Sessional_Paper_1899 — Page 530

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(Telegram to Secretary of State.)

14th April, 1899.

Have informed Peking. Am I to understand Customs Officers can function in the territorial waters of Colony pending removal?

(Telegram from Secretary of State.)

BLAKE.

16th April, 1899.

The Imperial Customs Officials will have no legal status. They will be in same position as those within Hongkong itself. Communicate this to Sir R. HART.

(Governor to Secretary of State.)

CHAMBERLAIN.

No. 93.

SIR,

GOVERNMENT HOUSE, HONGKONG, 15th April, 1899.

Referring to my despatch No. 88 of the 7th instant, I have the honour to inform you that, up to the 12th instant, everything appeared to proceed quietly in the neighbourhood of Tái pó Hü, where the erection of matsheds was being proceeded with presumably under the protection rendered by the Viceroy after his interview with me on the 2nd instant.

2. On the 10th instant, I received an intimation from the Secretary of Legation at Peking that he had, in accordance with instructions received from Her Majesty's Government, informed the Chinese Government that their Customs could not function in the territory or waters of the Colony.

3. On the 11th instant, I received from Her Majesty's Consul at Canton the despatch * addressed to him by the Viceroy, of which, with my reply, † I enclose a copy. A reference to my despatch No. 87 will show how extremely improbable it is that the Viceroy could have misunderstood my statement about the Customs. 4. On Wednesday, the 12th instant, nine of the elders of Tái pó Hü district came in to kowtow to me and present a petition, ‡ a translation of which I enclose, praying for clemency. I said, in reply, that the property destroyed must be paid for, to which they agreed. I promised that, if that were done, I should accept their statement that the people had been led astray by some designing people and were sorry for what had occurred and that no further action would be taken in the matter. They expressed themselves as being satisfied with the cession of the territory to England, and I explained to them fully the system of local government that I proposed to adopt, which seemed to please them. I also informed them of the proposed arrangements for hoisting the flag at Tái pó Hü on the 17th, and expressed a hope that the elders and people of the district would attend and hear what I had to say to them.

5. The reports from the district were that everything was quiet, the people civil, and the work of erecting the matsheds was progressing rapidly so that they would be ready for occupation on Monday next.

6. I had arranged all the details of the Force to be stationed in the new territory for the present, Major-General GASCOIGNE Co-operating most cordially. The twenty police who were to be stationed at Tái pó Hu were to proceed to-day and take up their quarters so as to be in readiness for Monday's ceremony, and a Company of the Hongkong Regiment was also to proceed to-day and remain under canvas, while on Monday half the Battalion will proceed and encamp in the neighbourhood on an excellent camping ground where they will go through their annual military training.

7. Yesterday morning the Director of Public Works had an intimation from one of the respectable inhabitants of the district that a number of rowdy characters had collected in the valley and, as there was no protection at all now given to the matsheds, he was afraid that, if left unprotected, they might be burnt before Mon-

Enclosure No. 1.

Enclosure No. 2.

Enclosure No. 3.