department, additional house allowances have been granted to the Warders of the Indian staff to enable senior officers to marry. Under \"Other Charges,\" increases in several votes have been necessary on account of the general rise in the price of commodities, amounting in all to $11,700.\n\nUnder \"Special Expenditure for the Police and Prison Departments,\" $10,000 has been inserted for the purchase of arms in order to bring up to date the equipment of the Police Force. $1,300 has also been inserted for motor-cycles with a view to the more efficient patrolling of outlying districts, and $6,300 has been included for the purchase of a shallow draught motor-boat, which will be used on the shallow waters at the head of Deep Bay. A sum of $3,333 has also been inserted for the purchase of new type and numbering machines for the printing department in the Gaol.\n\nMedical and Sanitary Departments.\n\nThe opening of the new ward and the increase in the cost of commodities generally have also caused several increases in \"Other Charges\" amounting in all to $8,200. Several decreases have, however, been effected in other votes, amounting to $1,550. The extension to the Lunatic Asylum has also necessitated several increases amounting in all to $340. Owing to the general resumption of trade and to the increased volume of shipping now arriving in this port, it is considered necessary to increase the vote for coal for the launch of the Health Officer of the Port by $500. Increases amounting to $1,945 appear also in \"Other Charges\" for the Bacteriological Institute, due to the inclusion under that head of the sums formerly voted under Special Expenditure for the preparation of meningococcin serum. The rise in the price of laboratory apparatus and chemicals necessitates also, for the Government Laboratory, an increase of $1,400 in Other Charges.\n\nIn the Sanitary Department, provision has been made for two additional Sanitary Inspectors, together with two additional 5th Grade Interpreters to Sanitary Inspectors. These are required for work in Kowloon City and Shamshuipo, where formerly Police Inspectors had acted as Sanitary Inspectors in addition to their other duties. It is felt that these rising townships now require full-time Inspectors. There are several other increases to the Sanitary Staff which are fully set out, with the reasons therefor, in Appendix II.\n\nIn \"Other Charges,\" several votes have been increased, resulting in a total increase of $3,960; it has been possible, however, to reduce other votes to the extent of $1,450. These increases and decreases are fully shown in the Abstract laid on the table.\n\nUnder \"Special Expenditure,\" provision has been made in the Medical Department for one 4-wheeled street watering-van and for six two-wheeled dust-carts to replace vehicles that have worn out in use. Further exhumations at Mount Caroline Cemetery and exhumations at Kai Lung Wan Cemetery necessitate votes amounting to $7,400. For the better conveyance of meat and poultry from the Slaughterhouse to the Central Market, provision has been made of $13,000 for the purchase of motor meat and poultry vans. These, it is hoped, will remove the present every-day obstructions to the tramway, will provide a more sanitary method of conveying meat to the markets, and will contribute to the revenue of the Colony from the fees which it is proposed to charge.\n\nHONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL\n\nEducation.\n\nIn the Defence Corps Estimates, the abolition of the post of Armourer-Sergeant and the insertion of an Armourer-Attendant with a fee for periodical inspections by an expert has caused a small reduction in personal emoluments.\n\nThe Estimates for the Education Department have this year been put into what is believed to be a more suitable form, under groups of cognate schools. These estimates show an increase of $78,090 over the sum voted for Education for the current year. This large increase is due mainly to increased subsidies to Vernacular Education in Hongkong and the New Territories, to increased Capitation grants to schools recently included in the Grant scheme, and to a considerable strengthening of the staff.\n\nThe increases in the staff of the various schools have been fully set out and explained in Appendix II, and I need only refer to the addition of 12 Assistant Mistresses, which has already been sanctioned by the Secretary of State for the Colonies. The depletion of the staff of the Education Department, owing to the absence of many members on military service, and the consequent introduction of lady teachers to take over their duties temporarily, has shown that the education of young Chinese boys can be advantageously placed in their hands.\n\nUnder \"Other Charges,\" several small increases occur, the necessities of which are explained in the foot-notes attached to the estimates.\n\nThe inclusion of new schools in the Grant Scheme has necessitated an increase in Capitation Grants amounting to $19,771, while subsidies to schools in the New Territories have been increased by $3,300, and a sum of $10,000 has been inserted for subsidies to Elementary Vernacular Schools in Hongkong. With the permission of the Secretary of State for the Colonies, a sum of $10,000 has also been inserted as a grant to the Confucian Society, who have already done so much for vernacular education in the Colony.\n\nMention was made last year of the generous help that is being given by certain Chinese gentlemen to the cause of vernacular education, and the Government has no desire to be behind-hand in supporting their efforts. I hope that a considerable sum may be forthcoming for the erection of school buildings and for education generally, but as the money is not part of the revenue of the Colony, it is unnecessary for me to go into the matter now.\n\nUnder \"Other Charges,\" a sum of $800 has been added to the vote for the upkeep of the Rifle-ranges, as this vote had previously been under-estimated. Considerable savings have, however, been made in other votes, resulting in a decrease of $11,116. In connection with these votes, I desire to express the appreciation of the Government of the excellent work done during the war by the members of the Defence Corps. I desire also to mention the valuable services rendered by Major Morgan as first Administrative Commandant, the high state of efficiency in the Corps being due, as I am informed, in no small measure to his efforts.\n\nPublic Works.\n\nThere has been in recent years, as honourable members are well aware, a considerable expansion of the work done by the Public Works Department. During the war, any increase of the staff was, of course, impossible, but with the return to more normal conditions and with a large programme of public works in progress and in prospect, a considerable strengthening of the Department is required. On the retirement of Mr. Jaffe owing to ill-health, the post of Special Engineer has been abolished, and two 2nd Grade Executive Engineers, together with two 2nd Grade Assistant Engineers, have been added.\n\nAs building operations, present and future, are of such importance and extent, it has been considered necessary to insert a second post of Clerk-of-Works, while the great extensions in the system of roads during recent years and the adaptations of existing roads for motor traffic have necessitated the addition of a Road Surveyor. The work in the office dealing with the drainage system of the Colony has also greatly increased, and one new post of Apprentice Surveyor has been added to cope with the work and to keep up to date the drainage plans and records.\n\nThe work of the Architectural and Drainage Office has also expanded considerably, and it has therefore been necessary to create several new posts of Draughtsmen, which are fully shown in Appendix II.\n\nFurther, a considerable number of additional foremen and survey coolies has been added.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-456 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1919 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 480981, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-456 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1919 [10-12]", "page_number": 218, "title": "CO129-456 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1919 [10-12]", "content_text": "# HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL\n\n100\n\nspector in charge, even when done twice or three times; while the work executed by certain privileged contractors invariably received better treatment. Such being the case, the Chinese prefer to have the work done by the Sanitary Department, and to pay for it according to a reasonable scale of charges to be published.\n\nThe provision for 10 Vernacular Pupil Teachers in the Education Estimates in connection with a scheme for training young students for the posts of vernacular masters has the warm support of the Chinese. The scheme not only will ensure a steady supply of vernacular teachers, but should, if properly worked, produce in course of time, a class of better qualified men for this important work.\n\nWith regard to the proposed grant of $10,000 to the Confucian Society, which, I hope, is an annual subsidy, I am glad that the efforts of the Society and of a few Chinese gentlemen to give the children of the poor at least an elementary education in their own language, have at last received the support of the Government. On behalf of the Society and of the entire Chinese Community, I beg to thank the Government for this substantial grant.\n\nThe unofficial members endorse Your Excellency's remarks as to the excellent work done during the war by the members of the Defence Corps, and to the valuable services rendered by Major Morgan as its first Administrative Commandant.\n\nTurning to Public Works, Extraordinary, we notice that many items show neither the original nor the revised estimates of the works in hand or contemplated. To give a few items of more or less magnitude, we cite Nos. 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 16 (k), 16 (l), 16 (3), 17, 23, 49, 50, 68 (b) and 69 (a). Unless this information is given, it is not possible to tell whether or not the sum inserted for the first time for a certain work will be all that is required to complete it. In any case, no business man would like to approve of an undertaking without knowing what its total estimated cost is, even though approximately.\n\nWe are glad that at last the mortuary on Hill Road is to be removed to a more isolated site. It is at present hemmed in on all sides by residential quarters, and the news of its proposed removal has been received with satisfaction by the people living in the neighbourhood. I hope that the work may be completed before the next hot season sets in.\n\nWe should like to avail ourselves of this opportunity to call once more Your Excellency's attention to the necessity for a high-power Commercial Wireless Telegraph-station, which we should like erected as soon as possible.\n\nHONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL\n\n101\n\nI think they should be, somehow. If necessary, we could resort to a short-term loan to pay for our works of development, many of which, as Your Excellency said, would be remunerative.\n\nSpeaking of the Government action in connection with the rice situation, I venture the opinion that the monetary loss that may result from it will be more than compensated by the good it has done. It prevented the incipient riots that had broken out from assuming uglier proportions; it had a decidedly steadying influence on the minds of the whole community and, though the Government might not have foreseen it, it helped to bring down prices very quickly.\n\nIt is quite obvious that there are some rich capitalists behind the smuggling of Opium. It is a delicate question, but I think it is a purely Chinese one. Mr. Lau Chu-pak and his friends could, if they wished, give very valuable information to the Government on this point. At any rate, they are more likely to find out about it than foreigners.\n\nThe whole matter resolves itself into this: the Government, as representatives of the people collectively, paid high prices for the rice, which, otherwise, the people individually would have had to pay. As to whether the handling of the buying and selling part has been done in a business-like manner or not, I prefer to defer judgment until the whole matter is closed, and a statement of the transactions is laid before this Council, as undoubtedly it will be. I should add that the views I have expressed are shared by my unofficial colleagues.\n\nI would also ask that a site in a fairly accessible locality be set apart for a golf-links for the use of the Portuguese and Asiatic communities. Representations have been made to my Chinese colleague and myself by several Portuguese gentlemen, as well as by the Chinese, as to the want of such a place of recreation for them, and I am pleased to state that their request has the support of my unofficial colleagues.\n\nAt the second reading of the Budget Bill last year, the Hon. Mr. Landale suggested on behalf of the unofficial members that the Public Works Committee should be enlarged so as to comprise all the unofficial members of the Council. We do not know whether this suggestion has escaped attention or not, but, in view of the increasing magnitude of our public works, we again press it to the notice of the Government.\n\nAs regards the permanent increase in the emoluments of Government servants, the unofficial members will gladly vote for whatever additional amount may be considered necessary. For my part, I should also like to see the pay of the lower grades of the Service, such as the Asiatic Police and Revenue Officers, somewhat raised.\n\nShould the estimated balance in favour of revenue be turned into a deficit, it is most likely to be by the additional expenditure necessary for payment of increased salaries and by the expected heavy loss in the Government's rice transactions, we have the accrued balances of the Colony to fall back upon.\n\nAs to the question of rice, I do not think Mr. Lau Chu-pak should be very hard on the Government. They had to do their best, as I understand, in the crisis, and they had no Joseph to tell them seven years beforehand what was going to happen.\n\nThere is only one matter which I had really meant to refer to. I had the honour of serving on the Civil Service Salaries Commission and I was rather surprised when I returned to the Colony to find that no official announcement had been made on that subject, the delay has occurred in London as the Governor stated on April 10th last that the recommendations of the Commission had then already gone forward to England. No doubt there is some good and insufficient reason for the delay and I am sure it will be made known in due course.\n\nIn conclusion, we desire to offer the Government our congratulations upon the progress of the Colony as evidenced by the figures in the Draft Estimates and the Financial Statements before us. It speaks highly of the administration, especially the work of Sir Henry May, and of the Hon. Mr. Claud Severn, who, for about a year, administered the Government with ability and success.\n\nTHE HON. MR. R. G. SHEWAN said:— Sir, I had not intended, as I have only just returned to the Colony, to say anything about the figures now laid before us, but the Hon. Mr. Lau Chu-pak's remarks have raised some memories of old days. I quite agree with his remarks on the education of little children; I have long thought that something ought to be done for these urchins, these waifs and strays allowed to run wild on the streets.\n\nI am not going to trouble the Government with unnecessary questions, but the matter is one of vital importance to hundreds of families in the Colony and the Government officials at Home perhaps do not realise that \"while they are fiddling Rome is burning.\" As to our recommendations, I think I may say, without revealing any secrets, that we approached the matter determined not to lay ourselves open to any charges of extravagance or over-generosity. We meant to be as economical and conservative of the Colony's money as we could possibly be. But I am bound to say that, on enquiry into the matter, we found that the case of the Civil Servants for the redress of their grievances was overwhelmingly strong. They have been patient and have waited long for relief.\n\n199", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-456 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1919 [10-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 483338, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-460 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1920 [1-4]", "page_number": 149, "title": "CO129-460 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1920 [1-4]", "content_text": "148\n\nthe Hongkong Volunteer Reserve shall vest in the Administrative Commandant of the new volunteer corps. This will transfer the property of the two existing bodies to the head of the new body.\n\n12. The provisions of the First Schedule and its Appendices do not seem to call for any comment in this report, with the exception of regulation 5(i) and 6(1) of the First Schedule which have been referred to above.\n\n13. No age limit has been fixed for retiring, as it was considered that many men would prefer to continue to belong to the corps in case their services might be required for some sudden and serious emergency. Men who have attained the age of 50 years, however, will not be required to do any training, but they will remain in the organisation and they will possess arms and equipment.\n\n14. In my opinion this is an Ordinance to which His Excellency the Governor may properly assent in the name of His Majesty and on His behalf.\n\nAttorney General.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-460 - Governor Sir Stubbs - 1920 [1-4].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 486449, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-466 - Individuals - 1920", "page_number": 128, "title": "CO129-466 - Individuals - 1920", "content_text": "# In the Cactus Lands of Goajira\n\nvillains, who think no more of shooting a man than a sportsman a rabbit. Fortunately, however, we did not encounter any of their raiding parties, but in order to get out of the more dangerous zone we travelled on till 7 p.m. Darkness prevented us from continuing our journey, so we unloaded our animals and rested on the road till the moon rose at 2 a.m., when we collected our horses and again proceeded. During these few hours my friend, Colonel Morales, kept awake in fear lest any bandits might be on our track. At midnight a dog appeared on the scene, and being, as far as we knew, many miles away from any habitations we suspected that the Cosinas were following us. No explanation of the dog's appearance presented itself, but we collected our animals and proceeded on the rising of the moon.\n\n## A Moonlight Journey.\n\nWe travelled along in the early hours of the 16th near the Coast, and about 5 a.m. reached a rancho known as Porchauri, its existence being made known to us by the crowing of a cock. Here we were able to obtain milk to appease our hunger and thirst, and then continued our journey along the Coast till at 11 a.m., we reached a rancho known as Guaraguarao, where we halted for lunch and to rest the animals.\n\nEarly in the afternoon we continued our journey; we were now travelling through Venezuelan territory, and at dusk we reached the salt marshes near Castilletes. Unfortunately, we lost our track and experienced some difficulty in reaching the other side, our animals collapsing in the mud. After firing several pistol shots we brought to our rescue a guide who conducted us to his rancho on the other side where we reached at 7:30 p.m., thoroughly exhausted. In the morning we proceeded to Castilletes where we were very kindly received by the Government representative Señor Suárez.\n\n14\n\n## Castilletes.\n\nCastilletes is a small station on the Venezuelan frontier, part of it being in Colombia and part in Venezuela. It is situated at the base of two miniature table mountains, which occupy a position between the station and the sea; the surroundings are barren and present a somewhat desolate appearance.\n\n## Talc.\n\nThe coast lands here contain rich deposits of talc which is being exploited and exported to Venezuela, its local value being about four dollars per ton; it appears to me that more remunerative prices may be obtained in the United States or Europe; this question is being investigated, as this mineral is also found on the other side of the peninsula.\n\n## Macuire Hills.\n\nThe following day we left for the Macuire Hills via the Laguna de Tucacas, the Coastguards station on this coast. After traversing the plains, for the most part beautiful grazing lands of the cadilla grass, we reached the hills towards dusk. Not finding water we continued our journey until about 9 p.m., when we reached an Indian village. Here we found the whole village drunk, strange to say, on a liquor prepared from the apparently harmless watermelon. Considering it imprudent to camp here we continued for a further few kilometers and camped at a rancho known as Tolumana.\n\nIn the morning we awoke to find ourselves in beautiful country, forest-clad hills and open glades covered with abundant pasture; but, strange to say, after our experiences of previous days with a scarcity of water. In the morning we proceeded along the forest-clad hills to Nazaret, where we arrived at about 1 p.m., and were welcomed by the Rev. Padre Antonio de Valencia and his companions, and General F.D. Pichon. Nazaret is an orphanage of the Capuchinos Mission, which is situated in a beautiful part of the Macuire Hills at the base of the mountain known as Itajoro. This Mission is doing good work in the education of the Goajiran children; but, its scope of usefulness would, in my opinion, be enhanced if a school garden or an experimental plantation and an industrial school be established. In this manner, the children and youth might be taught the elements of agriculture, and at the same time experiments could be made to prove what crops are best suited to the country. Crafts like that of carpentering should also prove of great importance to the Indians. On the 20th we remained at Nazaret, and I took an opportunity of being present at an examination of the students and of seeing what progress the Mission had made with the raw material of Goajira. My suggestion that the Mission should extend its usefulness conveys no disapprobation of the useful educational work now being accomplished; on the contrary, it is rather the expression of a desire that this education should not be lost to agriculture on which the future prosperity of the Goajira depends.\n\n## Itajoro Mt.\n\nThe scenery in the vicinity of Nazaret is probably the most beautiful in Goajira. The Itajoro mountain somewhat resembles La Teta; in fact, the Indians call them brothers and say that when they were on the way to this locality La Teta got tired and stayed on the way. I was particularly struck with the possibilities of cotton growing in these parts, a subject to which I shall refer later.\n\n## Nazaret to Bahia Honda.\n\nI had intended visiting Puerto Estrella, the station on the extreme end of the peninsula. Owing, however, to this journey having taken much more time than I had anticipated, I decided to proceed direct to Bahia Honda from Nazaret and return by sea to Rio Hacha. We left Nazaret on the 21st; this day's journey was along the foot hills of the Macuire range, excellent lands for cotton growing. At dusk we reached a rancho on the Jereipa plains where we camped for the night.\n\nOn the 22nd we had a difficult and trying journey through poor and sterile lands, soft with heavy rains and difficult to traverse. We camped in the afternoon at a rancheria known as Jepipa.\n\nThe following day we set out from Jepipa to Bahia Honda, our last day's journey by land. The character of the country for the first part was a great improvement on that we traversed the previous day, there being excellent pasture land and many inhabitants and cattle. The latter part, however, was through stony and barren lands; we reached Bahia Honda at about 3:30 in the afternoon, not sorry that our journey by land had ended. Bahia Honda, as the name indicates, is the name of the bay. On a rocky spur running out into the sea is situated a single building surrounded by a few huts; this forms the Coastguards Station. Here we were kindly received by the Commandante, but we were disappointed to find no boat in port and none expected for several days. Our animals were absolutely exhausted and we could not think of returning with them overland to Rio Hacha. The Commandante came to our rescue and kindly placed at our disposal the Government cayuco for our journey by sea. We lost no time in fitting out the canoe for a three days' voyage to Rio Hacha and left on the following morning at 4 a.m., sending the horses overland a six days' journey to Rio Hacha.\n\n## Pearls.\n\nWe sailed that day till 8:30 p.m., when we reached Cabo de Vela, and landing spent the night at a rancho.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-466 - Individuals - 1920.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 490026, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921", "page_number": 517, "title": "CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921", "content_text": "## 52\n\nto be carried out by Mr. B. G. Tours, C.M.G., His Majesty's consul at Ichang. On the 24th March Mr. Yu Jên-lung sent me an official despatch notifying the receipt of a telegram from the provincial capital announcing that the Puerh Taoyin was to be Chinese delegate for the joint inspection of the places which I had announced my intention of traversing in that circuit.\n\nOn the 27th March, the eve of the date finally fixed for the start, the Taoyin called to learn the route suggested for the first day's trip. Although Lungling, south-east of Tengyueh, had been mentioned first on the rough outline of my projected tour, I had particular reasons for not wishing to travel thither by the normal direct route. Firstly, not two months had elapsed since I had passed over the road, in the reverse direction, on my return from the January Frontier Meeting, without seeing any trace of opium poppy. Moreover, I was anxious to see the present condition of the fields alongside the mountainous track between Nantien and Lungling, which had been described by a reliable source as an almost unbroken succession of opium cultivations. I therefore announced to the Taoyin that I proposed to stop the first night at Nantien. In spite of the frankest betrayal of colossal ignorance of the geography in the immediate vicinity of his own post - he enquired blandly if the main road to Langling (three days' journey south-east of Tengyueh) did not pass through Kuyung, two days to the north-west, and only a day's journey from the frontier of the Myitkyina district - Mr. Yu nevertheless seemed to have some idea that the neighbourhood of Nantien was an undesirable one - from his point of view - for a search of opium crops; and I had to insist that my knowledge of the localities in the Têngch'ung district, where troops were being employed in connection with poppy eradication, was by no means inferior to his own. I was also able to counter his second line of argument, that we could not reach Nantien in one day's journey, and he yielded finally a reluctant acquiescence in my arrangements. His last bolt was not, however, shot, and late at night he sent a lengthy missive advancing the contention that the route between Nantien and Lungling would take us through the zone of military operations against the unredeemed Kachin opium cultivators. To show weakness now would have been impolitic, but it was past midnight before I signed and despatched the letter demolishing all his arguments and holding him to his word given to me some hours previously.\n\nNo reply was vouchsafed, and I therefore despatched my caravans betimes the next morning, the 28th March, and proceeded to the rendezvous with the Taoyin. He had apparently accepted the inevitable: a verbal message was brought to me that, as he was late in starting, he did not propose to descend from his chair; would I, therefore, kindly proceed?\n\nNantien witnessed the last despairing effort of the Tengyueh Taoyin to combat my daily-tour programme. I had already retired to bed when a letter of ominous length arrived; Mr. Yu professed information that the route suggested by me for the morrow had been wantonly obstructed by a formidable barrier of timber. I roused myself and the uncomplaining writer to reply that my information did not tally, and that I frankly disbelieved the report; I promised, however, that if on the morrow or at any other time during our travels we encountered obstructions, I would turn aside and avoid them. Some time after 2 A.M. I was roused once more to blink at the swan-song of the Taoyin's objections. In view of my undertaking, solemnly repeated in extenso, he resigned himself to following my rash lead.\n\nNeedless to say, we encountered no trace of the alleged timber-barrier obstructing the path; but after some two hours' journey the consulate writer and I found a field of opium poppy, measuring roughly some 70 feet by 35 feet, round a bend a few hundred yards off the road. When we arrived, the owner, a woman of A-Ch'ang race, in a paroxysm of weeping, was plucking up the full-blown plants - presumably in obedience to orders from advance emissaries of the Taoyin's party. The Taoyin contented himself with despatching one of his numerous attendant underlings to inspect the field, and on the strength of his report sent me the same evening a letter minimising the incident.\n\nOn the 31st March our route joined the main Lungling road at Manlo, just above the wire rope suspension bridge over the Shweli; for the past three or four weeks this bridge had been closed for the retimbering of the roadway, and the honour of reopening it to traffic was reserved for our cavalcade. At the head of the stiff ascent on the left bank of the Shweli we were met by the Lungling magistrate, formerly senior frontier deputy at Tengyueh, and an old acquaintance; he assured me with cheerful confidence that no matter what part of his district I might visit,\n\n## 53\n\nI should fail to find a single opium poppy. On arrival at Lungling, the consulate writer and I were entertained to a Chinese dinner-party in his yamên.\n\nThe discovery of only one solitary field of opium along the route between Nantien and Lungling must, I think, be taken as evidence of the strenuous efforts which have been made during the past few months to eradicate all traces of the proscribed plant; from one or two more talkative residents encountered en route I obtained admissions of a considerable recrudescence of cultivation during last year, but all agreed as to the thorough measures of suppression carried out since November last. In the Têngch'ung district, for instance, no less than three separate expeditions of eradication had been sent out, under territorial, military, and police officials respectively, and it is only just to place on record that their duties were performed in a very thorough manner.\n\nThe normal order of procedure was for my caravan, headed by the writer and myself, to take the lead, and for the Taoyin's more imposing party to bring up the rear. The 1st April was, however, appropriately celebrated by the failure of the Taoyin's party to keep touch with us at a parting of the ways; this added some 2 miles for them to the long and undulating road to Siangta. Thence to Pingka is normally reckoned as a single - though lengthy stage for caravans; at the Taoyin's request we split into two, halting at the small hamlet of Huchiachai, 7,000 feet high, picturesquely situated in the midst of dense groves of bamboos. At Huchiachai we encountered our first rain, and thereafter we had not a single rainless day until the 19th April. From Pingka to Hankuai, high above the right bank of the Salween, with a magnificent view of the lofty mountains on the other side, was another long day's march.\n\nThe crossing of the Salween was a tedious business for so large a cavalcade; two bamboo rafts were provided, taking only some five mule-loads or ten men on each trip; the method of propulsion across the swift current was by a species of flat umbrella fashioned of stout bamboo; at each end of the craft an oarsman plied one of these clumsy weapons by plunging it into the water and pulling it towards himself with powerful strokes.\n\nThe town of Chênk'ang was reached next day. Formerly there was a Chinese Shan Sawbwa of Chênk'ang, but his downfall was brought about as the result of the Manchu Viceroy, Hsi Liang's, policy for the gradual absorption of the Chinese Shan States into direct Chinese administration; and save for a few picturesque ruins of the Sawbwa's palace, the place is now shorn of any pomp and circumstance it may have once possessed.\n\nTwelve days' travel, although for the most part along comparatively unfrequented routes, had now disclosed but one solitary field of opium poppy, and I therefore decided on a somewhat rash experiment. None of the four maps of Yunnan which I took with me gave any indication of a road from Chênk'ang to Mienning, the next district town on my list, and the recognised routes between these two places are circuitous in the extreme, and pass through either Shunning or Yunchow. I ascertained, however, that a road practicable for chairs existed, and elected to attempt it. Fortunately, by this time the Tengyueh Taoyin had resigned himself to accepting my lead, or he would almost certainly have protested. For five days we followed the roughest of mountain paths, which had in many places to be prepared overnight for our transit by the felling of trees and clearing of jungle. Below Manlai our route crossed the Namting River by a ford which would obviously be impracticable during the heavier rains of midsummer. At the Namting we quitted the Chênk'ang district and entered the jurisdiction of the Chinese Shan Sawbwa of Kêngma. During our six days of travel through Chênk'ang territory we had found no opium crops whatever, though I learnt that there had been a small harvest of the earliest sown poppy. The magistrate was said, however, to have been indefatigable in the work of eradication, and I was assured not by himself - that since November of last year he had never been in residence at his post for five consecutive days.\n\nOur next halt, the Shan village of Chepi, was on a route traversed more than twenty years ago by H. R. Davies, the standard authority on the province of Yunnan, and doubtless by other foreigners since; here, for the first time, I abandoned my tent, in favour of a comparatively clean temple.\n\nAt this point we were met by a guard of honour sent out to meet us by the P'uêrh Taoyin, who had arrived at Mienning, our pre-arranged meeting-place, on the 11th April. I owe the efficient commandant a debt of gratitude for his... \n\n[6032]", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 490048, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921", "page_number": 539, "title": "CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921", "content_text": "96 \n\nto their notice the following information which he has received from reliable sources:- \n\n1. Kuangsi. \n\nOwing to the unsuitability of the soil and climate of the greater part of the province for the cultivation of the poppy, its growth has always been restricted to the northern districts bordering on Kweichow and Hunan, and the quantity of opium produced has not more than sufficed for local consumption. Enormous quantities of opium, however, estimated at nearly 1,000,000 taels a year, pass through Wuchow, of which but an insignificant proportion is discovered and seized by the maritime customs. \n\nOf this opium about three-tenths is said to originate in Yunnan, the remaining seven-tenths in Kweichow. Less than half of the Kweichow drug comes down to Wuchow via Liuchow, the main centre of the trade being Poseh. Agents of the opium merchants purchase the opium at the place of production, making, if necessary, arrangements with the Kweichow or Yunnan military authorities to convoy it to the frontier, where the escort duty is taken over by the Kuangsi troops. From Poseh the drug is transported to Nanning either on one of the regular passenger motor-boats or else under charge of an escort of troops by land or junk. At Nanning the vigilance of the maritime customs is eluded by making a circuit of the settlement, and at night at some quiet spot lower down, the opium is shipped on to one of the regular Wuchow-Nanning motor-boats. At Wuchow either the opium is too safely hidden for the customs to discover or else it is dropped into sampans above the harbour. It is then taken to one of the three following yamens—Defence Commissioner, Colonel of the Garrison, or Water Police Station—for safe keeping, pending its shipment to Canton. From Wuchow the opium is shipped to Canton on one of the small river gunboats constantly running between these two ports. These gunboats are under the jurisdiction of the River Protection Department of the Kwangtung Provincial Government, and it is at that yamen in Canton that the opium is stored pending its reshipment. Of course, some opium is smuggled through without military escort and its consequent expenses, but in the main the opium trade is under the protection of the military authorities, it being presumably found cheaper to pay for military escort than to run the risk of confiscation. \n\nA year ago the price of opium was 5 dollars per tael at Poseh, 8 dollars per tael at Wuchow; but the prices at present are about 2.50 dollars and 3.50 dollars per tael respectively. This great fall of price at Poseh must undoubtedly be due to the absence of risk in its cultivation in Kweichow and Yunnan, while the reduction in the difference of price between Poseh and Wuchow would appear to be due to a reduction in the risk of loss during transport in Kuangsi. The amount paid for military protection during transport through Kuangsi is said to average 50 cents per tael. This sum is all pocketed by the Defence Commissioner and other military officers and men stationed at places through which the opium passes. With the exception of the likin authorities, who undoubtedly extort blackmail whenever they discover shipments of opium, none of the civil officials get any share of the profit, and many of them would undoubtedly take strong steps to put a stop to it, but dare not oppose the military. \n\n## II. Szechuan. \n\nHis Majesty's consul-general at Chengtu has received a letter addressed to him by twenty residents, natives of the district of Hsi Chang, the headquarters of which is the city of Chien-ch'ang, enclosing photographic evidence that the cultivation of the poppy was carried on there under the compulsion of a military official, by name Kuo-ch'ang-ming, who contrived to establish himself in command of the Chinese forces at Chien-ch'ang, and that any persons daring to disobey the order to plant were subjected to heavy fines. In further proof the writers forwarded copies of the orders issued for the collection of the opium tax. Copies of these orders and of the photographic evidence above referred to are annexed to this memorandum. \n\n## III. Ichung. \n\nOn the 1st June, His Majesty's consul at Ichang found 56 catties of opium concealed in the backquarters of the burnt offices of His Majesty's consulate. Twenty-five catties were also found by the Rev. T. R. Kearney in the servants' quarters of his house on the 9th June. The opium was handed to the customs and destroyed by fire. Since that date His Majesty's consul has been continually pressing the local authorities to investigate these cases properly with a view to adequately punishing the guilty parties and to take steps to prevent their recurrence; but in spite of his insistence, up to the present time the local authorities have taken no serious measures. His Majesty's consul adds that his experience with the local authorities is that where opium is concerned they are acting as if the prohibition against the drug had been cancelled by the Central Government and trade in it were now legal. He states the customs also get no satisfaction in regard to the offenders they send in to the authorities to be dealt with. \n\nHis Majesty's Legation will not fail to keep the Wai-chiao Pu informed of any further particulars that may reach them in regard to the traffic in other provinces. \n\nOctober 29, 1919. \n\n## Enclosure 2 in No. 40. \n\n## Extracts from printed Chinese Pamphlet. \n\n### Copy of Rules made by Commandant Kuo for the Collection of Opium Tax. \n\n(Translation.) \n\nTAX is to be levied on cultivated land at the rate of 80 dollars per shih. For more or less land cultivated, the amount of tax is to be calculated accordingly. \n\nDeputies on inspection must make investigations direct from the heads of every ten families, in order to ascertain accurately the area of land cultivated and the amount of tax due; they must personally examine the lands in conjunction with the local headmen and submit joint lists and reports. \n\nLists must state clearly the names of regions, localities and cultivators; the area of land cultivated and the amount of tax due should be stated underneath. \n\nWhen the tax is collected, taxpayers should make payment to the inspector in the presence of the local headman, a seal bearing the inscription \"Received in full\" being then impressed on the list and shown to the taxpayer as evidence of payment. \n\nWith a view to avoid malpractices, the taxpayer should also sign the list against the amount of the tax paid by him. \n\nAfter thorough investigations have been instituted, the taxpayer should make full payment of the tax in accordance with his undertaking within a period of fifteen days. \n\nIn the event of the taxpayer being unable to pay the whole amount of his tax at once, the inspector may give various time-limits for payment, but this liability must be guaranteed by the local headman. \n\nThe inspector will submit an advance report with a list of the number and names of taxpayers. \n\nThe inspector will draw a salary of 16 dollars per month, with an extra allowance of 1 dollar when travelling on duty and a subsistence allowance of 50 cents when halting. \n\nWhen investigating into the number of mou of land, the inspector must be scrupulously accurate; he must not indulge in malpractices with his colleagues or the local headman such as reducing the amounts reported or suppressing names and embezzling funds. Appropriate penalties will be inflicted for any such offences, on detection. \n\nThe inspecting deputy should remit the money once in every three days, and submit for inspection a report with a list of names in every ten days. \n\n### Copy of Instructions issued through the Hsi-Ch'ung District Magistrate urging the Collection of Opium Tax. \n\nInstruction No. 352 issued by the Office of the Hsi-Chang District Magistrate:- \n\nTo Chou Yü tsun, Head of the Pao-An Trainband. \n\nOn receipt of an earlier letter from the Commandant's headquarters stating that the \"acre-tax in this district was still heavily in arrears and requesting me \n\n97 \n\nPage 97 \n[6032] \nH \n\n538", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-471 - Public Offices - 1921.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 504645, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-495 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [11-12]", "page_number": 514, "title": "CO129-495 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [11-12]", "content_text": "F2193/2193/10]\n\n(No. 228.) Sir,\n\n16\n\nANNEX II.\n\nMr. Palairet to Mr. Austen Chamberlain.-(Received June 12.)\n\nPeking, April 6, 1925.\n\nWITH reference to the China Command Intelligence Diary for the month of September 1924, paragraph 85B, I have the honour to transmit to you herewith copy of a report I have received from the military attaché to this Legation containing interesting particulars in regard to the Whampoa Officers' Training School at Canton,\n\nI have, &c.\n\nMICHAEL PALAIRET.\n\n(Report No. 5.) Sir,\n\nEnclosure.\n\nColonel Steward to Mr. Palairet.\n\nMarch 21, 1925.\n\nI HAVE the honour to submit the following information on the Whampoa Canton Military School-\n\nThe following notes were given to me by a Chinese official in Amoy, who said he was certain of his information:--\n\nThe principal of the school is Chiang Chih-shih.\n\nThe initial expenses for the foundation of the establishment amounted to 1 million dollars, which sum was furnished by the Soviet agent in Canton. The monthly upkeep expenses amount to 200,000 dollars, which also are provided by the Soviet agent.\n\nThere are many unsalaried Russian teachers.\n\nSeveral thousand student soldiers in the school.\n\nThe arms and training equipment were purchased from Japan and the Soviet.\n\nThe following information on the Whampoa school was procured by the General Staff China Command, and was published in the China Command Intelligence Summaries:-\n\nWhampoa Officers' Training School.\n\nThe following information has been received from what is believed to be a reliable source:\n\nThe school was founded by the Communist section of the Kuomintang for the purpose of providing officers for the Kuomintang forces. A contribution was made by the Soviet Government to the school on its foundation.\n\nStaff-The commandant of the school is a Chinese, who is assisted by a staff of foreign and Chinese instructors. Of the foreign instructors two are Russians and two Japanese. The Russian instructors supervise the teaching of Communism; the Japanese are responsible for military education and training. The Chinese staff, which is mostly foreign-trained, instructs in medical and engineering subjects.\n\nOrganisation. There are 660 resident students, who, for administration purposes, are divided into four companies, each commanded by a military officer assisted by a second in command.\n\nTraining. The course lasts six months. Apart from scholastic studies students undergo theoretical and practical military training. Great attention is paid to bayonet fighting. A certain number of students, about 300, specialise in medical and engineering subjects.\n\nEquipment. The students are armed with the 79-mm. rifles recently commandeered by the Kuangtung Government from the Merchant Volunteers (Note 8.S. Hav\" Arms Consignment. There are three machine guns at the school\n\nNotes on the Students. The students are mostly intellectuals, and include graduates of the Peking University and ex-officials. They come from all over China, a certain number coming from Mongolia. There are only five students from Kuangtung Province at the school.\n\nIn confirmation of or contradiction to the above notes I am able to give my impressions during my visit to the school on the 2nd and 3rd March, 1925.\n\n17\n\nPrevious to my visit I was informed by Mr. Wade, Commissioner of Chinese Maritime Customs, Hong Kong, that all the money, which he remits to the Canton Government for local Chinese customs, is paid by him direct to the school authorities by order of the Canton Government, which sum is presumed to cover the upkeep expenses of the school.\n\nLocality. The school is divided into two localities. The main school at Whampoa, next to the naval establishment, and the overflow school near North Gate, Canton,\n\nThese two portions of the same school are identical in organisation and training, the North Gate school being merely a temporary measure to house the overflow students, who have been accepted to make good the wastage of the local war. North Gate portion of the school consists of hutments with a few permanent buildings, so I could imagine it will soon disappear with the subjugation of the Kuomintang's enemies\n\nThe Whampoa portion of the school is housed in a permanent building of modern two-storied design, and is divided into an infantry school, from which artillery students are eventually selected, and a medical side, where military training is given.\n\nObject. The object of the school, I was informed, is to provide officers for the Canton national army, so as to train a well-disciplined force for the propagation of the national Kuomintang doctrine. The school instructors deny their adhesion to Bolshevism, though the Kuomintang principles as applied to Canton do not seem to fall far short of the Bolshevik ideal.\n\nThe only signs of Bolshevism to be observed were a small picture of Lenin's head with a fish's body swimming valiantly in a sea, probably of capitalism, to illustrate his uphill fight against his enemies; also a large photo of a good-looking well-dressed European, who, I was informed, was the captain of the Soviet gunboat that anchored off the college in the autumn of 1924, and who supplied certain much-needed training armament to the college. The behaviour of the officers of this Russian Soviet gunboat was only marred by their public amours performed on the hill behind the school, with the Russian women who were passengers during the stay in Whampoa\n\nInstructional Staff.--The staff appears to be divided into civil and military. Both wear uniform without rank badges, but with the National party emblem, though the only civilian I was introduced to had grey golf stockings instead of leggings.\n\nThe civilian was a Cantonese, but the military instructors were all from the north, and some of them could not understand Cantonese. Military instruction is entirely given in Mandarin, both by the officers and the petty officers. On enquiring if all their students were of the north, I was informed that the secondary schools in China teach Mandarin, and so that even the southern students could understand the instruction, having been selected for their intelligence. I was also informed that, as the students came from all over China, it was thought better to give the instruction in the most used dialect.\n\nThe civilian staff deals with political questions, while the military staff has no say in civil instruction. The military staff consisted at my visit of about six officers and thirty petty officers, but as many were away at the front it is presumed that the normal staff is greater. In addition to the medical instructors I only saw one technical expert, the wireless officer, who, having been trained in the Japanese wireless school, appeared to be efficient. His installation was Japanese, though British and American wireless apparatuses were also noticeable in his room. Judging by the size of his room, I should imagine that the installation was used more for communication than for instruction, nor did I notice any field wireless apparatus.\n\nThe majority of the instructors are graduates of the Peking military school. Mr. Chiang Chih-shih was away at the front, as were the Russian professors, which appears to point to the fact that the Russian staff is military rather than civil\n\nI was not definitely informed that there existed a Russian staff, but from Russian maps on the walls of the class-rooms I drew my own conclusions.\n\nInstruction The students are treated as cadet soldiers, and are instructed in squads of about fifteen strong, the instructor keeping the same squad throughout the period of instruction.\n\nAfter a fortnight they are given rifles, which shows that they are above the average Chinese in intelligence, as they learn to keep still in the ranks and to move with precision in a much shorter space of time than the average Chinese recruit. The usual length of stay in the school is one year, after which, with the exception of certain cadets selected for artillery, the students are drafted into units as platoon commanders. The most advanced students that I saw drilling had only five months' instruction, as the older students had all been released for service at the front.\n\n[14166]\n\nD\n\n503", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-495 - Governor Sir Clementi - 1926 [11-12].txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 505785, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-497 - Public Offices - 1926", "page_number": 507, "title": "CO129-497 - Public Offices - 1926", "content_text": "(18)\n\nFollowing demonstrations in Canton, on June 23rd the demonstrators and soldiers fired upon the English and French Concessions on the Shameen. A French merchant was killed by a shot from the Chinese bund. From the reports of the Commandant of the French naval forces, it is clear that the responsibility falls entirely on the Chinese. The Minister consequently is compelled to protest and reserve the right of the French Government to demand reparation—Reuter.\n\nAPPENDIX J.\n\nEvidence of Miss G. L. Bendelack, St. Hilda's School, Canton. (Reprinted from the Hongkong Telegraph of June 26th, 1925.)\n\nIn the Shameen outrage, the firing was started by Chinese troops who were taking shelter behind girl students taking part in the procession. This definite statement was made to the Telegraph this morning by Miss Bendelack, of St. Hilda's College, Canton, who was an eye-witness of the affair.\n\n\"I was at Shameen staying with Miss Fearon,” said Miss Bendelack. \"As we knew many of the schools taking part in the demonstration, we were out watching the procession to see if we could make out the school flags. So far as we could see, however, most of the students were carrying red flags, and as there was a wind blowing, it was difficult to make out the characters on them. We were not looking for any pupils of St. Hilda's in the student procession, for St. Hilda's has never taken any part whatsoever in any of these demonstrations. As the students began to pass the Shameen, I thought there was practically nothing going to happen, because the students were so tired-looking, although the Rev. Mr. Blanchett told me that when they started out they were in beautiful order.\n\n(19)\n\nEvery now and again, the procession would stop for a few minutes, and the students would call out their college cries and something else which we could not hear, but people who were nearer said they were shouting: 'We are going to take Shameen! We are going to take it now!'\n\n\"Presently, we saw some Pooi To School girls or some Kwangtung University girls; we could not quite say which, and we noticed that there were some soldiers behind them. Then a shot was fired by one of the soldiers from behind the girls, and this was followed by the troops facing us and firing at the Shameen from between the girl students.\"\n\nOur representative asked Miss Bendelack whether there was any doubt as to who fired first, and she emphatically replied: \"None whatever; I saw with my own eyes the soldiers fire from between the girl students. At the time, our men on the Shameen were walking about unarmed. They did not even have their belts on, and they had been given instructions to place their rifles, unloaded, behind the sandbags. When the Chinese began shooting, our men at once rushed off for their rifles.\"\n\nMiss Bendelack said she thought the girl students did not know that the soldiers near them intended to fire, because as soon as firing started, they \"flew for their lives.\" She added that the procession was so long that only a mere fraction of those taking part could see what really happened, and no doubt they had since been told that the foreigners on Shameen started the firing, and, of course, believed it.\n\n498\n\nPage 498\n\n \n\nwas removed and repositioned as it is not necessary for the HTML format. Here is the revised response:\n\n(18)\n\nthat following demonstrations in Canton, on June 23 the demonstrators and soldiers fired upon the English and French Concessions on the Shameen. A French merchant was killed by a shot from the Chinese bund. From the reports of the Commandant of the French naval forces it is clear that the responsibility falls entirely on the Chinese. The Minister consequently is compelled to protest and reserve the right of the French Government to demand reparation-Reuter.\n\nAPPENDIX J.\n\nEvidence of Miss G. L. Bendelack, St. Hilda's School, Canton. (Reprinted from the Hongkong Telegraph of June 26th, 1925.)\n\nIn the Shameen outrage, the firing was started by Chinese troops who were taking shelter behind girl students taking part in the procession. This definite statement was made to the Telegraph this morning by Miss Bendelack, of St. Hilda's College, Canton, who was an eye-witness of the affair.\n\n\"I was at Shameen staying with Miss Fearon,” said Miss Bendelack, \"and as we knew many of the schools taking part in the demonstration, we were out watching the procession to see if we could make out the school flags. So far as we could see, however, most of the students were carrying red flags, and as there was a wind blowing it was difficult to make out the characters on them. We were not looking for any pupils of St. Hilda's in the student procession, for St. Hilda's has never taken any part whatsoever in any of these demonstrations. As the students began to pass the Shameen, I though there was practically nothing going to happen, because the students were so tired-looking, although the Rev. Mr. Blanchett told me that when they started out they were in beautiful order.\n\n(19)\n\nEvery now and again the procession would stop for a few minutes and the students would call out their college cries and something else which we could not hear, but people who were nearer said they were shouting:-“We are going to take Shameen! We are going to take it now!”\n\n“Presently we saw some Pooi To School girls or some Kwangtung University girls, we could not quite say which, and we noticed that there were some soldiers behind them. Then a shot was fired by one of the soldiers from behind the girls, and this was followed by the troops facing us and firing at the Shameen from between the girls students.”\n\nOur representative asked Miss Bendelack whether there was any doubt as to who fired first, and she emphatically replied: “None whatever; I saw with my own eyes the soldiers fire from between the girl students. At the time, our men on the Shameen were walking about unarmed. They did not even have their belts on, and they had been given instructions to place their rifles, unloaded, behind the sandbags. When the Chinese began shooting our men at once rushed off for their rifles.”\n\nMiss Bendelack said she thought the girl students did not know that the soldiers near them intended to fire, because as soon as firing started they “flew for their lives.” She added that the procession was so long that only a mere fraction of those taking part could see what really happened, and no doubt they had since been told that the foreigners on Shameen started the firing, and, of course, believed it.\n\n498", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-497 - Public Offices - 1926.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 516373, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-512-1 Political situation in China- and Canton 30-11-1928 - 23-5-1929", "page_number": 123, "title": "CO129-512-1 Political situation in China- and Canton 30-11-1928 - 23-5-1929", "content_text": "# March 1st, 1929.\n\n## Two N.C.O.'s Receive Medals\n\nTo the strains of Handel's 'Scipio' March, the General inspected the ranks, chatting genially with various officers and men from time to time. Then, returning to the saluting base, the General took the salute as the corps marched past in Company formation.\n\nThe companies marched exceptionally well, and the swinging kilts of the Scotties made a brave sight which was accentuated by the flashing glint of swords and bayonets.\n\nAt the halt in front of the General, the wings of the Corps formed left and right companies respectively, the parade taking the shape of three sides of a square. The General then bestowed long service medals on C.S.M. Green and Sergt. Jack. He then made a farewell speech.\n\nThe General spoke warmly of the progress made by the band. This was their first appearance at an annual inspection and they had done extremely well, he said.\n\nThe four years he had spent in Hong Kong had proved to him the value of the Corps as a defence force, and, as a trained body of men, they were a decided asset to the Colony. They were a credit to their energetic and painstaking Commandant, Lieut.-Col. Bird.\n\nMany changes had taken place, and new companies had been formed in order to cope with modern demands. The Corps was now working on right lines and he assured them that, if they were needed in an emergency, they would take their place as a recognised unit side by side with regular forces.\n\n## The New Colours\n\nIt gave him special pleasure, he continued, to observe the new colours, presented to the Corps by the ladies of the Colony, on parade for the first time.\n\nThe Corps would find a warm friend in his successor. General Sandilands had commanded a Territorial Brigade at home not many years ago. Thus he would understand the needs and difficulties of the Corps and would prove a most helpful adviser to them.\n\n\"And now,\" he concluded, \"I wish you goodbye and good luck!\" With the tang of the trombones and cornets and the steady beat of the drum keeping them in step, the Corps swung in fours from the Parade Ground and marched back to their Headquarters.\n\nTo-day, they have donned their civilian clothes and are back again at their office desks wondering if the \"boss\" was there and if he noticed them and their drill.\n\nH.A.F.\n\n## CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT\n\n## NATIONAL DANCES AT KOWLOON\n\n## EIGHTEEN NATIONS REPRESENTED\n\n\"Great oaks from little acorns grow.\" It was at a gathering of ladies at an afternoon tea that the subject of the \"Vira dances\" of Portugal was discussed and the idea was thrown out that probably Mme. Tamagnini, the artistic wife of the popular Governor of Macao, H.E. Senhor Artur Tamagnini Barbosa, might be found willing to arrange and conduct the practices for a display of a few of the national dances of Portugal in Hong Kong. This was the genesis of the international dances festival which took place at the Club de Recreio on Saturday afternoon and which was pronounced such a conspicuous success by the hundreds of residents from Hong Kong and Macao gathered within the hall of the Recreio building, in King's Park.\n\nMrs. W. T. Southorn, wife of the Colonial Secretary, developed the proposal to stage the Portuguese national dance into a great social reunion in which the nationalities forming part of the great cosmopolitan community of Hong Kong could be made to feel actively interested.\n\nThe entertainment opened with a contradance executed by some forty little children, for the most part sons and daughters of members of the Club de Recreio. The boys were dressed in black as little pages, and the girls represented diminutive ballad dancers in dresses of light and pleasing hues. The music was provided by the Portuguese juvenile orchestra with Master Horacio Graca Ozorio as conductor. The dance was staged by Mr. Duarte Baptista.\n\nThe Misses Stella and Helen and Rachel Wong next took the floor with the \"Dance of the Lanterns,\" the three young ladies being gorgeously dressed in Chinese costume.\n\nThe Portuguese had formed a Company which was keenly enthusiastic. He deplored the apathy with regard to enlistment on the part of Britishers in the Colony and hoped that this would be remedied. He hoped also that they would expand the present Army Service Corps Cadre and thus ensure an efficient system of mechanical transport to deal with emergencies.\n\nFrance contributed a second item - Danse Des Lutins - to the first part of the programme, the execution of which by Mlle. Bonenfant with a delicacy of taste and finish was very greatly admired.\n\n## Russian Muzrka\n\nMiss O'Keefe's talented pupils delighted the audience with Russian mazurka. The bright dresses, the high black top boots and the entire get-up were greatly admired. The young ladies were deservedly applauded; they were the Misses Bella and Betty Pestonjee, Norma and Thelma May, Marion Bryson, Tamara Ellis, Nellie Field and Maud George.\n\n## Great Britain's Part\n\nThe first part of the programme concluded with items of an Old English dance and an Irish Jig. For this again the audience had to thank Miss O'Keefe and her versatile little boy and girl pupils, no less than sixteen of whom appeared on the stage in gay dresses for the English dance and four for the jig. For the latter Margery Simpson partnered Billy Mayes, and Joyce Crapnell Patsy Wood. The little entertainers received deserved appreciation from the large audience.\n\n## Al Fresco Tea\n\nDuring the interval selections of music were played by the Band of the Queen's Royal Regiment and were greatly enjoyed. Tea served in the open on the beautiful lawn of the Recreio Club.\n\n## Portuguese Songs and Dances\n\nWhen the curtain lifted for the second part of the entertainment, it was seen with what care and thought Mme. Tamagnini had designed the staging to represent a Portuguese village. The scene opens in a countryside. There is considerable gaiety and hilarity and the text was described in Mme. Tamagnini's address. Dances from the provinces of Algarve, Minho and Coimbra were artistically executed by some 36 leading residents of Macao and the national songs of fair Lusitania were heard by some for the first time on a stage in Hong Kong. The dresses were greatly admired for their colourful beauty and design and are just those that are worn by the peasants in Portugal. Music was played on the national instruments - the mandolin, the guitar and concertinas. At intervals they were supplemented by a Columbia Kloster electric gramophone kindly lent by Anderson Music Co.\n\nIn the typical dress of a French lassie and lad, Mlle. Bonenfant and M. de la Prade earned well-deserved applause in a danse Alsacienne which they performed to perfection to the accompaniment of Mme. de la Prade at the piano. The little couple are very young, and gave an exhibition of skill remarkable for their tender years.\n\n## \"Harbinger of Spring\"\n\nNotable for their poetic conception and daintiness of colouring, the Japanese contributors to the programme staged what is charmingly described as the \"Harbinger of Spring.\" The stage setting, the lantern light effects, and the scenery were all the work of the Japanese sub-committee who carried it out under the personal direction of Mr. M. Kitayama, hon. secretary of the Japanese Residents' Association. The performers were Mrs. C. Makiyama, and the Misses Y. Takeda and E. Hachiuma (dancers), Mesdames K. Kineya and Y. Hasuda (singers) with Mesdames S. Wada, Y. Kobayashi and Y. Takeda as accompanists.\n\n## Grand Finale\n\nThen came the grand spectacular finale in an international tableau representing no less than eighteen nations.\n\nThanks must be accorded Col. Cardew, the musical director, for staging this \"federation of the world\" so thoroughly representative of the cosmopolitan community of Hong Kong and to all the ladies taking part in it.\n\nPage 281\nPage 122", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-512-1 Political situation in China- and Canton 30-11-1928 - 23-5-1929.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 519015, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-516-5 Policy of Hong Kong government on the purchase and supply of opium 25-2-1929 - 10-5-1929", "page_number": 29, "title": "CO129-516-5 Policy of Hong Kong government on the purchase and supply of opium 25-2-1929 - 10-5-1929", "content_text": "## BRITISH BULLETIN, No 38.\n\nWhy do people waste their time in formulating silly and immoral plans for dealing with the drug curse, instead of, like reasonable beings, prohibiting the sale and use of the drug, except for medical purposes?\n\nThere is no other remedy but prohibition. Prohibition at the source will effect, in a natural order, prohibition in distribution and use. Publish to the world the Black List of the offenders—the manufacturers, the countries that permit illicit trade, the Governments that fail to deal with the evil. Carry out the Hague and Geneva Conventions to the letter. Persuade new-born Turkey to come into the League, and convince both Turkey and Persia that they must—for their own sake, as well as for the world at large—join the comity of nations in one of its most imperative efforts to save the world from the curse of narcotic drugs.\n\nThe recent issues of \"Opium, a World Problem,\" reveal not merely a continuance of the energies of the \"National Anti-opium Association of China,\" but a distinct advance in the enthusiastic zeal which the Association has manifested itself from the date of its inauguration. Their magazine is full of interesting points, even when we venture to think there should be some modification of statement. They are justified in saying that their own efforts are largely counteracted by the steady stream of such drugs as morphine, heroin, and cocaine poured in upon them from abroad. If opium-smoking is prohibited as the National Government proposes, opium addicts can easily obtain morphine and morphine pills supplied from abroad.\n\nWithin their own borders, the obstacle is always the military, as we have seen in recent incidents reported by China correspondents. Opium is at the bottom of most quarrels, such as the Szechwan war and the Yunnan-Kweichow dispute. Yunnan sends a good deal of opium into Kwang-tung, and the Kwang-si Government taxes it in transit, collecting £225,000 a month on Yunnan opium alone. Yunnan retorts by sending the drug by aeroplane. And always the military are the authors of the evil. They regularly fix the rate of transit, pocketing all but what they have to pay in 'squeezes' and bonuses to their agents.\n\nOne interesting point is suggested by our old friend, Dr. Wu Lian-Teh, who has always been an anti-opium enthusiast. He would like to see established an International Narcotic Factory to supply the world's legitimate needs—all other factories to be closed. That would no doubt be ideal, but its impossibility is obvious. There are other means within the power of the League of Nations, if only it would act up to the principles of the Hague and Geneva Conventions.\n\nWhat impresses us in the whole discussion as set forth in these instructive issues of \"Opium, a World Problem,\" is that, if the National Government can get the mastery over the military offenders, they will soon make a clearance of the poppy-fields, as was done between 1907 and 1916, before Yuan Shi-Kai divided the country into military zones, and handed the protection of China to the military rascals who did their worst to ruin the country for their own enrichment.\n\nWe venture on one suggestion—not a prophesy, for that would indeed be rash—that, if the National Government of China continues stable, we may, several years hence, find China to be the dominant and triumphant force in this great campaign. America and China between them may possibly succeed by practical effort where European schemes have largely failed.\n\n## Egypt\n\nWelcome news arrived from Egypt on March 21st that the Egyptian Government is determined to check the drug evil, and had just created a special Narcotic Bureau, under the direction of the Commandant of the Cairo Police. The police appear to have traced one of the chief sources of the supply of heroin, and have arrested two Polish Jews, who were deeply involved in the traffic. Both these Jews hail from Vienna, finding their supplies in the Austrian capital. The Austrian police seem to be actively tracking down their confederates in Vienna.\n\nWhat this means may be better understood from an article in a Cairo newspaper which has been forwarded to us, and which evidently is inspired by the Egyptian Government. Up to ten years ago, the only drug in use was hasheesh, and the number of persons addicted to it was very small. Then came cocaine, and multitudes of people used it, and big fortunes were made by its importers. It is said the vice has spread to every village in the country. In Cairo, in a single year, there were 5,570 convictions for the possession of narcotics. Heroin is bought in Europe at £20 an ounce, and by the time it reaches Egypt, it is worth £45, and the dealers retail it at a higher figure, after adulterating it with boracic acid powder. Of 20,000 persons in prison, 5,000 are drug addicts.\n\nIt is not to be wondered at that the Egyptian Government is alarmed at the prospect of its people being ruined by the drug evil. They estimate that, out of a population of fourteen and a half millions, as many as half a million are affected by it as more or less addicts. The increase of crime and the economic loss caused by the sapping of physical powers are sufficient to arouse the Government to a sense of its national peril. They are to be congratulated on their determination to crush the thing out. They want no monopoly, but absolute prohibition. Or, as we have said, to cut off the snake's tail just behind the ears.\n\nReceived since last acknowledgment—Miss Grey, £1; Miss Aldis, 2s. 6d.; Scottish L. of N. Union, 10s. 6d.; Leonard Wigham, 5s.; Miss Candler, £1.\n\nWe bank at Barclay's, 54, Lombard Street, E.C.3.\n\nAll communications to be made to Rev. E. J. Dukes, 2, Bethune Avenue, Friern Barnet, N.11.\n\nFinchley Press, East and North Finchley.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-516-5 Policy of Hong Kong government on the purchase and supply of opium 25-2-1929 - 10-5-1929.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 533942, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-539-3 Mui Tsai system 8-2-1932 - 10-1-1933", "page_number": 2, "title": "CO129-539-3 Mui Tsai system 8-2-1932 - 10-1-1933", "content_text": "Inspectors are employed whether Municipal or non-Municipal by Govt. and charitable organizations.\n\nRequests information regarding number of registered Mui Tsai and how many inspectors are employed by the Govt. and how many by charitable organizations.\n\nReply as follows: -\n\n(1) 3741\n\n(2) (a) 3 on 30.11.1931\n\n(2) (b) Their duties are not confined to inspection of registered Mui Tsai.\n\n(3) 14 by Society for Protection of Children\n\nIt is understood that a further number of inspectors is employed by the Po Leung Kuk, etc.\n\n(2) No steps have been taken to register adopted daughters, but under the law of Hong Kong, it is placed on the adopter to show that the girl is a foster-daughter and not a Mui Tsai.\n\n(4) Such a transaction would appear to be illegal under Section 3 of Ord. No. 130/1929, which runs as follows [quote it in full].\n\nJ. A. Calder 9.2.32\n\nM. Roberts-Wray to be advised as to (4) above 9/2/32\n\nPage 12/2\n\n1st Commandant, Anglican Women's\n\nbolny.\n\n...\n\nPage ...\n\n \nhas been removed as there is no clear page number to be kept, and the format has been adjusted to reflect proper paragraph breaks and Markdown formatting is avoided as per the output instruction, instead using HTML tags. The text has been reordered and corrected for spelling and spacing issues. File references have been formatted correctly without spaces inside parentheses. The original text's non-standard characters and apparent encoding issues (e.g., އ, רי, ш, льш, ед, て) have been omitted or replaced as they do not form coherent parts of the text.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-539-3 Mui Tsai system 8-2-1932 - 10-1-1933.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 535607, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-541-2 Estimates 1931 14-10-1932 - 19-7-1934", "page_number": 199, "title": "CO129-541-2 Estimates 1931 14-10-1932 - 19-7-1934", "content_text": "For particular MEN\n\nTo preserve your suit\n\n• whether it be for business wear in the office or evening wear at a place where your best appearance is necessary, on both occasions you can not do better than; Select a Hand Cut well Tailored Burberry Weatherproof Light in Weight & Smartly lined. Designed To Improve your appearance IN and OUT of the rain.\n\nLane, Crawford, Ltd. Men's Wear Stylists.\n\nThe tired taxpayer scanning day's pages may cast a cynical eye upon the lengthy report of the Legislative Council debate and perhaps dismiss it as \"same old thing year after year.\" It seems, however, that the plan was accepted by the Hong-Kong representative.\n\nLord ... by wicket in a friendly cricket match yesterday.\n\nThe Royal Engli Royal Army Service Corps\n\nPage 7. The 1st. H. K. S. Battery, R. A. defeated the H. M. S. Wishart in the Mamak Tournament yesterday. Page 6.\n\nOBITUARY,\n\nA Former Resident of Shanghai.\n\nMRS. E. L. MARSH,\n\nto a 'Protectorate.'\n\nLOCAL WEDDING.\n\nreally much more significant than upon local it seems. Hereafter all the self-governing British possessions will be known officially as 'Dominions.' There was no reference to ... that the old transmitter be employed so as to give both Europeans and Chinese full-time programmes. The suggestion is an excellent one.\n\nThe Government promises to make every effort to bring the unsatisfactory recurring water shortages to an end. In connection with the Shing Mun work, Hon. Mr. W. H. Bell made the interesting suggestion that the big British contractors should be invited to tender, if only to afford a guide as to fair price and time.\n\nDominions are Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, and Newfoundland; the Colonies are India, various parts of Africa, Soudan, the West Indies, Guiana, and many minor possessions that have no representative institutions or parliamentary government.\n\nIn Elgin's opinion this classification will facilitate the work of administration and of keeping cord; there seems no reason to doubt the correctness of this forecast.\n\nObviously their utterances are considered and responsible; the whole ground of local life and administration is covered, and, though they be criticised for concerning sundry omissions and distortions, the members again earn the community's thanks.\n\nThe official adjective \"colourless,\" applied with a modest diffidence to the Budget, has been seized upon by all commentators.\n\nHon. Mr. J. P. Braga lived up to his reputation as Kowloon's champion, and Peninsula will be grateful to him. His submissions regarding the Kowloon Post Office were to the point.\n\nMr. L. Maggs Married to Miss Ruth Clark\n\nA pretty wedding was solemnised at St. John's Cathedral on Wednesday afternoon, when Miss Leda Borodina became the bride of Mr. L. Maggs. The Very Rev. Dean Swann officiated.\n\nThe bride, who was given away ...\n\nLondon Report of Resignation.\n\nLondon, Oct. 5.\n\nFederated\n\nSir Lancelot Elphinstone, Chief Justice of the Malay States, has resigned according to the Daily Telegraph.—Reuter.\n\nNews was received in Shanghai last week announcing the death at Godalming, Surrey, on Wednesday, September 28, after a long illness, of Mrs. May Osborne Harley, the wife of Dr. E. L. Marsh. Deceased, who was 57 years of age, was until her departure from Shanghai several years ago owing to illness, a well-known figure in local society circles and she took a keen interest in the activities of British women in Shanghai.\n\nFLEET ORDERS.\n\nTwo Recent Admiralty Appointments.\n\nThe following extracts from recent Admiralty Fleet Orders have been notified by the Naval Intelligence Office in Hongkong:\n\nRear-Admiral C. P. Talbot, D.S.O., has been appointed Director of Naval Equipment, to date December 14, 1932, in succession to Rear-Admiral P. L. H. Noble, C.B., C.V.O.\n\nVice-Admiral L. G. Preston, C.B., has been appointed Commandant, Imperial Defence College, to date January 19, 1932, in succession to Air Marshal Sir Robert Brooke-Popham, K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., A.F.C.\n\nCORRESPONDENCE.\n\nAnswer to Correspondent.\n\nA Convert.—Not a matter of public interest. We have forwarded your letter to the priest.\n\nPage 7\n\nPage 6", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-541-2 Estimates 1931 14-10-1932 - 19-7-1934.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 549906, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-555-4 Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps- annual report 1934-5 6-8-1935 - 6-8-1935", "page_number": 32, "title": "CO129-555-4 Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps- annual report 1934-5 6-8-1935 - 6-8-1935", "content_text": "There are dozens who deserve mention but space is limited.\n\nOthers worthy of commendation are:-\n\n1st Battery\n\nA Bdr. J. Watson.\n\nCorps Engineers\n\nMajor Ma Johnson, M.M.\n\n32 J Corps Signals\n\nM. G. Troop\n\nM. M. G. Section\n\nLieut. F.W.T. Ross,\n\nC.S.M., R.J. Everest, M.B.E. C.C.M.S., T. Bolt.\n\nC.S.M., G.T. Padgett, M.B.E., who was in charge during the absence on leave of Lieut.J.H. Bottomley. C.Q.M.S., H. J. Millington, M.M.\n\nCaptain H. H. Potts, C.S.M., R.H. Charles.\n\nLieut. H. G. Williams,\n\nC.S.M., B.S. Rogers.\n\n(The latter in command efficiently during the illness of Lieut. Williams).\n\nNo. 1 (M.G.) Company.....C.Q.M.S., R.A. Edwards,\n\nCorps Infantry\n\nINDIVIDUALLY.\n\nSergt. E.C. Hudson, M.C.\n\nCaptain J.S. Rodrigues, for his efficient command of the Company during the absence on leave of Captain S. Jarvis, M.C.\n\nLieut. J. V. V. dos Remedios,\n\nSergt. F. V. V. Ribeiro,\n\nSergt. H.M. Britto.\n\nSergt. J.F. Baleros.\n\nR.S.M., W.H. Edmonds, M.B.E., who after many years of invaluable service is retiring from the Corps in July.\n\nLieut. C. de S. Robertson, M.M. who has done an immense amount of work particularly in connection with anti-Gas instruction.\n\nCaptain D.W. Mortlock of the 1st Battalion, Straits Settlements Volunteer Force, who has been attached to us since 1st November 1933 and proved a very useful and keen Officer to us,\n\nLok Mui who has served the Corps as Head Storeman for twenty-two years with commendable efficiency.\n\n# B.L DOWBIGSIN\n\nLieut-col.,\n\nCommandant, H. K. V. D. Corps.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-555-4 Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps- annual report 1934-5 6-8-1935 - 6-8-1935.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 549907, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-555-4 Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps- annual report 1934-5 6-8-1935 - 6-8-1935", "page_number": 33, "title": "CO129-555-4 Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps- annual report 1934-5 6-8-1935 - 6-8-1935", "content_text": "Appendix \"A\".\n\n32\n\nHONG KONG, 20th July, 1934.\n\nDEAR\n\nWe the undersigned members of the Advisory Board, in association with His Excellency The Governor Sir William Peel, K.C.M.G., K.B.E., His Excellency The General Officer Commanding Major General O. C. Borrett, C.B., C.M.G., C.B.E., D.S.O., and the Commandant of the Corps, are writing this appeal to you to enlist your help and interest in strengthening the numbers of the Defence Corps. Whilst we fully realize the drastic cuts in staff in many firms, we still feel that there are a number of men in the Colony who might well be enrolled in the Corps. We shall be glad therefore if you will please go through the list of members of your staff and endeavour to interest them in the Corps. Men are particularly required at this juncture for the Machine Gun Battalion and the Battery and we would urge all young men to join up in the former. For the Battery the Corps would be prepared to take any fit man of any age, for their duties in future would be such that agility and youth are not a necessity. From the information at our disposal, we know that the training now in force is such as should appeal to the intelligence of a keen man and the knowledge that every man in the Corps has now a definite role in the Defence of the Colony should be a further incentive. We append some figures showing the relative strengths of the units at present and what is expected if the Corps is to be of full efficiency and service to this Colony. In addition to the Units already specifically mentioned, we are anxious to obtain and welcome, recruits for the Engineer and Portuguese Companies.\n\n(Signed)\n\nYours faithfully,\n\nO. C. BORRETT, Major-General.\n\nW. T. SOUTHORN.\n\nC. GORDON MACKIE.\n\nJ. P. BRAGA.\n\nW. H. BELL.\n\nSTANLEY H. DODWELL.\n\nL. MURPHY.\n\nJ. DOUGLAS BUTCHER.\n\nC. A. DA ROZA.\n\nE. COCK.\n\nL. C. F. BELLAMY.\n\nW. J. KESWICK.\n\nJ. BARROW.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-555-4 Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps- annual report 1934-5 6-8-1935 - 6-8-1935.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 561086, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-571-11 Sino-Japanese War- Japanese attacks on the south; fall of Canton and Hankow and visit to... 6-10-1938 - 5-1-1939", "page_number": 85, "title": "CO129-571-11 Sino-Japanese War- Japanese attacks on the south; fall of Canton and Hankow and visit to... 6-10-1938 - 5-1-1939", "content_text": "# \n## 22nd\n\nJapanese mechanised troops were seen at the foot of the Goddess of Mercy Mill. They wore helmets indicating that the ... and Control district of the city had already been reached. It was reported that Japanese navigation on that level had been put into hand quickly controlled, having fallen under their control.\n\n## 23rd\n\nFierce fighting occurred around the city. Bombardment and intense fire occurred as the count was being taken. Black smoke farts were reported on the island. Two very large explosions took place at Wong Nei Chong station in the morning. Many objects were badly damaged, and many persons had remarkable escapes from heavy (up to 15 lbs.) pieces of metal falling on the island. The explosions are said to have been caused by the large fires at the station, which was full of torpedoes (a) anti-aircraft ammunition and (b) many high explosive shells, which together with eight 75 mm. anti-aircraft guns and no customs loane were burning. The heroic efforts of the Acting Commissioner were particularly praiseworthy.\n\n## 24th \n## 25th\n\nThe situation was dire, with many fires breaking out during the day but increasing in severity at night. Colonel Hiyazaki (Commander of the advanced forces) with his staff paid his first visit to the Consulate, and in a very normal interview, a few preliminary arrangements were concluded. It was noted that Colonel Hiyazaki would call on the Consul General on October 31st. When Mr. Kasama, the Japanese Consul General arrived in Canton, the Japanese had already consolidated their control over the city. Of particular importance was the call of Colonel Hayashi, Commandant of the Japanese military garrison, who had assumed responsibility...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-571-11 Sino-Japanese War- Japanese attacks on the south; fall of Canton and Hankow and visit to... 6-10-1938 - 5-1-1939.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 564805, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-576-10 Estimates 1940 6-10-1939 - 22-10-1940", "page_number": 388, "title": "CO129-576-10 Estimates 1940 6-10-1939 - 22-10-1940", "content_text": "## Sub-head 13.—Additional Public Latrines, $50,000.—This is an inclusive sum provided to meet the cost of additional latrines which may be requested by the Urban Council.\n\n## 14.—New Girls Reformatory, $5,000.—It is proposed to provide a Reformatory or Rescue Home for young prostitutes, which would be managed by the Salvation Army. No definite site has yet been selected and meantime only a token sum is considered necessary.\n\n## 15.—New Public Health Centres, $100,000.—Health centres have been requested by Hon. Director of Medical Services at St. Peter's Church, Sham Shui Po, Tsun Wan, etc.\n\n## 16.—Mental Hospital --- Additions and Improvements. $2,500.—To improve ventilation to kitchen, provide water storage and additional lavatory accommodation.\n\n## 17.—Leper Settlement—4 new huts with lavatories. $16,000.—It is proposed to erect 4 huts with lavatory accommodation at Kennedy Town.\n\n## 18.—Kowloon Hospital Extension Site Formation, $80,000.—This work provides for the future extension of the present hospital and also for the proposed Infectious Diseases Hospital.\n\n## 19.—New Infectious Diseases Hospital, $50,000.—The Honourable Director of Medical Services has stressed the necessity for this Hospital. A site is now being prepared adjacent to the Kowloon Hospital.\n\n## 20.—New Public Mortuary—Kowloon, $50,000.—The present mortuary is inadequate and badly situated from a health point of view. It also occupies a valuable building site.\n\n## 21.—New Queen's College, $5,000.—No site has yet been decided upon and it is unlikely a Contract will be let in 1940. The sum provided is to cover the cost of any investigational work necessary.\n\n## 22.—New Vernacular Girls College, $50,000.—This building will be known as the Eastern District Vernacular Girls School and will replace the present Vernacular Normal School for women which occupies rented premises in Lee Garden Street. A site has been selected in Eastern Hospital Road, Soo Kun Poo.\n\n## 23.—New Teachers Training College, $235,000.—It is proposed to construct this College on the site of the old Diocesan Boys School, Bonham Road.\n\n## 24.—Hong Kong Prison, Stanley—Additions and Improvements, $10,000.—This sum is required to meet certain alterations and extensions considered necessary by the Commissioner of Prisons.\n\n## 25.—Botanical and Forestry Buildings—Alterations and Improvements, $2,400.—This sum includes for the provision of a drying room and enclosing an office verandah.\n\n## 26.—Breezy Point Quarters—Car Park, $5,000.—The Honourable Commissioner of Police recommends the provision of this accommodation—at present officers leave their cars in Park Road and cause congestion.\n\n## 27.—Postal Kiosks:-\n| Location | Amount |\n| --- | --- |\n| (a) Shaukiwan | $3,700.—The licenced stamp vendor in Shaukiwan does not wish to continue the business. A postal kiosk is therefore necessary. |\n| (b) Tsun Wan | $3,700.—The kiosk at Tsun Wan is considered necessary by the P.M.G. |\n\n## Sub-head 28.—Two Public Latrines at Tai O, $10,000.—These are considered necessary by the District Officer, South.\n\n## COMMUNICATIONS\n\n## 29.—Island Road—Reconstruction of Bridges, $10,000.—To continue the programme of making island bridges suitable for modern traffic requirements.\n\n## 30.—Tin Hau Temple Road Extension, $50,000.—An extension of this road will open up many desirable building areas for some of which applications have already been received.\n\n## 31.—May Road widening Aigburth Hall to Conduit Road, $55,000.—This is considered a most necessary improvement. There is great traffic congestion beyond Aigburth Hall and a through motor road to Conduit Road is very desirable.\n\n## 32.—Magazine Gap Road widening between Bowen Road and May Road, $20,000.—This section of road is narrow and leaves little room for pedestrians. It is proposed to construct a footpath, where practicable, and to improve certain bends.\n\n## 33.—Causeway Bay Road—Raising and widening including strengthening seawall, $80,000.—To raise and widen the length of road between Causeway Bay tram terminus and King's Road to approved levels. This will involve partial reconstruction of the existing seawall.\n\n## 34.—Mount Cameron Development—New 20 feet road (Sections A-B and B-C), $55,000.—Government has decided to encourage building development on Mount Cameron where there are numerous desirable building sites. An access road to the higher levels of Mount Cameron is essential and it is proposed meantime to proceed with the two lower sections of the road which will open up approx. 12 building sites.\n\n## 35.—Improvements to Road from Kowloon to Muk Fu Ferry, $500,000.—The sum provided is for the reconstruction of the section between the Sham Shui Po and the Kowloon Reservoir. This section at present is extremely tortuous and is quite unsuitable for modern traffic.\n\n## 36.—K.I.L. 3394—Forming access roads, $10,000.—To facilitate development and to give direct access from Ma Tau Wai Road to Argyle Street.\n\n## 37.—New Territories Roads—Reconstruction of Bridges, $50,000.—To continue the programme to make these roads suitable for modern traffic. Many of the bridges are now approaching a dangerous state and require reconstruction.\n\n## 38.—Castle Peak Road—Realignment near Tsun Wan, $19,000.—To continue diversion work necessitated by the adjoining reclamation.\n\n## 39.—Road to Fanling Volunteer Camp, $8,000.—The improvement of this road has been requested by the Commandant, Hong Kong Volunteer Defence Corps.\n\n## DRAINAGE AND ANTI-MALARIAL WORKS\n\n## 40.—North Point Reclamation—Sewer extension, $5,000.—To continue work as filling in progresses.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-576-10 Estimates 1940 6-10-1939 - 22-10-1940.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 566071, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-579-10 Sino-Japanese War- quarterly reports of Japanese activities 25-1-1939 - 1-2-1940", "page_number": 34, "title": "CO129-579-10 Sino-Japanese War- quarterly reports of Japanese activities 25-1-1939 - 1-2-1940", "content_text": "34\n\nBeijing Bearings many have such Mings terr Their m increased its staff./ (111)\n\nConsiderable activity and movements of newspapermen to and from Canton and Macau and occasionally French Indo-China have been maintained throughout this quarter. In this connection, cases have come to our notice recently of Military and Special Service men masquerading as press representatives. On the other hand, several Military and Naval officers have paid short visits to Hong Kong quite openly.\n\n3.\n\nFurther proof of the widespread ramifications of Japanese espionage activities has come to light through the discovery of an Intelligence Department in the local branch of the Bank of Taiwan. It is known that they obtain data relating to Chinese Military, trade, currency, etc., and latest reports have dealt with the political situation in South China, Military and defence expenses of Hong Kong and the trade done in wolfram ore through Hong Kong to foreign countries. One member of their staff attached to the Head Office in Taihoku, quite openly but inadvertently stated that he was Chief of the Bank's Intelligence Section.\n\n4.\n\nPress reports have it that an understanding has been reached between the Portuguese and Japanese Authorities regarding Macau, and in this connection, the following may be worthy of note to show the increased Japanese interest in Macau which has been noticeable of late.\n\n(i) The Commandant of the Portuguese Gendarmerie in Macau made a trip to Japan on 8.2.39, returning on 10.3.39, but it cannot be confirmed through this office that WADA, the suspect pseudo dentist in Macau, went with him.\n\n(iii) On 24.3.39 an official attached to the Foreign Affairs Department, Formosa, arrived in Hong Kong on his way to Macau and made it quite clear that his destination was Macau only and not merely for the purpose of eventually reaching Canton.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-579-10 Sino-Japanese War- quarterly reports of Japanese activities 25-1-1939 - 1-2-1940.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 567308, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-579-9 Sino-Japanese War- release of interned Chinese soldiers 27-1-1939 - 7-12-1939", "page_number": 40, "title": "CO129-579-9 Sino-Japanese War- release of interned Chinese soldiers 27-1-1939 - 7-12-1939", "content_text": "41\n\nFirst Witness.\n\nNo. 11829 Rfn. Bhawan Singh states:-\n\nI was sentry at No.3 Sentry Post at the Chinese Soldiers internment Camp at LIA TAU CHUNG in the afternoon of January 9th. At about 5.50 I saw one of the Interned Chinese running towards the wire and he commenced to get through the barbed wire fence. I took very little notice of this as many of the Chinese soldiers were playing football near by and the ball kept on going into the wire whereupon they would enter the wire to retrieve it. I looked again and saw the man was not trying to get a football but attempting to escape. He commenced to climb the high outside fence. I sounded the alarm and shouted to him. He was about 50 to 60 feet from me.\n\nHe took no notice so as he was near the top of the wire I fired at him and missed. He jumped over and commenced to run.\n\nI fired two more shots at him but missed. I then had to cease fire as it was dangerous to passers by.\n\n(Signed) Rfn. Bhawan Singh.\n\nSecond Witness.\n\n1st Kumaon Rifles.\n\nSubadar Debi Datt states:-\n\nI was Camp Commandant of the Interned Chinese Soldiers Camp at LA TAU CHUNG. At 17.45 hrs. on the 9th January, I was by the gate near No.5 sentry post when I heard No.3 sentry blow the alarm and shout several times. The other sentries took up the alarm and the Guard stood to. I went to the Guard Room and saw a Chinese climbing over the fence. Rfn. Bhawan Singh No.3 Sentry fired at him. The Chinese got over the fence and commenced to run away while No.3 Sentry fired two more shots at him. No.3 Sentry then ceased fire so I ordered Rfn. Tej Singh who was near me to fire. He fired two shots, the second one making the Chinese stumble. I ordered him then to cease fire as some police and riflemen who were running in the direction of the escapee might have been in danger.\n\nPage 40\n\nPage 41", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-579-9 Sino-Japanese War- release of interned Chinese soldiers 27-1-1939 - 7-12-1939.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 572400, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-588-18 Police (Militia Status) Ordinance 1941 26-9-1941 - 3-10-1941", "page_number": 5, "title": "CO129-588-18 Police (Militia Status) Ordinance 1941 26-9-1941 - 3-10-1941", "content_text": "# Enclosure No. 2\n\n## ATTORNEY GENERAL'S CHAMBERS\nHong Kong, 25th September 1911\n\n### REPORT ON ORDINANCE No. 19 of 1941\n\n1. I have examined the accompanying Ordinance, intituled **an Ordinance to enable the Governor to confirm by Proclamation on certain police forces in the Colony the status of militia in time of war or in other time of emergency**.\n\n2. A print of the memorandum of Objects and Reasons of the Bill for this Ordinance is attached.\n\n3. I am of opinion that this Ordinance is not contrary to the Governor's instructions and that it is one to which His Excellency may properly assent in the name of His Majesty and on His behalf.\n\n### Attorney General\n\nPage 6\n\n## Objects and Reasons\n\n1. In normal times and circumstances Police are essentially Peace Officers without combatant status, even though they bear arms as they have done in this Colony for many years.\n\n2. But in abnormal times of War and emergency, such as the present, where the security of the Colony may be compromised at any time by parachutist or other forms of hostile attack it is necessary to give the police, for their own protection, combatant status under International law.\n\n3. This result is achieved in different Colonies by different methods.\n\n4. Thus section 50 of the Northern Rhodesia Police Ordinance, Chap. 46 provides that \"In the event of war or other time of emergency members of the Corps are liable to be employed for military purposes and when so employed shall be subject to such terms and regulations as the Governor may declare. Such declaration shall be by Proclamation published in the Gazette and shall state the limits within and the period for which the Corps or any part thereof shall be so employed.\"\n\n5. In the Straits Settlements the matter is dealt with by Defence Regulations—The Police Force (Military Service) Regulations, 1941, (No. S. 340 of the 30th May, 1941) Nos. 2 and 4 of which provide that \"2. The Police Force in addition to exercising the powers and performing the duties conferred or imposed upon it by the Police Force Ordinance and other written laws shall if it becomes necessary or expedient so to do in the defence of the Colony engage in military operations against the armed forces of any enemy attempting to invade or otherwise carrying out warlike operations against the Colony or against the forces of His Majesty. 4. The Police Force in the performance of any military duties shall be an independent military force under the command of the Inspector General of Police and shall not unless the Governor specially so directs be under the orders of the Commandant of the Volunteer Force or of any superior military commander.\"\n\n6. This Bill is an adaptation of both the above precedents, bearing in mind that Article 1 of Section 1 Chapter 1 of the Annex to Hague Convention II of 1899 dealing with the Qualifications of Belligerents provides that \"The laws, rights and duties of war apply not only to armies, but also to militia and volunteer corps fulfilling the following conditions:\n| Condition | Description |\n| --- | --- |\n| 1. | That they be commanded by a person responsible for his subordinates; |\n| 2. | That they have a fixed distinctive emblem recognizable at a distance; |\n| 3. | That they carry arms openly; and |\n| 4. | That they conduct their operations in accordance with the laws and customs of war.\"\n\n### C. G. ALABASTER, Attorney General\nAugust, 1941\n\nPage 6", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-588-18 Police (Militia Status) Ordinance 1941 26-9-1941 - 3-10-1941.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 575204, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-590-22 Situation in enemy occupied Hong Kong 19-1-1943 - 20-11-1943", "page_number": 45, "title": "CO129-590-22 Situation in enemy occupied Hong Kong 19-1-1943 - 20-11-1943", "content_text": "# \n\nIn addition, we had news from the outside that among the supplies were cigarettes, tobacco, milk powder, and butter, none of which were ever received; however, through our \"supply centre\" in the Camp, fresh Capstan and Player's cigarettes could be purchased, marked with the official Red Cross seal.\n\nBetween the period of November 1942 to March 1943, the internees, as a result of being able to supplement their rations with Red Cross supplies, lived more on the lines of normalcy; however, when these stocks became depleted, once again food deficiency diseases became endemic. It had become so acute by the end of August 1943, that the medical authorities were forced to issue an order prohibiting the playing of the more vigorous sports, such as football and baseball. To give a better indication of the general health, although we had the finest bathing beach at our disposal during the summer months, few could take advantage of it due to the lack of energy, and in addition due to the more important fact that it increased one's appetite, which was the worst thing that could happen on those rations.\n\nThe figures for malnutrition that were being treated at the clinics increased from 1,040 cases in 1942 to 1,460 cases up to the end of August 1943, with only enough thiamin (anti-beri-beri prophylactic) in Camp to last in small doses to the end of September. The number of deaths, 30 for 1942 and 11 up till August 1943, although not directly caused by malnutrition, were no doubt accelerated by the starvation diet and lack of necessary medicines. It was not until after repeated requests, during which time two persons died on the operating table for lack of oxygen, that the Authorities supplied oxygen tanks to the hospital in June 1943. Had it not been for the fact that we were all living outdoors most of the time, in fresh air and sunlight, there is no doubt that tuberculosis, especially, and other contagious diseases would have spread throughout the Camp. As it was, there were 33 cases of tuberculosis reported in 1942 and 11 up till August 1943.\n\nSanitation facilities were very poor and inadequate, there being an average of 1 water closet for every 12 persons in Camp, while the floor space per capita worked out at slightly under 24 sq. ft. The seven septic tanks, of which four were outside our boundary, were inadequate to deal with such a heavy load, and were, consequently, by-passed to the open sea.\n\nWith no fuel for incineration, refuse was buried in trenches dug by the internees, but without the necessary disinfectants, such as lime, chlorine, etc., the Camp was at all times infested with flies. Most of these came in from the nearby village where no health measures were being undertaken, and beyond our control. Coupled with this, during the first few weeks of our internment, there were many bodies of British soldiers left lying outside the barbed wire fencing that we were unable to bury, and which made ideal breeding places for flies. All bodies found inside the Camp grounds were buried immediately upon arrival there. As a result of all this fly breeding, the first summer in Camp saw a serious epidemic of dysentery break out among the internees; there being a total of 410 cases actually treated, with many more not reported. With better sanitary control measures, this figure was reduced to 65 cases up till August 1943.\n\nMalaria in Camp has always been a serious problem for the health authorities, and in 1942 there were 143 cases reported and treated, and up to August 1943 the disease reached the alarming figure of 213 cases. Here again, like the fly nuisance, although every possible measure was being taken inside the Camp boundaries, on the rocky foreshore, and in the village, mosquitoes were breeding freely, and it was not till early in 1943 that squads of trained men were permitted to go outside under escort and deal with this nuisance. Even when permission was granted to go outside, and the occasions were very rare, permits being given by the Japanese Civil Administration, many was the time when during such work, the squads would be arrested by the Gendarmerie and taken to their headquarters for questioning, being released some hours afterwards, when the situation had been clarified by our own Camp Commandant. The shortage of mosquito nets in Camp was also a handicap in the controlling of malaria, and although at one time, the Japanese Authorities compiled a list of the number of internees requiring nets, nothing further was done in the matter. Actually, there were less than 500 nets in the Camp, and at one time, malaria became so bad that the hospital was unable to cope with the number of cases, being already overcrowded. The result was that a patient would be discharged in 2 to 3 days of treatment.\n\nDuring the winter months, next to the food scarcity, our chief problem was in keeping warm. Entering Camp with only such articles that we could carry, our clothing did not last very long. The men suffered most who did the hard labor jobs, and there were very many who were forced to go shoeless and in thin shorts during the winter months. February and March 1942 were exceptionally cold months, and there... \n\nPage 44 \nPage 15", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-590-22 Situation in enemy occupied Hong Kong 19-1-1943 - 20-11-1943.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 575205, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-590-22 Situation in enemy occupied Hong Kong 19-1-1943 - 20-11-1943", "page_number": 46, "title": "CO129-590-22 Situation in enemy occupied Hong Kong 19-1-1943 - 20-11-1943", "content_text": "## \n\nThere are dozens of cases on record, aged as well as young, who had no mattresses or blankets, and were consequently forced to sleep on concrete and wooden floors. Many obtained rice sacks, when available, and made their own mattresses, and it was not till January 1943, just one year after internment, that the Japanese Authorities issued 500 camp beds and cotton mattresses, and a few blankets. Even with this issue, there were still many who were still forced to sleep on wooden boards, broken doors, and on the floor itself.\n\n## \n\nRecreation and entertainment facilities in the Camp were very limited; however, through the never-to-be-forgotten kindness of the International Red Cross delegate, occasional extra supplies of food and sports and entertainment equipment were sent in to the internees. There being no Swiss Consular Office in Hong Kong, the Japanese Authorities would not recognize any delegate appointed from Switzerland, and it was many months before the Japanese themselves appointed a Mr. Zindel, a Hong Kong businessman, and even then, he was only just tolerated by the Japanese, and had no free rein to act on his own. Only on rare occasions was he permitted to visit the Camp, and then in the presence of the Authorities. Contact by mail with the Prisoner of War Camps in Hong Kong was very difficult, and it was only through the efforts of Mr. Zindel that news could be obtained as to the welfare of relatives in these Camps.\n\n## \n\nThe Canteen, originally run by the Camp Commandant, a Chinese man by the name of Chen, who was later replaced by a Japanese, was finally taken over and run by ourselves, but up until April 1943, when the first comfort allowance came through, few persons could avail themselves of it. The allowance of Military Yen 25.00 and 12.50 for children did not go very far. Prices were exorbitant. A 16 oz. tin of corned beef cost MY8.50, while local products such as jam sold for MY3.00 for a 12 oz. tin; peanut oil MY4.50 per half pint; peanuts MY3.65 per half pound, and brown sugar as high as MY2.80 per half pound. These prices may not appear so high, but when it is considered that we were forced to exchange our Hong Kong dollars for Military Yen at the rate of 4 to 1, thus putting the yen on the equivalent of the U.S. dollar, some better idea may be gained as to how far our money went.\n\n## \n\nA 10% surcharge was placed on all articles bought in the Canteen, and this profit went to the purchasing of additional food supplies for the Camp, such as soya beans, etc., which helped to augment our food rations.\n\n## \n\nAlthough parcels for a time were permitted to be sent into the Camp from the outside, the recipients of these only totalled a small minority of approximately 10% of the Camp. Those who were receiving these additional food and clothing supplies regularly suffered few physical hardships and barely knew what it was to be interned; however, when the Authorities stopped these parcels for a few months, messages having been found in some of them, all were forced down to the same level of existence.\n\n## \n\nUp until July 1943, through devious means and \"Bamboo wireless\", news was coming into the Camp regularly; however, this fact soon became known to the Japanese, and they made a sweep of the Camp, arresting eight men internees, whom it is believed had communication with the outside. Some days later, several Japanese returned with one of the men, and in a section of the grounds, dug up a large receiving radio set. This man had been beaten badly and looked in a very serious condition from the bruises on his face. Eventually, two others were permitted to return to the Camp, but they had no doubt been threatened, as they refused to talk of their experiences, and they looked very shaken up and on the verge of a nervous breakdown. It was apparent that the Japanese third degree had been very effective.\n\n## \n\nOne thing must be said for our captors; apart from the instance mentioned above, at no other time during internment did anyone suffer personal injury at the hands of the Japanese within our boundaries. In the early days, there were many cases of face slapping by the Indian guards who were unsympathetic to the British and Americans and took advantage of their position in the Camp. Originally, Chinese had been placed within the boundaries to act as guards, but when it came to the attention of the Japanese that they were being very helpful to the internees in many cases, selling us cigarettes, etc., they were all very promptly replaced by Indians. When the pendulum began to swing in favor of the Allies, a definite change was noted in the behavior of the Indians. Whereas before they had been bullying and insolent, they suddenly became quite friendly with internees, even going so far in cases as to impart news to us.\n\nPage 45 \n64251-1 \n16", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-590-22 Situation in enemy occupied Hong Kong 19-1-1943 - 20-11-1943.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 575216, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-590-22 Situation in enemy occupied Hong Kong 19-1-1943 - 20-11-1943", "page_number": 57, "title": "CO129-590-22 Situation in enemy occupied Hong Kong 19-1-1943 - 20-11-1943", "content_text": "# \nGas stoves are unobtainable and electric current is rigidly controlled. Penalties for exceeding the meagre allowance are severe and most people sit long periods in darkness, or with one candle if they can obtain it, to avoid incurring them. Public transport is cut to the minimum. Buses have been taken off the road and trams run on a much reduced schedule; they are always overcrowded owing to the fact that all Japanese in uniform (i.e. practically all Japanese in Hong Kong) are entitled to travel free. In Kowloon, transport is reduced to rickshaws, horse-drawn vehicles (apparently using specially imported Mongolian ponies) and bicycles; with the bicycles, the technique is for the coolie to ride, carrying his passenger astride in the carrier.\n\n## \nGovernment House is being rebuilt in an exaggerated style of Japanese architecture, presumably as the official residence of the Governor.\n\nFerries are run on a half-hour service except in rush hours when the schedule is every twenty minutes; sail-driven junk ferries have also made their appearance. There are very few cars in the streets: Kotowall and Shou-Son-Chow, who seem to vie with each other in pro-Japanese fervour and anti-British advocacy, are two rare exceptions to the rule that no one in Hong Kong now runs a car. These two gentlemen are much in the public eye. The Kotowall girls are among the few women who seem able to shop for anything save the bare necessities of life. (Mrs. Zaitzeff adds grimly that the other non-essential shoppers are the prostitutes from Wanchai). Some significance may attach to the fact that the three remaining Zimmern brothers, one of whom is engaged to the younger Kotowall daughter, have now been released from internment. (Two of the original five Zimmern brothers were killed defending Hong Kong.)\n\n## \nThe Police have been reinforced by fresh Chinese contingents drawn apparently from the north. Since the first American bombings, the Indian police have grown markedly more polite to foreigners. At first, they were hostile: now Mrs. Zaitzoff frequently finds on pushing her way on to a crowded train that an Indian constable will instantly rise and offer her his seat, regardless whether Japanese are present or not. Shortly after the first American bombings, also a strange metamorphosis was observed in the Japanese Commandant of the Shan-Shiu-Po Volunteer Internment Camp. This gentleman, for the first time in eighteen months, suddenly became concerned whether his prisoners had sufficient shelter from driving rain or beating sun: forthwith had a near-by godown opened and cleared and arranged to let his charges shelter there if the rain was too heavy or the sun too hot.\n\n## \nCinemas are open in the town and show either Japanese films or pictures of the triumphs of Wang Ching Wei; when the show is frankly propagandist, admittance is free to all. Many posters have been affixed to buildings in busy parts of the town: those depict a Chinese mother standing in an attitude of protection over her children while glancing fearfully at the sky. The caption reads \"Remember that it is American planes which are killing innocent women and children\". So far as Mrs. Zaitzoff could see, those posters had no appeal whatsoever. The bombings are in fact welcomed, even when a near-miss at the Central Police Station killed upwards of 150 Chinese, including children. The successful bombing of the oil tanks at Laichi Kok was a seven-day wonder in the town. Few ships now enter the harbour: those that do frequently anchor close to the Sham-Shui-Po internment camp, presumably on the theory that they won't be bombed. The bombings have also caused a good deal of labour trouble, especially at the docks: the workers walked out and held firm against a threat of starvation. Finally, a compromise was reached whereby they now work from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. (bomb-free hours).\n\n56\n\n## \nOnly two of the air raid tunnels appear to be in use: one which opens below Battery Path behind the Hong Kong Bank; the other on Queens Road East at the entrance to Wanchai. Both are reserved for Japanese: guards at the entrances permit no one else to enter during raids, and in fact, no non-Japanese now attempts it. All large buildings in the city are being sand-bagged and the entrances protected with brick screens made from the blocks used in 1941 by the Colonial Government to construct blast-shelters for the public in open spaces. Those shelters have now been dismantled.\n\nMrs. Zaitzoff had no opportunity to see the New Territories, but they are said to be deserted, partly owing to fear of bandits and partly owing to the difficulty of getting supplies. In Kowloon, the section between the Old Kowloon Police Station and Kai Tak had been laid flat to permit an extension of the airport. Only three old planes appear to use Kai Tak regularly, and on each occasion, they have been observed to take off and disappear some minutes before the air raid warning is given.\n\n## \nAs to Zindle, Mrs. Zaitzoff considers him sincere but ineffectual through lack of courage and resolution. Mrs. Zaitzoff worked for many months on a scheme hatched by Dr. Selwyn Clarke whereby she, and a dozen Chinese ladies, called twice weekly at a local hospital, and then picked up and delivered to the camp parcels of food and medicines ostensibly addressed to individuals as presents from friends. The parcels were collected in the first instance from funds which Dr. Selwyn Clarke had persuaded...\n\n64251-1\n\n28", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-590-22 Situation in enemy occupied Hong Kong 19-1-1943 - 20-11-1943.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 575974, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-590-25 Accounts of events leading up to surrender and subsequent treatment of prisoners- etc 23-4-1942 - 28-9-1943", "page_number": 127, "title": "CO129-590-25 Accounts of events leading up to surrender and subsequent treatment of prisoners- etc 23-4-1942 - 28-9-1943", "content_text": "absence, at all events, of some over-riding necessity. This convention is so well recognized that disregard of it might possibly be considered as in the nature of a breach of faith.\n\nThe responsibility of securing the necessary replacements, as well as \"first reinforcements,\" belonged to the Adjutant-General's Department. The task was in the hands of Colonel P. Hennessy, the Director of Organization in the Adjutant-General's Department, who afterwards became the senior administrative officer of the Hong Kong expeditionary force. Under his immediate direction, additions to the Royal Rifles were obtained from Military District No. 2, with headquarters in Toronto, and additions to the Winnipeg Grenadiers were obtained from Military District No. 10, with headquarters in Winnipeg. Colonel Hennessy was an officer of great experience and he was, of course, most anxious to obtain the best men possible for the expedition of which he was to be second-in-command.\n\nThere were added (150 as first reinforcements) to the Royal Rifles 154 men from Military District No. 2, of whom 52 came from the Midland Regiment, 15 from Advanced Training Centre No. 10 at Camp Borden, and 87 from Advanced Training Centre No. 11, also at Camp Borden. To the Winnipeg Grenadiers were added (156 as first reinforcements) 282 men and 12 officers; of these, the 12 officers and 189 men came from Advanced Training Centre No. 15 at Winnipeg, 30 men from the Advanced (Machine Gun) Training Centre at Dundern, Saskatchewan, 40 from the No. 10 District Depot at Winnipeg (including 23 men formerly on the strength of the 18th Reconnaissance Battalion), and 23 men from the Basic Training Centre at Portage la Prairie.\n\nPage 36\n\nAdditions to the Royal Rifles\n\nOn October 16, Colonel Hennessy spoke by long distance telephone to the Commandant at Camp Borden (Brigadier-General McCuaig) and asked him to obtain, if possible, 150 volunteers from A10 and A11 Infantry (Advanced) Training Centres for transfer to the Royal Rifles of Canada, which was proceeding to service outside Canada. General McCuaig instructed the officers commanding the training centres to ascertain what volunteers could be obtained at their several centres. Fifteen men volunteered from A10 and A11. General McCuaig then advised the Officer Commanding Military District No. 2 at Toronto (Major-General C. F. Constantine) that approximately 100 volunteers were available from the centres at Camp Borden. General Constantine then made arrangements to obtain 52 volunteers from the Midland Regiment, which was then stationed at Niagara and was over strength. A few hours later, General Constantine was advised that the desired number of men from the Midland Regiment had volunteered, and he so advised Colonel Hennessy.\n\nIn this way, 154 men—102 from Camp Borden and 52 from the Midland Regiment—were transferred to the Royal Rifles and proceeded with that unit to Hong Kong. These men were sent to the District Depot at Toronto on October 18th and were there medically examined, inoculated, and re-equipped with new uniforms and personal equipment. They were granted leave until October 23rd, when they entrained at Toronto and joined the Royal Rifles while en route to Vancouver. The details of the procedure followed in obtaining these men were discussed with Colonel Hennessy.\n\nColonel Hennessy reported to Major-General Browne, the Adjutant-General, that he was obtaining 52 men from the Midland Regiment and 102 from Camp Borden, and both General Browne and Colonel Hennessy expressed themselves as gratified by their good fortune in obtaining these men from these sources, and took steps to assure that places were made for them in the expeditionary force.\n\nPage 37\n\nOn October 22, two officers and three sergeants from the Royal Rifles, representing Lt.-Col. Home, the officer commanding the regiment, came to Toronto and checked over the documents of each of the 154 men. These documents disclosed the particulars of service of each of the men. On October 23, the men were paraded and all details were finally checked. The two officers from the Royal Rifles expressed themselves as well satisfied with the volunteers provided by Military District No. 2.\n\nThe Midland Regiment was organized in July, 1940, and was recruited in the counties of Northumberland, Durham, Victoria, and Haliburton in Ontario. The several companies of the regiment were stationed in various towns and cities of eastern Ontario until January, 1941, when the regiment moved to barracks in Ottawa, where it remained until April, 1941. It then undertook duties in the defence of coastal and other vital points within Canada.\n\nAll the 52 men from the Midland Regiment who volunteered for the Hong Kong expedition had joined that regiment prior to March, 1941. All these men, therefore, had at least six months' training with their unit before embarking for Hong Kong, while a great many of them had probably a full year's training. Accordingly, some idea of their state of training may be formed by a reference to the training and qualifications of this regiment as a whole. On this topic, I had the evidence of the officer who has commanded this unit since October, 1940, and also the evidence of the officer in charge of training in Military District No. 3 (Colonel Grant), who had the regiment under his observation from October, 1940, until April, 1941. There was also produced an inspection report, dated February 20, 1941, dealing with the Midland Regiment, by an Inspector-General, and the evidence of General Browne of the result of his observation, as Adjutant-General, of the unit covering the period in 1941 when it was stationed at Ottawa.\n\nFrom this evidence, I have reached the conclusion that the Midland Regiment is and was in October, 1941, an efficient, well-trained unit. The Officer Commanding (Lieutenant-Colonel Gamey) impressed me with his own competence and was described by others as an officer who placed exceptional emphasis on training and exacted a high standard from his unit. The other officers were reported as satisfactory and acceptable by the Inspector-General. General Browne stated that he was particularly pleased with the sergeants of the Midland Regiment. Perhaps some general notion of the calibre of the men in the Midland Regiment may be drawn from the fact that when, in October, 1941, a request for approximately 50 volunteers was made, practically every man in the regiment offered his services.\n\nThe men in the Midland Regiment did not pass through a training centre, but obtained all their training with the unit. A regular program of training was, however, followed, and records of this training were available in Military District No. 3 for the period between October, 1940, and April, 1941. The District Officer in charge of Training (Colonel Grant) compared these records of actual training with the lengths of time prescribed for each of the items of training in the syllabi used in the training centres. It is unnecessary to set forth this comparison in detail. The regiment was far ahead of the prescribed syllabi in drill, marching, rifle training, and bayonet training. It had been fully instructed in the mechanism of the light machine gun, to the extent that the men were handling the gun while blindfolded; they were, in April, 1941, well advanced in their firing practice at the ranges, although they had not completed the full period of time set forth in the syllabi. They had spent more than double the time prescribed in their practice with dummy grenades. They had spent a total of 127 periods (of 45 minutes each) in platoon and section training, and a total of 78 periods in company and battalion training. The reports of training and of the observations of officers indicate that the men of the Midland Regiment were hardworking and interested in their training and, moreover, that they \"possessed initiative and self-reliance beyond the average\".\n\nPage 143\n\nPage 144", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-590-25 Accounts of events leading up to surrender and subsequent treatment of prisoners- etc 23-4-1942 - 28-9-1943.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 579144, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-592-2 Reports on current situation- medical work 3-3-1946 - 12-5-1947", "page_number": 60, "title": "CO129-592-2 Reports on current situation- medical work 3-3-1946 - 12-5-1947", "content_text": "68\n\n16\n\nThe Almoner, however, carried out most valuable work of a somewhat different kind, though still connected with the welfare of individuals and groups. As the first Chairman, and later, Deputy Chairman of the International Welfare Committee in Stanley Civilian Internment Camp, she formed a very necessary link with the Hong Kong Informal Welfare Committee formed by the writer as a substitute for a Red Cross organisation which was vetoed by the Japanese Authorities in the earlier stages of their occupation. The International Welfare Committee ascertained what was needed for the inmates of Stanley Camp and for the camp hospital and communicated them to the Hong Kong Committee.\n\nThe work of the International Welfare Committee, of which the Honourable Mr. F. C. Gimson, Colonial Secretary and head of the Camp, became Chairman in the summer of 1942, is of such importance as to warrant the inclusion of a copy of the Almoner's (Deputy Chairman's) account as an appendix to this report, q.v.\n\n(c) OUTPATIENTS' DEPARTMENTS\n\nOutpatient Departments continued to function on a much reduced basis at St. Paul's Hospital until the staff quarters and other premises suffered serious damage from Allied air bombardment in January, 1945, and at the Nethersole, Tung Wah, Kwang Wah, and, for limited periods, the Sai Ying Pun Hospitals. Outpatient activities at Queens Road Outpatients' Departments at the Queen Mary and Kowloon Hospitals were restarted in September, 1945, before the hospitals were actually ready to receive in-patients.\n\n(d) PUBLIC DISPENSARIES\n\nThe Japanese adopted the attitude that public dispensaries, like civilian hospitals, were unlikely to contribute to the Japanese war effort and so were unworthy of assistance. As a result, many of the public dispensaries closed down, including those at Aberdeen, the Western and Central, Stanley, Tsun Wan, Sai Kung, Sham Teng, Ho Tung, and Fanling Dispensaries. The Kowloon City Dispensary, one of the best of its kind, was demolished during the widening of Kai Tak Airfield, and the Hung Hom Dispensary was damaged during the successful bombing of Kowloon Docks by Allied aircraft at Shaukiwan. Eastern (Wanchai), Shamshuipo, Yaumati, Taipo, Un Long, and Sheung Shui, Chinese doctors were permitted to carry on private practice and were occasionally (and at irregular intervals) given a few medical supplies by the Japanese. The Malariologist acted as Medical Officer to the Aberdeen Dispensary from February 1942 until he was interned in May 1943, since malaria became hyperendemic in the locality from lack of anti-malaria oil and other preventive measures. Early in September, 1945, steps were taken to reopen the majority of the dispensaries, but new buildings are necessary in the case of several of those situated on Hong Kong Island and in the New Territories, e.g., at Central, Aberdeen, Hung Hom, Kowloon City, Tsun Wan, Taipo. It is hoped that the Medical Department will undertake similar work at Sha Tau Kok, at one or two other centres where St. John Ambulance Association and Brigade operated before the Pacific War. (In parenthesis, it is also hoped that the Association will be able to maintain the hospital-dispensary on Cheung Chau Island for the time being).\n\n(d) WELFARE CENTRES\n\nAlthough the staffs of the Western, Wanchai, and Tsim Sha Tsui Welfare Centres were kept together in the hope that the Japanese would permit the writer to reopen them, his repeated requests were refused. The Violet Peel Centre was looted and then partially destroyed during an Allied aerial bombardment; the Western was taken over as quarters of the \"anti-epidemic unit,\" and the Tsim Sha Tsui became the Central District Bureau for Civil Affairs in Kowloon (registration, ration cards, etc.). On the reoccupation of Hong Kong, the Western and Tsim Sha Tsui Welfare Centres were reopened, and the former Maijima Hospital, Wanchai, was converted into a welfare centre. At the two last mentioned, social hygiene clinics were rapidly established in view of the very high incidence of venereal disease amongst the community and the resulting danger to the relieving forces.\n\nI. Refugee Settlements\n\nLacking suitable accommodation for the prisoners of war captured in 1941, the Japanese took over Ma Tau Chung, Argyle, and North Point Camps for internment purposes.\n\nEarly in 1942, the troops were transferred from North Point Camp to Shamshuipo, and the former camp was later used as a concentration point for destitutes prior to forcible repatriation. Many of the destitutes died before embarkation, many died in transit to barren islands, and some were reported, on reliable information, to have been \"disposed of\" before arrival at any disembarkation point.\n\nIn October, 1945, the Medical Department resumed control of North Point Camp, or rather what remained of it after war damage and looting.\n\nKam Tin Refugee Camp in the New Territories was closed in January, 1942, the British Commandant having been hacked to pieces on the 17th December, 1941.\n\nFanling Orphan Children's Camp, the inmates of which were transferred to the Hong Kong Jockey Club premises near Fanling immediately hostilities started, was taken over by the Japanese as barracks for their troops. King's Park Refugee Camp was the only one retained as such throughout the occupation. At the beginning of hostilities, the camp held approximately 1,300, of whom the majority were orphan girls. When the writer was permitted to revisit the camp three months after the surrender, only 400 remained alive. Most of the children were suffering from signs of advanced malnutrition; the stores of rice, beans, etc., which the writer had had delivered to the camp at the beginning of December, 1941, having been long exhausted. The Japanese Medical Authorities refused to be responsible in any way for the maintenance of the camp, and a body of local Chinese (including a number of the Clerical Staff of the Medical Department) undertook the care of the orphans. By the time the British Forces reoccupied Hong Kong, the number of children had been reduced to one-tenth of the original figure.\n\nIt is to be hoped that the Medical Department will take charge of the camp as before the war, since it serves a very useful purpose in caring for children without parents or relatives who are fit for discharge from hospital and in need of aftercare. The camp also provides medical and educational facilities for ill-treated mui-tsai (\"adopted\") children.\n\nJ. School Hygiene\n\nAll schools were closed at the commencement of hostilities in Hong Kong in order to obviate loss of life from concentrations struck by shells or bombs and because some of the schools were needed as relief hospitals, first-aid posts, medical stores, and the like. For several months after the surrender, the Japanese refused to allow schools to reopen. Later, a small number were permitted on undertaking to teach the Japanese language. Little scope existed for school medical work, with the possible exception of that carried out by the informal Hong Kong Welfare Committee in premises hired from St. Paul's Hospital and loaned in Kowloon for the children of those interned in the\n\nPage 60\n\nPage 61\n\n67\n\n17", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-592-2 Reports on current situation- medical work 3-3-1946 - 12-5-1947.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 579163, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-592-2 Reports on current situation- medical work 3-3-1946 - 12-5-1947", "page_number": 79, "title": "CO129-592-2 Reports on current situation- medical work 3-3-1946 - 12-5-1947", "content_text": "105\n\n104\n\nThe Almoner, however, carried out most valuable work of a somewhat different kind, though still connected with the welfare of individuals and groups. As the first Chairman, and later, Deputy Chairman of the International Welfare Committee in Stanley Civilian Internment Camp, she formed a very necessary link with the Hong Kong Informal Welfare Committee formed by the writer as a substitute for a Red Cross organisation which was vetoed by the Japanese Authorities in the earlier stages of their occupation. The International Welfare Committee ascertained what was needed for the inmates of Stanley Camp and for the camp hospital and communicated them to the Hong Kong Committee.\n\nThe work of the International Welfare Committee, of which the Honourable Mr. F. C. Gimson, Colonial Secretary and head of the Camp, became Chairman in the summer of 1942, is of such importance as to warrant the inclusion of a copy of the Almoner's (Deputy Chairman) account as an appendix to this report, q.v.\n\n(c) OUTPATIENTS' DEPARTMENTS\n\nOutpatient Departments continued to function on a much reduced basis at St. Paul's Hospital until the staff quarters and other premises suffered serious damage from Allied air bombardment in January, 1945, and at the Nethersole, Tung Wah, Kwang Wah, and, for limited periods, the Sai Ying Pun Hospitals. Outpatient activities at Queen's Road Outpatients' Departments at the Queen Mary and Kowloon Hospitals were restarted in September, 1945, before the hospitals were actually ready to receive in-patients.\n\n(4) PUBLIC DISPENSARIES\n\nThe Japanese adopted the attitude that public dispensaries, like civilian hospitals, were unlikely to contribute to the Japanese war effort and so were unworthy of assistance. As a result, many of the public dispensaries closed down, including that at Aberdeen, the Western and Central, Stanley, Tsun Wan, Sai Kung, Sham Shui Po, Ho Tung, and Fanling Dispensaries. The Kowloon City Dispensary, one of the best of its kind, was demolished during the widening of Kai Tak Airfield, and the Hung Hom Dispensary was damaged during the successful bombing of Kowloon Docks by Allied aircraft. At Shaukiwan, Eastern (Wanchai), Shamshuipo, Yaumati, Taipo, Un Long, and Sheung Shui, Chinese doctors were permitted to carry on private practice and were occasionally (and at irregular intervals) given a few medical supplies by the Japanese. The Malariologist acted as Medical Officer to the Aberdeen Dispensary from February 1942 until he was interned in May 1943, since malaria became hyperendemic in the locality from lack of anti-malaria oil and other preventive measures. Early in September, 1945, steps were taken to reopen the majority of the dispensaries, but new buildings are necessary in the case of several of those situated on Hong Kong Island and in the New Territories, e.g., at Central, Aberdeen, Hung Hom, Kowloon City, Tsun Wan, Taipo. It is hoped that the Medical Department will undertake similar work at Sha Tau Kok, at one or two other centres where St. John Ambulance Association and Brigade operated before the Pacific War. (In parenthesis, it is also hoped that the Association will be able to maintain the hospital-dispensary on Cheung Chau Island for the time being).\n\n(d) WELFARE CENTRES\n\nAlthough the staffs of the Western, Wanchai, and Tsim Sha Tsui Welfare Centres were kept together in the hope that the Japanese would permit the writer to reopen them, his repeated requests were refused. The Violet Peel Centre was looted and then partially destroyed during an Allied aerial bombardment; the Western was taken over as quarters of the \"anti-epidemic unit\" and the Tsim Sha Tsui became the Central District Bureau for Civil Affairs in Kowloon (registration, ration cards, etc.). On the reoccupation of Hong Kong, the Western and Tsim Sha Tsui Welfare Centres were reopened, and the former Maijima Hospital, Wanchai, was converted into a welfare centre. At the two last mentioned, social hygiene clinics were rapidly established in view of the very high incidence of venereal disease amongst the community and the resulting danger to the relieving forces.\n\nI. Refugee Settlements\n\nLacking suitable accommodation for the prisoners of war captured in 1941, the Japanese took over Ma Tau Chung, Argyle, and North Point Camps for internment purposes.\n\nEarly in 1942, the troops were transferred from North Point Camp to Shamshuipo, and the former camp was later used as a concentration point for destitutes prior to forcible \"repatriation\". Many of the destitutes died before embarkation, many died in transit to barren islands, and some were reported, on reliable information, to have been \"disposed of\" before arrival at any disembarkation point.\n\nIn October, 1945, the Medical Department resumed control of North Point Camp, or rather what remained of it after war damage and looting.\n\nKam Tin Refugee Camp in the New Territories was closed in January, 1942, the British Commandant having been hacked to pieces on the 17th December, 1941.\n\nFanling Orphan Children's Camp, the inmates of which were transferred to the Hong Kong Jockey Club premises near Fanling immediately hostilities started, was taken over by the Japanese as barracks for their troops. King's Park Refugee Camp was the only one retained as such throughout the occupation. At the beginning of hostilities, the camp held approximately 1,300, of whom the majority were orphan girls. When the writer was permitted to revisit the camp three months after the surrender, only 400 remained alive. Most of the children were suffering from signs of advanced malnutrition; the stores of rice, beans, etc., which the writer had had delivered to the camp at the beginning of December, 1941, having been long exhausted. The Japanese Medical Authorities refused to be responsible in any way for the maintenance of the camp, and a body of local Chinese (including a number of the Clerical Staff of the Medical Department) undertook the care of the orphans. By the time the British Forces reoccupied Hong Kong, the number of children had been reduced to one-tenth of the original figure.\n\nIt is to be hoped that the Medical Department will take charge of the camp as before the war, since it serves a very useful purpose in caring for children without parents or relatives who are fit for discharge from hospital and in need of aftercare. The camp also provides medical and educational facilities for ill-treated mui-tsai (\"adopted\" children).\n\nJ. School Hygiene\n\nAll schools were closed at the commencement of hostilities in Hong Kong in order to obviate loss of life from concentrations struck by shells or bombs and because some of the schools were needed as relief hospitals, first-aid posts, medical stores, and the like. For several months after the surrender, the Japanese refused to allow schools to reopen. Later, a small number were permitted on undertaking to teach the Japanese language. Little scope existed for school medical work, with the possible exception of that carried out by the informal Hong Kong Welfare Committee in premises hired from St. Paul's Hospital and loaned in Kowloon for the children of those interned in the camp.\n\n17\n\n9", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-592-2 Reports on current situation- medical work 3-3-1946 - 12-5-1947.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 581854, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-594-7 Proposed legislation to regularise registration of births- marriages and deaths in Stanley internment camp during... 16-10-1945 - 19-12-1946", "page_number": 72, "title": "CO129-594-7 Proposed legislation to regularise registration of births- marriages and deaths in Stanley internment camp during... 16-10-1945 - 19-12-1946", "content_text": "## Extracted \n\n54186 \n\nThe question of the nationality of children born in the camp or in other parts of the Colony to parents of British Nationality, during the occupation by the Japanese, also probably requires decision. I know that people in Hong Kong have expressed concern over this question. Possibly it has already been answered, but the answer should be published in Hong Kong.\n\n3) Passports and Identity Certificates: Many people lost their passports as a result of the occupation. Others who had passports, applied to have them renewed when their validity expired. When there seemed to be a possibility of repatriation, it was decided to endorse existing passports whether over 10 years old or not with a form of renewal stating that the holder was interned at Stanley and that the passport was renewed until such time as a new passport could be obtained, and that the holder still retained his or her British Nationality. At the same time temporary certificates were issued stating the names and particulars of the holder and that he or she was interned. In some cases a photograph was attached, in others thumb prints were included. Where the nationality of the holder could be established this was included, in others no statement was made. In the case of women married in the camp their maiden names were included. Endorsements and certificates were given to non-British internees if they applied.\n\nAt first Mr. Gimson signed as Colonial Secretary and Representative of H.B.M. Government. The Japanese objected to this and many certificates and passports were altered. Later he signed as \"Camp Commandant\" and later still as \"Representative of Internees\".\n\nMost people in camp were known to the Passport Officer, Mr. Thorpe, who was in the Passport Office before the Japanese war. The usual form of enquiry and guarantee was followed and a register of passport endorsements and certificates was maintained.\n\nWhen I applied to the Foreign Office for new passports for myself and my wife the other day, the officer accepted my old passport endorsed in camp, my wife's temporary certificate and copy of entry in the marriage register kept in the camp. F.O. Passports Nos. `95275` and `95276` were issued to us on 1st October 1945. It might be advisable to warn the Foreign Office that internees from H.K. returning to England may produce passports endorsed in camp or temporary certificates when applying for new passports. I expect that applications will also be received in Australia, New Zealand, India and possibly Canada, and also perhaps at Consulates. It might also be advisable to publish some notice calling upon people from Hong Kong to hand in such documents and obtain new passports as soon as possible.\n\nI trust that the above information may be of some assistance, I shall be very pleased to answer any other questions or give the names of those in a position to do so, if I can be of any further assistance.\n\nI have the honour to be, Sir,\n\nYour obedient servant,\n\n(Sgd) \nR. J. MINNITT \nColonial Administrative Service \nHong Kong.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-594-7 Proposed legislation to regularise registration of births- marriages and deaths in Stanley internment camp during... 16-10-1945 - 19-12-1946.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 582618, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-595-9 The British Military Administration of Hong Kong- report- 1946 11-7-1946 - 2-9-1946", "page_number": 67, "title": "CO129-595-9 The British Military Administration of Hong Kong- report- 1946 11-7-1946 - 2-9-1946", "content_text": "## 19.\n\nAt the beginning of November, Civil Affairs Staff had been implemented up to only 18% of its approved strength. The position has now improved to the extent that some 32% of the personnel of the War Establishment are at work in the Colony. It must be emphasised, therefore, that the acute shortage of all grades of personnel, and to a still greater degree, the shortage of supplies of all kinds, have limited the effectiveness of the Administration in every sphere of its activities. It is probable that a serious breakdown in several of the branches has been prevented only by the public spirit of many ex-internees and ex-prisoners of war who voluntarily deferred their repatriation in order to assist the grossly over-taxed branches. The almost total absence of members of the Senior Clerical and Accounting Staff has presented special difficulties. These have to some extent been met by the assumption of new responsibilities by Chinese and locally engaged staff, and by the temporary employment of persons who have had no previous connection with the Government service. These enforced innovations have met with a considerable measure of success and have brought to light new talents and capabilities.\n\n## 20.\n\nRations and accommodation in the early days of the Administration were provided free of charge to the personnel of C.A.S. and of certain essential service organisations. At the present time, unentitled personnel are charged for rations and accommodation at fixed rates, and provision has been made for cheap meals for the Administration's Chinese employees. Accommodation requisitioning and assessment of furniture are now under the control of a Quartering Commandant, who is steadily pursuing a policy of de-requisitioning in general and, in particular, the evacuation of Service personnel from the large hotels. It is hoped that the hotels will therefore shortly return to their normal function and be able to provide suitable accommodation for at least the vanguard of returning business men. A number of buildings have been requisitioned in order to provide social amenities for the Services and for Portuguese and Chinese employees. At present, a total number of 117 buildings have been requisitioned by the Services and 50 by Civil Affairs, for all purposes. The public is uneasy over the extent of this requisitioning, which must certainly be cut down, one way or another, during the next few months.\n\n## H.K.V.D.C.\n\n## 21.\n\nAll members of the Volunteer Defence Corps are now on demobilization leave under Proclamation No.14. Many problems regarding members of the Corps and their families remain, however, to be settled. No decision has yet been given on the question of financial responsibility for demobilization benefits and pensions: reference has been made to the War Office in this connection. Considerable enquiries will be necessary before the status of Volunteers who were not treated as P.O.W's can be finally decided. The re-employment of demobilized Volunteers also presents a problem for the immediate future, involving the placing of Chinese, Portuguese, Eurasians, and other nationals of widely differing qualifications.\n\n## 22.\n\nA preliminary check of expenditure shows that a sum of about HK$20,000,000 has been spent on family...", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-595-9 The British Military Administration of Hong Kong- report- 1946 11-7-1946 - 2-9-1946.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 }, { "id": 582649, "series_id": 27, "series_slug": "histsyn-co129-engine", "series_title": "CO129 Colonial Office Hong Kong Records 理藩院香港檔案", "series_use_hku_proxy": false, "document_key": "CO129-595-9 The British Military Administration of Hong Kong- report- 1946 11-7-1946 - 2-9-1946", "page_number": 98, "title": "CO129-595-9 The British Military Administration of Hong Kong- report- 1946 11-7-1946 - 2-9-1946", "content_text": "## 11\n\n138\n\n11.\n\nAt present time compared with 150 Chinese papers in 1941. \nThe number is increasing monthly.\n\n(b) Films. The section is in close touch with Eagle-Lion Film Co. and Gaumont-British News Reels and has distributed many full length and short films to the theatres, of which eight are showing English films and news.\n\n(c) Publicity. Pictures of the war and Britain's war effort have been displayed in various parts of the Colony and a Reading Room has been opened where the attendance (mainly Chinese) has risen to over 400 daily. Posters have also been prepared and displayed.\n\n(d) Broadcasting. Talks and translations have been prepared for Z.B.W. and Z.E.K. together with suitable propaganda.\n\n**REQUISITIONING & BILLETING**\n\nThe question of requisitioning, billeting and assessing property for housing of all Services now functions smoothly under a Quartering Commandant who maintains a list of all premises occupied by all Services, assesses rents payable on the 1941 figures, the records of which had fortunately been found in the Treasury. This section deals also with Hirings of furniture required for offices, clubs and billets, and other chattels required for various purposes.", "txt_file_path": "txt/2diw2n4r2/CO129-595-9 The British Military Administration of Hong Kong- report- 1946 11-7-1946 - 2-9-1946.txt", "external_url": "", "rank": 0 } ]