Directory_and_Chronicle_1918 — Page 1023

HONGKONG

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removed in a dangerous condition. The buildings were therefore soon abandoned. Shek O is a small but prettily-located village occupying a small valley shut in from the water on the eastern coast, not far from Cape D'Aguilar. Near here a wireless station has been erected.

KOWLOON AND OTHER DEPENDENCIES

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Across the harbour is the dependency of British Kowloon. Some four square miles of the peninsula was first granted in perpetual lease by the Kwangtung Government to Sir Harry (then Mr.) Parkes, but was definitely ceded to Great Britain in 1860 by Article VI. of the Peking Convention. 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. Gas Works were erected there in 1892, and the settled portion of the peninsula is lighted with gas; electricity is also now largely used, the generating station being at Hunghom. Waterworks were established in 1895, but, with the rapid growth in the population, further provision was necessary, and the new waterworks now provide for the supply of a million gallons daily. Three regiments of Indian infantry are usually 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 beer, erected and numerous gardens laid out, and this portion of the peninsula, which faces Victoria, has gradually developed into a populous European residential settlement. It is approached by Nathan Road, a fine wide thoroughfare running at right angles to the water-front. Ä fine bund, with a massive granite wall, has been constructed here, and an extensive range of godowns built and several fine wharves made for discharging cargo and coaling. Here, also,

Here, also, is situated the handsome terminal station of the Canton- Kowloon Railway. During 1905 and 1906 extensive reclamation works were carried out extending eastward from the godown company's property to Hunghom. Messrs. Butterfield & Swire have erected extensive godown accommodation on the reclamation. The same period will also be remembered by the building of two churches at Kowloon -St. Andrew's, in Robinson Road, being the gift of the Hon. Sir C. P. Chater, C.M.G., and the Roman Catholic Church in Chatham Road, the gift of Dr. S. A. Gomes. There are two hotels, one possessing large accommodation. The Kowloon British School was erected in 1901 on Robinson Road at the expense of Mr. (now Sir) Robert Ho Tung.

The Navy maintains a small naval yard, subsidiary to the principal establishment on the Hongkong side. The Royal Observatory is situated on Mount Elgin; and a large and handsome Police Station for the Water Police occupies an eminence just above the Praya. A steam ferry plies regularly between Tsim-tsa Tsui and Victoria; ferry boats also run between Victoria and Yau-na-Ti and Hunghom, where the principal docks of the Hongkong and Whampoa Dock Co. are situated. The Cosmopolitan Dock and works, also belonging to the same Company, are situated at Fuk Tsun Heung, formerly known as Sain Shui Po. At Hok-ün are also situated the extensive works of the Green Island Cement Co., Ld., and the patent slip and shipbuilding yard of Messrs. W. S. Bailey & Co., Ld. The Orient Cigar Factory is situated at Yaumati.

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 mainland 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 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 nccessary 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 being 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

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