Directory_and_Chronicle_1891 — Page 589

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HONGKONG

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to the junk of the commanding mandarin. After six hours of delay and irritating evasion a boat was sent on shore to a distant part of the bay with money to purchase supplies, which the people succeeded in doing, and they were on the point of bringing their purchases away when some mandarin runners approached and obliged the natives to take back their provisions. The English returned with this intelligence, and Captain Elliot, greatly provoked, opened fire on the three junks. It was answered with spirit by the junks and a battery on shore. After a fire of almost half-an-hour the English force hauled off, from the failure of ammunition, for anticipating no serious results they had not come prepared for them. It was evident, however, Captain Elliot says in his account of the engagement, that the junks had suffered considerably, and after a delay of about three-quarters of an hour, they weighed and made sail from under the protection of the battery, with the obvious purpose of making their escape. By this time the English had made cartridges, and they drove the junks back to their former position. Evening was now closing in, and in the morning it was decided, for reasons of policy, not to renew the attack. A complete relaxation of the interdict against the supply of provisions followed. Some little time after this event an arrangement for the resumption of the trade was arrived at, and there was a partial return to residence at Macao. The arrangement was of but a few weeks' duration, however, and on the 3rd November a naval engagement took place off Chuenpee, when the Chinese retired in great distress. The British ships returned to Macao, arriving on the evening of the same day, and arrangements were immediately made for the embarkation of those of Her Majesty's subjects there who thought it safest to retire, and on the evening of the 4th November they arrived at Hongkong.

Captain Elliot considered the anchorage of Hongkong unsafe, as being "exposed to attack from several quarters," and already, on the 26th October, His Excellency had required the removal of the British merchant shipping to Tong-Koo, which he deemed safer. The shipping community did not share this opinion, and on the same day that the notice appeared an address signed by the masters of thirty-six vessels was presented to Captain Elliot requesting that they might be allowed to remain at Hongkong. On the 8th November H. M. Plenipotentiary replied, adhering to his former decision. Thereupon another remonstrance was dressed to him, signed by "twenty firms, the agents for Lloyds, and for eleven Insurance Offices." Captain Elliot, however, still adhered to his decision, and a few days afterwards the removal to Tong-Koo took place. In 1840 the expedition arrived, and Hongkong became the head quarters of Her Majesty's forces.

On the 20th January, 1841, II. M.'s Plenipotentiary issued a circular to II. M.'s subjects announcing the conclusion of preliminary arrangements between the Imperial Com- missioner, Keshen, and himself. One of the terms was stated in the circular as follows:- "1.--The cession of the island and harbour of Hongkong to the British Crown. All just charges and duties to the Empire upon the commerce carried on there to be paid as if the trade were conducted at Whampoa." On the 26th January, the island was accordingly taken formal possession of in the name of Her Majesty the Queen. The treaty was subsequently repudiated by both parties, and it was not until the conclusion of the Nanking Treaty in 1842, that the Chinese Government formally recognised the cession of the island. In the meantime it was held by the British-who had come to stay--and on the 1st May, the Public Notice and Declaration regarding the occupation of Hongkong was published. On the 7th May of the same year, 1841, the first number of the Hongkong Gazette was published, printed at the American Mission Press, Macao. This first number contained the notification of the appointment (dated 30th April) of Captain William Caine, of Her Majesty's 26th (or Cameronian) Regiment of Infantry, as Chief Magistrate, the warrant being under the hand of Charles Elliot, Esquire, Her Majesty's Plenipotentiary, etc., etc., charged with the Government of the island of Hongkong." Captain Elliot's idea was that the island should be held on similar terins to those on which Macao was at that time held by the Portuguese, and the Chief Magistrate, instead of being charged to administer British law, was authorised and required "to exercise authority, according to the laws, customs, and usages of China, as near as may be (every description of torture excepted), for the preservation of the peace and the protection of life and property, over all the native inhabitants in the said island and the harbours thereof;" and over other persons according to British police law. The first land sale took place on the 14th June, and building thereafter proceeded rapidly, the population of the new town at the end of the year being estimated at 15,000. On the 6th February, 1842, Hongkong was formally declared a free port by Sir Henry Pottinger, who had succeeded Captain Elliot as Plenipotentiary. Until the signing of the treaty, however, the ultimate fate of the new settlement remained in doubt. Sir