on 6 Jan- uary 1841
4.
each and every request, Britain would 'wage protracted war'. The memorandum however did not specify the location of the island to be oeded. It further stated that before the memorandum reached the Qing government if China should in the interim start further trouble calculated to 'provoke Great Britain' the British government would make further demands. (Note 10)
In June 1840 Britain's Eastern Expeditionary Force arrived in tranches in China from India. Acting on instructions from the British government G Elliot avoided joining battle with Chinese forces in Guangdong. British forces blockaded the Pearl River (Zhujiang) estuary. G Elliot led the bulk of the forces northward. Xiamen and Dinghai fell. In July British forces pushed as far north as Haihekou. The Qing government panicked. It ordered Viceroy of Zhidi, Qi Shan, to go to Haikou to negotiate with G. Elliot. Qi told the British leader that Lin Zexu had 'mishandled the matter' and promised to mete out heavy punishment' against him. The viceroy requested the British forces to 'return south whence they had come' assuring them that arrangements would be made to enable the British commander to make satisfactory reply to her Britannic Majesty'. (Note 11) G Elliot was satisfied. The Qing government thereupon appointed Qi imperial commissioner to proceed to Guangzhou to negotiate with C Elliot. (G Elliot had left for home because of illness). C Elliot pressed one demand after another compensation for opium, reimbursement of costs of the military operation, opening of China's seaboard and 'giving of a place of residence lying offshore so that the British would raise the Union Jack and have self-government'. The last demand was as a matter of fact for ceding of an island. Elliot threatened Qi that if the demands were not met yet harsher demands would be made 'on conclusion of resumed hostilities. (Note 12) Q1 acceded to Elliot's demands but on the question of cession of an island he said he would have to consult 'his Imperial Majesty'. Without waiting for a formal .reply from Qi, Elliot stormed and took the batteries at Dajiao and Shajiaos He made five demands requiring compliance within three days failing which he would 'demolish the batteries and march to provincial capital to negotiate for a truce'. One of the three demands was for 'continued occupation of Shajiao by British officers as a trading post and place of residence'. (Note 13) Qi found himself in a difficult position. Shajiao lay on the outer periphery of Humen and was the first layer of defence to Guangzhou. Cession thereof would be out of the question. However Elliot would not take no for an answer. Qi then sought permission from Emperor Dao Guang to cede an isolated island off the coast of eastern Guangdong instead of Shajiao. On failing to get Shajiao Elliot turned his attention to 'Jianshazui (Tsimshatsui) and Hongkan (Hunghom) of Hong Kong in exchange for Shajiao' (Note 14) which Britain would give up on getting the alternative sites. Qi Shan was of the opinion that 'a set of batteries had lately be installed in Jianshazui defended by a garrison force and that it would compare favourably with Hong Kong which was an isolated island far out into the sea'. He submitted to the Emperor Dao Guang recommending 'giving of Hong Kong lying off the coast of Eastern Guangdong as a place of residence and anchorage for shipping'. And under threats from Elliot he issued a memorandum to the effect that 'the British envoy should according to a verbal agreement arrived at with Bao Peng (compradore and Qi's interpreter) choose for shipping anchorage either Jianshazui or Hong Kong which two places were separate and distinct locales' (Note 15) On January 16 Elliot gave a reply memorandum requesting for cession of Hong Kong and the word 'place' following the proper name was amended to read 'island', (Note 16) meaning the whole island instead of a place on the island.
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