274
North Point batteries were supposed to bo sufficiently well placed to keep an enemy's fleet at a safe distance from the city and from the shipping. No one then ever dreamed of seeing a powerful fleet of Chinese ironclads anchored in Kowloon Bay.
What is the position now? Our forts are on Stonecutters Island and in the Lyeemoon, and the Chinese boundary line runs through the middle of the Lyeemoon Pass, there only a quarter of a mile wide, and to within a mile of the Hunghom batteries, and it passes on the other side of Kowloon between Stonecutters and the mainland. The waters on the northern side of that line are neutral waters and open to the fleet of any foreign power to pass in and ont or to concentrate an overwhelming force within sight and easy gunshot of our batteries and magazines. In time of an anticipated war the entrance of a French or Russian fleet through the Lyeemoon into Kowloon Bay, no matter with what intent, could not be opposed or resisted without a breach of the laws of neutrality. Of
course, the neutrality of Chinese waters and territories would have under such circumstances to be disregarded, or else the colony would have to be surrendered to 8:0 enemy. In the present contest between Japan and Chinu a Japanese force might law. fully pursue a Chinese squadron through the Lyeemoon Pass and engage them in Kowloon Bay, where every shot that missed the enemy would find a lodgment on British territory. In case of war between England and any foreign power, France, or Russia, or Germany, or the newly arrived Empire of Japan, the officers responsible for the defence of the colony of Hongkong must, as matter of absolute necessity, close the whole of the Lyeemoon Pass to the ships of that enemy, from the moment serious danger of war breaking out. They must occupy the hills on the mainland on the other side of the Pass, commanding the Lyeemoon batteries. They must forbid all entrance to Kowloon Bay. They must be prepared to oppose the appear- ance of troops on the hills behind Kowloon and Stonecutters and the erection of batteries. They must watch the bays beyond those hills which afford easy means of access for troops and gaus. Lamma to the south, Cow-e-chow to the west, and Waglan to the east, would have to be occupied or observed. No regard for Chinese neutrality could be allowed to in- terfere with these absolutely necessary measures of precaution. Would any other power at war with us regard or respect Chinese neutrality, and fail to occupy those points of vantage if we did not? Not one.
there was
any
Until the other day it was possible for us to suppose and say that Chinese neutrality would be respected; that China was strong enough to compel proper respect being paid to her ter- ritory and to prevent it being used as a base of operations against us. Who will say that to-day she is able to compel her neutrality to be respected P Chinese naval and military power has crumbled away into ashes. In this her transition state, she has less real power, lėsa real fighting force than she had in 1842.
If the possession of portions of the opposite mainland and complete control of the water approaches of the colony would be absolutely essential to the security of the colony against any European fos, how much more necessary against China herself.
THE HONGKONG WEEKLY PRESS AND
China is now at her lowest ebb; but fifty years hence, possibly twenty years hence, judging from the progress Japan has made, China will pro- bably be a powerful nation fully armed and with the skill and knowledge that will enable her to make use of her vast natural strength. If then the boundaries of Hongkong are no more extensive than they are now, where will we be with a Chinese fleet in Kowloon Bay, and the hills and islands close round in Chinese possession? At their mercy at any moment.
I pray your Excellency to put the question to your naval and military advisers and ask them what steps they would have to take in the event of a threatened war with China, and what portions of the opposite mainland and which of the neighbouring islands they must take posses- sion of, or control, to make good the defence of this city and harbour and its immense wealth against any enemy. They will tell you, I feel sure, that to the security of this island
[April 1, 1896.
have room to spread; manufactories would find space to plant themselves, with abundant supplies of water. An immense number of the minor industries would take root here. --- We might become independent of Canton as regards cattle, poultry, and vegetables. In every way the colony would benefit, and the increased ex- penditure, military and civil, would be more than compensated by the increased land revenue and additional safety.
I apologise for the length of my letter. It takes time to condense and abbreviate without loss of force, and I am writing under pressure. I am sending a copy of this latter to His Excellency the Major-General, and send you herewith three copies that you may be able to forward one, if you approve, to the Secretary of State by the out-going mail.
(Signed) C. P. CHATER. His Excellency Sir William Robinson, K.C.M.G., Governor, &c., &c., &c., Hong- kong.
as a fortress and naval station the possession of Lamma and of all islands on the south and east lying closer to our shore is essential; that the control of both sides of the Lyeemoon and of Kowloon town and bay is absolutely essential; that possession of the opposite range of hills to the north, to their summits, theoretically at least, would be most highly desirable, and that to the west Great Britain, not China, should control the approaches through the Cap-sai-moon.
Now is the opportunity to rectify our fron- tiers in all these point. War is actually raging between Japan and China, and no hostile opera tions can be tolerated with sight of the city. The Lyeemoon must be closed to the fleets of both powers. There is always the possibility of war between England and any European power. That possibility has become so apparent now that preparations are being made to meet it. Those preparations must include measures which will prevent the present neutral waters close round our boundaries, and neutral territory, from being utilised against as. The necessity for an adjustment of boundaries is being pressed home. China cannot, as I have before pointed out, reply that she is able, even if willing, to enforce her rights as a neutral and to protect territories from these neutral waters and hostile aggression. The same arguments that
As will be seen from our Canton Notes trans- prevailed in 1860 must prevail now. We want now only what we wanted then what is lated from the Chung Ngoi San Po, regulations essential to the safety of the colony. What
are to be introduced for the control of the boat was enough then has become, from the traffic in the harbour of Canton. From another changes in weapons and the alterations in
source we learn that a properly organised force modes of warfare, wholly insufficient now, and of water police is to be established and that we must have more. How much more, it is for two or three European sergeants will be em- the naval and military authorities to say; but ployed. This will be a great improvement and our boundaries must be so extended that city do away with much of the piracy that at present and harbour are absolutely out of reach of the
exists on the river, as well as regulating the sight and range of any hostile guns, and that traffic and so relieving the congestion that exists we have complete command of our own waters
at various parts. from all sides.
If the Chinese Government will not willingly yield territory in absolute possession, it may and must give us the right of perpetual occupa tion and possession of the needful extent of territory under some such form of engagement as that under which Portugal holds Macao or we holds Cyprus; we undertaking that it shall go back to China in the event of our leaving Hongkong.
beg of your Excellency to press on the at- tention of Her Majesty's Government the im- mense importance from a naval and military point of view of availing ourselves of the oppor- tunity now afforded of rectifying our boundaries. It is a necessity of our continued existence as a fortress and naval station that we should do so. Events might happen at any moment that would compel us to disregard Chinese protests and objections, and take possession of points on her territory to prevent an enemy seizing them to our destruction. To have to do so would make an enemy of her. Better obtain what we require, and must have, by negotiations. There can be no better time than the present. However And the time is now or never. great the success of the Japanese to-day, how ever tremendous the disgrace and humiliation of China, that Empire is too intrinsically strong, too full of resources, too patient and persevering to remain for any length of time in her present condition This Japanese war will be followed by a tremendous upheaval, and China twenty years hence will be another China from to-day. If anything is to be done, In fact I should like to it is to be done now. see His Excellency Major-General Barker in possession of Kowloon and the Lyeemoon to morrow, as doubtless he would like to be if only military counsels prevailed.
Need I point out to your Excellency the im- mense advantages to the colony, from a purely civil point of view, of such an extension of ter- ritory as I suggest. The police of the opposite mainland and of the numerous villages that lie along it at all points round the city and harbour would be in our hands, with what benefit to the peace, order, and good government of the colony you best know. The Kowloon gambling hells, pawnshops, and marine store dealers would vanish. The Chinese Customs, with all its cruisers, revenue stations, revenue farmers, detectives, and spies would be done away with, and with it the constant possibility and proba- bility of troublesome disputes with the Chinese mandarins and people. Our population would
NEW HARBOUR REGULATIONS AT
CANTON.
RUMOURS OF AN ANTI-FOREIGN RISING.
28th March.
At Canton the blue jackets and marines from the Archer are landed occasionally for drill on shore, on a vacant lot of ground on Shameen This, in addition "to bordering on the canal. giving the men the benefit of exercise and drill, has a most salutary effect on the native popula- tion, which thus sees that there is force to back up any pressure that may be brought to bear by the Consul through the officials. There is a large traffic along the Canal Road, facing Shameen, and the news of the evolutions of the is carried throughout foreign devil soldiers the city and into the country. The clearing out of the canal is progressing, though only slowly.
64
"
31st March.
We hear that notices have been posted up in various parts of the city at Canton inciting the populace to rise and attack Shameen and re wards are offered for the heads of Europeans. The notices profess to be issued by the boat- people and are in connection with the new bar bour regulations, but it is supposed that those who are really inciting to this trouble are the shop-people who have hired out the river fron- tages and the native hotel people. In the course of years many abuses and much harbour ob- struction have sprung up, the removal of which is a legacy to the present. If the officers in charge are firm and cautious in carrying out the remedies there need be no trouble, but should the white feather be shown or hasty measures taken there may be serious disturbance. For- eigners on Shameen are of opinion that the British authorities should hold a company of soldiers or marines in readiness for despatch to Canton at short notice should necessity arise. The Pigmy arrived at Canton on Sunday after- noon to relieve the Archer, so that there were two British men-of-war in port at the same time, a thing which has not happened for many As to the regulations to be introduced years. for the control of the boat traffic, the pro- gramme decided upon is said to be an excellent one, but it is suggested that it should be carried out methodically. It is suggested, for instance, that it would be ridiculous to chase a lot of boats from spots where they have been laying for years and leave them to fight it out with others for a new haven, whereas if one section is dealt with at a time the whole programme might be carried out quietly in a The first to be dealt with month or so. should be the flower boats, which should be made to move to a wider and less busy portion of the river. This would leave a large space
t
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.