Directory_and_Chronicle_1906 — Page 1063

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HONGKONG

Indian infantry are 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 gradually 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. An important reclamation scheme is now in progress to the eastward, extending to Hungham. On the 13th November, 1904 the foundation stone was laid of a Church, to be dedicated to St. Andrew. This edifice, which will be of Gothic design, with a graceful spire, is being erected at the sole cost of the Hon. Sir Paul Chater, C. M.Ğ. There was also laid on December 10th, 1904, the foundation stone of a new Roman Catholic church, the gift of Dr. S. A. Gomes, and the building was opened for public warship last year. 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 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-hom, 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. At Hok-un are also situated the extensive works of the Green Island Cement Co., Ld., the patent slip and shipbuilding yard of Messrs Bailey and Murphy, and a large Matchi Factory.

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 terri- tory was fixed for the 17th April, 1899, when the British flag was to have been 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 toassume 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, those who fell were carried away by their friends. Inthe 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 military 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, and has become a resort for desperate characters. The New Territory unler British jurisdiction is being developed by the construction of roads; police stations have been established, and a system of administration by means of village communities organised. The headquarters of the administration are at Taipohu. The proposed railway from Kowloon to Canton, which will pass through the New Territory to Shamchun, will no doubt do much to develop it, and as the survey has been completed and powers obtained for raising the necessary money, this year should see a coinmencement made with the construction of the line. The principal islands and their populations are as follows:-Lantao, 7,940 ;: Cheung Chau, 2,734; Lamma, 1,134. The islands to the west of Hongkong contained 1,925; those to the east, 1,169. The total population of the New Territory in 1901 was 102,254.