Sessional_Paper_1899 — Page 535

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(Telegram to Secretary of State.)

15th April, 1899, 6 p.m.

Some rowdies at Tái pó Hü have burnt the matsheds which the Viceroy_pro- mised to protect. Twenty police who are intended for the station there and a Com- pany Hongkong Regiment have encamped there with a view to making arrangements for the hoisting of the flag on Monday. Mr. LOCKHART hears that the people are restive and that many rowdies from the districts immediately North of the leased area have come down with the intention of giving us trouble and opposing our taking possession. I hope this will not prove to be the case. I have instructed the troops to take no steps unless attacked, in which case they have orders to assert our authority.

BLAKE.

Telegram from Secretary of State.)

15th April, 1899.

Take any steps you think necessary in dealing with the possibilities for- shadowed in your telegram of to-day's date.

CHAMBERLAIN.

{Telegram to Secretary of State.)

16th April, 1899, 1 a.ın.

The Officer Commanding troops at Táipó informs me that on landing he was received with musketry fire from a force of 1,000 men (with guns) who had occupied the surrounding hills. Our men returned the fire. No casualty reported. I have sent out half a battalion of the Hongkong Regiment to re-inforce the Company there. A Chinese official whom the Viceroy sent here to-day assures me that the opposing forces are not Chinese troops, and I have further telegraphed to the Viceroy demanding a direct assurance to this effect. I have reason to believe that opposing forces consist of rowdies from the Districts immediately North of the boundary of the New Territory. After consultation with the Attorney General I have decided to hoist the flag on the 16th.

BLAKE.

(Telegram to Secretary of State.)

16th April, 1899, 6 p.m.

Further with reference to the skirmish at Táipó mentioned in my previous telegram of to-day's date. Lieut. KEYES, R.N., landed a party from Her Majesty's Ship Fame and joined the Company Hongkong Regiment and the police. After the Fume had shelled the enemy's position, Captain LONG, D.A.A.G., advanced against the eneny's shelter trenches, which had evidently been carefully prepared and cleared them out. No casualties; a Chinese flag was captured by the Hong- kong Regiment. The Secret Societies, worked from their head-quarters at Sham Chun, are probably largely responsible for the present trouble, and the premature arrival of troops and police alone prevented a catastrophe through these people opening fire on the mixed company that would have attended the ceremony of hoisting the flag to-morrow.

BLAKE.

(Telegram from Secretary of State.)

17th April, 1899.

I approve of your measures to deal with the events mentioned in your two telegrams of yesterday's date.

CHAMBERLAIN.