THE WEIHAIWEI CONVENTION, 1898
Ratifications exchanged in London, 5th October, 1898
In order to provide Great Britain with a suitable naval harbour in North China, and for the better protection of British commerce in the neighbouring seas, the Government of His Majesty the Emperor of China agrees to lease to the Government of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, Weihaiwei, in the province of Shantung, and the adjacent waters for so long a period as Port Arthur shall remain in the occupation of Russia,
The territory leased shall comprise the island of Liukung and all other islands in the Bay of Weihaiwei, and a belt of land ten English miles wide along the entire coast line of the Bay of Weihaiwei. Within the above-mentioned territory leased Great Britain shall have sole jurisdiction.
Great Britain shall have, in addition, the right to erect fortifications, station troops, or take any other measures necessary for defensive purposes, at any points on or near the coast of the region cast of the meridian 121 degrees 40 min. E. of Green- wich, and to acquire on equitable compensation within that territory such sites as may be necessary for water supply, communications, and hospitals. Within that zone Chinese administration will not be interfered with, but no troops other than Chinese or British shall be allowed therein.
It is also agreed that within the walled city of Weibaiwei Chinese officials shall continue to exercise jurisdiction, except so far as may be inconsistent with naval and military requirements for the defence of the territory leased.
It is further agreed that Chinese vessels of war, whether neutral or otherwise, shall retain the right to use the waters herein leased to Great Britain.
It is further understood that there will be no expropriation or explusion of the inhabitants of the territory herein specified, and that if land is required for forti- fications, public offices, or any official or public purpose, it shall be bought at a fair price.
This Convention shall come into force on signature. It shall be ratified by the Sovereigns of the two countries, and the ratifications shall be exchanged in London as soon as possible.
In witness whereof the undersigned, duly authorised thereto by their respective Governments, have signed the present agreement.
CLAUDE M. MACDONALD.
PRINCE CHING, Senior Member of the Tsung-li Yamên. LIAO SHOU HENG, President of Board of Punishments.
Done at Peking in quadruplicate (four copies in English and four in Chinese) the first day of July, in the year of Our Lord eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, being the thirteenth day of the fifth moon of the twenty-fourth year of Kuang Hsü.
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