NEW TERRITORY
Midag.
(Contd.)
766
who was ordered to proceed in charge of a Naval Brigade, was also requested to confer with the General on May 15.
Captain Clarke was the commander of H.M.S. Undaunted. He took command of the Naval forces, which landed at Starling Inlet on May 16 and advanced from there to co-operate in the intended attack on Sum Chun. Further correspondence shows that the Naval brigade comprised men from the warships Undaunted and Aurora.
A subsequent report by Commodore Powell to Vice-Admiral Seymour details the operations. Having received requests from the Governor to co-operate with the Military at the taking over of Sum Chun, "the object being to send so overwhelming a force was landed at Starling Inlet and advanced from that direction, while two military columns advanced from Tai Po and Deep Bay, the various units meeting on the afternoon of May 16. The Naval forces consisted of 100 bluejackets and 30 marines from the Undaunted, 100 bluejackets and 30 marines from the Aurora, and 30 marines from the Tamar. They were conveyed in the Swift and the Firebrand. A report by Captain Clarke to the Commodore, dated May 18, mentions that his brigade first gained contact with about 150 of the Hong Kong Regiment and later various other units of the Military forces.
The Union Jack was hoisted at Sum Chun at 5.45 p.m. on May 16, 1899, and a salute of 21 guns was fired.
Apparently there was no opposition, and the following morning the forces departed; the pacification of the New Territories being complete.
A despatch to the Governor from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated May 26, 1899, states:
"I need hardly say that I have followed the course of events with the utmost interest and it has been of great satisfaction to me to learn that no lives have been lost on the British side during any of the operations. The success of this has, I cannot doubt, been due to yourself and all concerned. Both Mr. Lockhart and Mr. May, the latter of whom must have at one time been in a perilous position, appear to have acted with much energy and intelligence, and you have been ably supported by the Naval and Military forces at your disposal. I have had pleasure in bringing to the notice of the Secretary of State for War and Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, the prompt and efficient services rendered by Major-General Gascoigne and the troops under his command and by the Naval officers entrusted with the transport of the troops."
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO.
Extract from the S.C.M. Post of May 3, 1909:- "By an order made by the Governor-in-Council on April 26, the Order-in-Council dated March 5, 1906 defining the districts into which the New Territories shall be divided for the purpose of the Land Ordinance, is rescinded and the following Order substituted: It is hereby ordered that there shall be established two district land offices for the purposes of carrying out the provision of the New Territories Land Ordinance, 1905, and it is further ordered that for the purposes of the said Ordinance the New Territories shall be divided into two districts viz: (a) One district to be hereafter called and known as the 'Northern District' to include the whole of the New Territories situate on the mainland excepting such portion thereof as is by this Order included in the Southern District and including all Islands which are East of Longitude 114.10 and North of Latitude 22.15 excepting the Islands of Tunglung
Page 190
Page 191
NEW TERRITORY
Midag.
(Contd.)
766
who was ordered to proceed in charge of a Naval Brigade, was also requested to confer with the General on May 15.
Captain Clarke was the commander of H.M.S. Undaunted. He took command of the Naval forces, which landed at Starling Inlet on May 16 and advanced from there to co-operated in the intended attack on Sum Chun. Further correspondence shows that the Naval brigade comprised men from the warships Undaunted and Aurora.
A subsequent report by Commodore Powell to Vice-Admiral Seymour details the operations. Having received requests from the Governor to co-operate with the Military at the taking over of Sum Chun, "the object being to send so overwhelming a force was landed at Starling Inlet and advanced from that direction, while two military columns advanced from Tai Po and Deep Bay, the various units meeting on the afternoon of May 16. The Naval forces consisted of 100 bluejackets and 30 marines from the Undaunted, 100 bluejackets and 30 marines from the Aurora, and 30 marines from the Tamar. They were conveyed in the Swift and the Firebrand. A report by Captain Clarke to the Commodore, dated May 18, mentions that his brigade first gained contact with about 150 of the Hong Kong Regiment and later various other units of the Military forces.
The Union Jack was hoisted at Sum Chun at 5.45. p.m. on kay 16 1899, and a salute of 21 guns was fired.
Apparently there was no opposition, and the following morning the forces departed; the pacification of the New Territories being complete.
A
despatch to the Governor from the Secretary of State for the Colonies, dated May 26, 1899, states:
"I need hardly say that I have followed the course of events with the utmost interest and it has been of great satisfaction to me to learn that no lives have been lost on the British side during any of the operations. The success of this has, I cannont doubt, been due to yourself and all concerned. Both Mr. Lockhart and Mr. May, the latter of whom must have at one time beein in a perilous position, appear to have acted with much energy and intelligence, and you have been ably supported by the N aval and Military forces at your disposal. I have had pleasure in bringing to the notice of the Secretary of State for War and Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, the prompt and efficient services rendered by Major-General Gascoigne and the troops under his command and by the Naval officers entrusted with the transport of the troops."
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO.
Extract from the S.C.M. Post of May 3, 1909:- "By and order made by the Governor-inCouncil on April 26, the Order-in- Council dated March 5, 1906 defining the districts into which the New Territories shall be divided for the purpose of the Land Ordinance, is rescinded and the following Order substituted: It is hereby ordered that there shall be established two district land offices for the purposes of carrying out the prevision of the New Territories Land Ordinance, 1905, and it is further orde red- that for the purposes of the said Ordinance the New Territories shall be divided into two districts viz: (a) One district to be hereafter called and known as the 'Northern District' to include the whole of the New Territories situate on the mainland excepting such portion thereof as is by this Order included in the Southern District and including all Islands which are East of Longitude 114.10 and North of Latitude 22.15 excepting the Idlands of Tunglung
Page 190Page 191
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