April 15, 1899.
town, divides the villages in the valley hitherto linked together by family ties and common in terests, and at present separated, so far as the river extends, by about 100 feet of a tidal river, and onwards from Sham Chun to Starling Inlet by no
boundary whatever. All these villages regard Sham Chun as their central and most important market, where they dispose of their goods and make their purchases. and much dif ficulty and friction would be certain to arise if the villages on one side of the stream or road come under British jurisdiction whilst those on the other remain under Chinese rule.
Another important reason why Sham Chan should not be excluded from the area to be leased that it is the seat of the Head Council of the local as opposed to the Imperial Govern- ment, represented by the district magistrate, who resides at Namtan. This Head Council controls all the village and other tribunals throughout the Tung Lo or Eastern Division of the San Ou district, which is that portion of the district included in the Convention, and exercises great influence in every village.
Again, it must be remembered that the chief industry of the villages in the 'valleys is cultiva | tion of rice, for which an ample and constant supply of water is necessary. If the boundary line indicated on the Convention map be fol- lowed, endless dispute as to water rights between villages under British and Chinese jurisdiction are certain to ensue; dissatisfaction will be created; and the task of government will be rendered more difficult.
The proposed boundary would also render smuggling an easy matter, which, in view of the pledge given to China, ought to be avoided. The disadvantages of having a Chinese town just outside British territory have been experi- enced in the case of Kowloon, which for years has been a source of never-ceasing trouble and constant friction between the Governments of Hongkong and China. History will certainly repeat itself if Sham Chan be allowed to remain in Chinese territory.
In the opinion of all those acquainted with the country, whether belonging to the naval, military, or civil services, it is essential, in the interests of good Government, and in order to maintain friendly relations with China, that the town of Sham Chun should be included in the lease.
CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
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office of Deputy Magistrate should continne exist, as the jurisdiction now exero will be merged in the administration ritory under British rule.
The civil population within the city because it is dependent on the military loon, amounting to 200, lives there
of any kind within the city. If the militar does not engage in trade, there being no shops
sure to follow, so there will be no one remaining remove from the city, the civil population over whom a Chinese officer could exercise,
All opium, on its arrival at Hongkong from India, should be bonded, and no opium should be allowed to be removed from bond except under proper guarantees as to its destination, or shipped, without the Harbour Master being furnished with a copy of the bill of lading.
The Customs of China should be supplied with regular returns of all shipments.
The opium farmer of Hongkong should be made to account clearly for every cheat of raw opium supplied to him, and should not be allowed to handle more raw opium than is necessary to meet the opium-smoking require-jurisdiction. ments of Hongkong and of the new territory, and the demands of the prepared opium export trade to Australia, America, and elsewhere.
These precautionary measures are sure to decrease the revenue of Hongkong. If they are adopted, the (tovernment of China should not hesitate either to lease the whole of the San On district or to adopt that boundary line which is the best in the interests of all parties concerned.
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KOWLOON CITY.
The city of Kowloon is called in Chinese Kau Lung Shing. The term Shing is the ordinary one used for a city by the Chinese. It originally seems to have signified a rampart, sur- rounding a space; but it is now always applied to a city surrounding by a wall or rampart, as all Chinese cities are. The Convention refers to the retention of jurisdiction "within the city of Kowloon," thus clearly showing that the walled city is meant.
Kowloon is situated about a quarter of a mile from the sea shore. It is enclosed by a stous wall built in 1847, forming as nearly as possible a parrallelogram, measuring 700 feet by 400 feet, and enclosing an area of 6 acres. wall is built of granite ashlar facing, is 15 feet The in width at the top, and averages in height 13 feet. The wall has six watch towers, at pres- eut occupied as family dwellings, and two gate- ways, with doors made of wood and lined with iron sheeting. The parapet wall is built of granite, and has 119 embrasures. It is ap-
roached by four flights of stone steps.
According to a return furnished by the Deputy Magistrate, the total population of Kowloon city is 744; the garrison amounts to 544; the civil population to 200. The officials stationed within the city are, with the excep- The boundary between two countries which tion of one civil officer, a Deputy Magistrate, leads to least friction is either a broad and deep military officers, the head of whom is the Colonel river or the ridges of hills forming the water. Commanding. This officer is the chief military sheds of different valleys. In the San Onofficer in the district of San On; is immediately district there is no broad river such as would subordinate to the Ti Tu, or General in Com- form a suitable boundary. But there are ridges mand of all the land forces in the province of of bills which could be utilised for that par- Kwong-tang. The Colonel's jurisdiction is pose.
purely a military one, extending over the whole district of San On and the islands adjacent thereto. His original headquarters were at Taipang and his official designation is still Taipang Hip, or Colonel stationed at Taipang, at which place he has a vamen, or official quarters. The reason for his having taken up a residence within the city of Kowloon was to place him in closer relations with the Colony of Hongkong.
This proposed line, which includes the im- portant town of Sham Chun and the land to north and east of Mirs Bay and to the west of Deep Bay, forms a good, natural boundary, running along the crest of the hills, is easy of defence, and would help to check smuggling. It renders aunecessary the separation of vil. lages hitherto united, removes all danger of disputes about, water rights and obviates any interferences with the present system of local self-government, on the support of, which the success of British administration in the new te: ritory must to a great extent depend.
PREVENTION OF SMUGGLING,
The question of smuggling from Hongkong is one which has given more trouble than al- most any other ever since the foundation of the colony.
The whole difficulty lies in the geographical position of the colony of Hongkong, which is so situated that smuggling into China may be checked but can never be altogether prevented. It is obvious that the extension of the colony will not decrease the facilities for smuggling, especially if a mere stream instead of a well. defined range of hills is selected as a boundary. Opium has always bean the chief article smuggled. To prevent the smuggling of it, special legislation has been introduced by the Government of Hongkong."
If it is considered desirable, in view of the pledge given by Great Britain to China to pre- rent, so far as possible, smuggling, to still further control the export of opium from Hong kong, I am of opinion that this can be best effented by a bonding system.
As the garrison now under the command of the Colonel is maintained for the defence of the district of San On and the adjoining islands, and as the larger portion of that district and most of the islands are to be leased by the British Government, most of the soldiers nów supposed to exist under the Colonel's command will be disbanded or transferred elsewhere, whilst the services of those retained will be required not within, but outside, the territory referred to in the Corention. The residence, therefore, of the Colonel Commanding and of his troops within the city of Kowloon is entirely nnnecessary. But even if it were necessary, the military requirements for the defence of Hongkong must surely render it impossible to allow the retention, in the very heart of the territory, of a garrison of soldiers belonging to a foreign power, however friendly that
power may be.
The only civil officer resident within the city is a Deputy Magistrate. He is appointed not to control the 200 civilians resident within the city, who are really subject to the military, but to exercise a somewhat extensive jurisdiction outside the city, throughout a large portion of the new area. When that area has been taken over, there appears to be no reason why this
consistent with the military requirement
In any case it appears to be entirely in the defence of Hongkong to allow a garr town like Kowloon to be occupied permanently by Chinese military officers and troops. If that view be accepted, there seems to be nothing to justifying the retention of Chinese jurisdiction in any shape or form within the city, for with out the garrison the population will it is certain be reduced to nothing.
Should any oivilians remain after the removal of the military, they might be allowed to es tablish a native tribunal presided over by the elders and gentry, but subject, of course, in the out the territory, to the control of the travelling i same way as the other native tribunals through- y magistrate, and possessing the right of appeal - to the Council of the Tung, and finally to the Commissioner,
CONCLUSION,
In conclusion, it makes gust, be gathered
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from the account of will form a valuable extension of Hongkongat
new territory that it,, It is favourably situated, has good harbours with safe anchorages, possesses a rich soil, and is inhabited by an industrious, hardy, and frugal ↑ race. Under Chinese rule enterprise has been at still for centuries. The San On distriot of to a discount, and progress has been at a stand
day must be much the same as it was four or five hundred years ago. But when British rula is established, and the people realise that justice prevails, that they are allowed to pursue their avocatious in peace and freedom from illicit extortions, and that there is no unnecessary interference with their manners and customs,~5 the spirit of enterprise will soon manifest itself, capitalists will be attracted to a region where their capital is not liable to official "squeezes," the resources of the country will be developed, and its prosperity will continue to increase... |-
THE HARBOURS IN MIRS BAY
BY COMMANDER DE HORSEY,
1-Starling Inlet-Good anchorage în 4**** fms. Head of bay too shallow for purposes of navigation. If road be brought down to either side of bay on parallel 114 degrees 14′ 30′′ E. ships drawing 21 feet of water could lie alongside a short pier.
2.-Crooked Harbour.-3.-Double Haven, Good protected anchorages in 6 to 7 fms. Use- ful only for fishing requirements
4-Anchorage under Pingohau Island. Good anchorage in 7 fms., but much taken up with fishing stakes and unimportant for line of communication.
5.-Plover Cove.-Very good anchorage all weathers in 44 fms., but out of trade route.
6. Tolo Harbour.-Like Starling Inlet, too shallow at head of bay for purposes of navi. gation, although there is a boat "channel, ~ which, if marked out, will take small janks up st to town. Anchorage on 4 fms, line, *• Suitable for shipping; whichever side of bay road is made it should be brought out on parallel 114***** degs. 11′ 45′′ E., in order to allow of vessels lying alongside a pier in 21 feet. ૧૯૫૦ ૫૦ સ
7. Tide Cove Communication by small 6 junks or light launches at high water to top of t bay. Sampans at low. Anchorage in 3 Ims.tv Protected in all winds. Distance from head ofere bay 3 miles. Important as being the closest by te
land to Kowloon."
8.-Long Harbour.—Good anchorage in 7 t fms. More suitable for a military than a mercantile port.
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9.-Port Shelter, Good anchorage for size of ships. Chiefly useful as being deep clo to shore, and divided from Tseung Kwan
a small neck of land ≥ mile wide, 13
10-Rocky Harbour-Unimportant, bein out of line of communication,
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