Directory_and_Chronicle_1935 — Page 920

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HONGKONG

KOWLOON AND OTHER DEPENDENCIES

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Across the harbour is the dependency of British Kowloon, which is deve loping very rapidly along lines laid down by the Town Planning Committee. Some four square miles of the peninsula were first granted in perpetual lease by the Kwangtung Government to Sir Harry (then Mr.) Parkes, but were definitely ceded to Great Britain in 1860 by Article VI. of the Peking Con- vention. Yau-ma-ti, the principal village, has greatly increased in population, and has become an important town. There is a considerable Chinese junk. trade to this district and amongst other industries is a preserved ginger fac- tory. 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 gen- erating station being at Hunghom. 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 large number of European houses and flats have been erected, and this portion of the peninsula, which faces Victoria, has gradually developed into a populous residential settlement. It is approached by Nathan Road, a fine wide thoroughfare running at right angles to the water-front. A 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, is situated the handsome terminal station of the Canton- Kowicon Railway. During 1905 and 1906 extensive reclamation works were carried out extending eastward from the godown company's property Hunghom. Messrs. Butterfield & Swire have erected extensive godown ac- commodation on the reclamation. The same period will also be remembered by the building of two churches at Kowloon-St. Andrew's, in Nathan Road, being the gift of the Hon. Sir Paul Chater, C.M. G., and the Roman Catholic Church in Chatham Road, the gift of Dr. S. A. Gomes. Sir Paul Chater also donated the funds for erecting a third place of worship on the Peninsula-a branch of the Union Church, Hong Kong. There are several hotels, the largest and newest being the Peninsula. The Central British School was erected in 1901 on Nathan 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 fine building for a European Y.M.C.A. was opened in November, 1925. A steam ferry plies regularly between Tsim tsa Tsui and Victoria; ferry boats also run between Victoria and Sham Shui Po,, Mongkok, Yau-ma-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 Sham Shui Po. At Hok-ün are also situated the extensive works of the Green Island Cement Co., Ltd., and the patent slip and shipbuilding yard of Messrs. W. S. Bailey & Co., Ltd. At Kowloon Tong a very extensive area has been levelled and a charming garden city has sprung up.

In 1898 an agreement was entered into whereby China ceded to Great Bri- tain for ninety-nine years the territory behind Kowloon Peninsula up to a line drawn from Mirs Bay to Deep Water 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 territory 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 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 r Hon. Mr. (afterwards Sir) J. H. Stewart Lockhart, C. M.G., Colonial Secretary. Military operations were found necessary to overcome the opposition, and on

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