Directory_and_Chronicle_1903 — Page 890

HONGKONG

KOWLOON And other DEPENDENCIES

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Across the harbour is the dependency of British Kowloon. The peninsula was first granted in perpetual lease by the Kwangtung Government to Sir Harry (then Mr.) Smith Parkes, but was definitely ceded to Great Britain in 1860 by Article VI. of the Peking Convention. It has an area of four square miles, and has latterly made considerable progress. Yau-ma Ti, the principal village, has increased in population, and bids fair soon to become an important town. There is a considerable Chinese junk trade at this place, and amongst other industries is a preserved ginger factory. The Military and Police Rifle Ranges are at the back of and near the village. Gas Works were erected here in 1892, and the settled portion of the peninsula is now lighted with gas. Waterworks were established in 1895, but the supply has become wholly insufficient for the rapidly growing population, and a new scheme, providing for the supply of a million gallons daily, is projected, and will probably be under- taken this year. Two regiments of Indian infantry is stationed at Tsim-tsa Tsui, where barracks and officers' quarters are located and a Mahommedan mosque has been erected. At Tsim-tsa Tsui, too, a number of European houses have been erected and numerous gardens laid out, and this portion of the peninsula, which faces Victoria, is gardually developing into a European residential settlement. A fine bund, with a massive granite wall, has been constructed there, and an extensive range of godowns built and several fine wharves made, for discharging cargo and coaling. There is also a briquette factory, gas works, and several other important industries. There are two hotels, one possessing large accommodation. The Kowloon British School was erected in 1901 on Robinson Road at the expense of Mr. Ho Tung. The Navy maintains a small naval yard, subsidiary to the principal establishment on the Hongkong side. A well equipped Observatory is situated on Mount Elgin; and a large and handsome Police Station for the Water Police occupies an eminence just above the new praya. In front of this Station is a Time Ball, which is dropped daily. A steam ferry plies regularly between Tsim-tsa Tsui and Victoria; ferry boats also run between Victoria and Yau-ma Ti and Hung-ham, where the principal docks of the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Co. are situate. The Cosmopolitan Dock and works, also belonging to the same Company, are situated at Fuk Tsun Heung, formerly known as Sam Shui Po. Hok-ün are also situated the extensive works of the Green Islaud Cement Co., Ld., the patent slip and shipbuilding yard of Messrs Bailey and Murphy, and a large Match Factory.

At

In 1898 an agreement was entered into whereby China ceded to Great Britain for ninety-nine years the territory behind Kowloon Peninsula up to a line drawn from Mirs Bay to Deep Bay and the adjacent islands, including Lantao, the extent of the New Territory being about 376 square miles, namely, 286 square miles on the main land and 90 square miles on the islands. The ceremony of formally taking over the territory was fixed for the 17th April, 1899, when the British flag was to be hoisted at Taipohu, and the day was declared a general holiday. Attacks, however, having been made on the parties engaged on the preliminary arrangements, the mat-sheds erected for the accommodation of the police having been burnt, and other evidences of an organised opposition having been given, it was deemed advisable to assume full jurisdiction on the 16th April, on which date the flag was hoisted by the Hon. J. H. Stewart Lockhart, C.M.G., Colonial Secretary. Military operations were found necessary to overcome the opposition, and on the 18th April the rebels were completely routed in an action fought at Sheung Tsun, their force numbering some 2,600 men. On the British side there were no fatalities and only one or two slight casualties; on the Chinese side a number were killed and wounded, but the exact figures were not ascertained, as men hit were carried away by their friends. In the Convention it was provided that Kowloon City was to remain Chinese, but it having been established beyond a doubt that the hands of the Chinese officials were by no means clean in respect of the disturbances which occurred on the taking over of the leased area, the Home Government determined to mark their sense of the duplicity of the Chinese in a suitable manner and orders were accordingly issued to the nilitary authorities to seize Kowloon walled city and Shamchun. This was done on the 16th May, 1899, no opposition being encountered at either place. The Hongkong Volunteer Corps took part in the expedition to Kowloon City. Shamchun, the other place seized, is an important town on the river of the same name just beyond the boundary originally agreed upon. Unfortunately it has not been retained, having been restored to the Chinese authorities in November, 1899. The New Territory under British jurisdiction is being developed by the construction of roads; police stations have becn established, and a system of administration by means of village communities organised.

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