TNAG-0642-FCO40-790-Kowloon-Walled-City-and-aircraft-safety-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 42

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CONFIDENTIAL

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British Occupation of the Walled City

8.

9.

In April 1899, after having taken possession of the New Territories, Britain requested the complete withdrawal of Chinese troops and

officials stationed inside the Kowloon Walled City. Faced with

delaying diplomatic tactics by the Chinese Government, British troops were ordered to, and did occupy the Walled City on May 16 (6), and thereafter, all Chinese officials eventually withdrew.

By the Order-in-Council of December 27, 1899, the cessation of

Chinese jurisdiction and the assumption of British control over the

Walled City, "as if it had originally formed part of the said Colony" was declared (7).

China's position vis-a-vis Article IV

10.

11.

The British occupation of the Walled City was followed by protests

from the Ching Government, whose argument was that "the conduct

of affairs within the City of Kowloon should, in accordance with

the provisions of the Convention, be administered by Chinese officials." (8)

In connection with objections of Walled City residents to attempts

by the Hong Kong Government to carry out clearance operations in the

area, a scries of protests were made by the Republic of China in 1933,

1936, 1948 and 1949 against "British trepasses on Chinese jurisdiction

in the Walled City". The attitude of the Kuomintang Government

towards this issue was explicity elaborated by the Chinese ambassador in London in February, 1948 (9). He stated that the "Chinese

Officials" mentioned in the Article apparently did not merely refer

to the individuals holding office at that time but also include their

successors. He added that the Chinese Officials then stationed there

were expelled by force and the Chinese Government had never dropped

her clain over this area. One further point he put forth to explain

the inclusion of the Article in the Convention was that the Chinese

Government at that time was only willing to satisfy the military news

of the great powers and had never given up her rights over the

respective areas. For this purpose, and "as a nominal gesture of preserving her jurisdiction, a special area was marked out the leasod

areas."

CONFIDENTIAL