Sessional_Paper_1899 — Page 544

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(Governor to Colonial Secretary.)

HONGKONG, 16th April, 1899.

HONOURABLE COLONIAL SECRETARY,

You will please proceed to-day to Tái pó Hu, and there hoist the British flag. When you have done so you will read aloud the Convention of 9th June, 1898, and Her Majesty's Order-in-Council of 20th October, 1898.

On your arrival you will report on the situation and keep me regularly in- formed. The machinery of the Executive should be got into working order as soon as possible.

H. A. BLAKE.

(Colonial Secretary's Minute of the 16th April, 1899.)

YOUR EXCELLENCY,

TÁI Pó Hü, 16th April, 1899, 3 p.m.

I have just hoisted the British Flag in the presence of the General Officer Commanding and Staff, the Commodore, and the Colonial Officers and 500 men of the Hongkong Regiment, and a Battery of Asiatic Artillery. Salutes were fired by H.M.S. Brisk and Fame and by the Battery of Artillery. I read the Order-in- Council and Convention after the flag had been hoisted.

All is quiet here at present.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART.

(Colonial Secretary's Second Minute of the 16th April, 1899.)

YOUR EXCELLENCY,

Tár Pó Hü, 16th April, 1899.

It

I scribbled a short pencil note to you immediately after I had hoisted the flag. The ceremony passed off very successfully considering how rapidly all arrange- ments had to be made. Salutes were fired from the shore and afloat by H.M.S. Brisk and H.M.S. Fume which were dressed. I have arranged that the British eusign is to be hoisted every day at sunrise and lowered at sunset.

The troops here and the police are in good health and excellent spirits. Mr. MAY is staying on board the Wing Fu with me as are also two European members of the Police Force-a Sergeant and a Constable-and Mr. Ts'or and my Chinese writer. I propose to keep the Wing Fu here until our tents on shore have been erected. is anticipated that they will be in position to-morrow. I also propose to keep the Praya here for the present and to retain Mr. MUDIE at Tái pó so that he may superintend the construction of a bamboo jetty which is essential in order to facilitate landing arrangements. The Director of Public Works should know this. The General Officer Commanding is remaining behind and we will together concert a plan of travelling throughout the territory without delay. So far as I can gather, the General Officer Commanding wishes the troops to rest to-morrow, but I will report later on what is decided. It is impossible to ascertain whether there were any casualties last night. There are many rumours, but without further examination, it would be unwise to rely upon them. Everything is quiet at present. I am sending this by the launch Lee On, which will start from here at 5.30 p.m,

Commander KEYES has taken my pencil note written in sitû, directly after I had hoisted the flag, which is now flying to the breeze.

J. H. STEWART LOCKHART.