ENG-1954 — Page 321

HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT, 1954

of Trade. Lord Napier's efforts at improving relations with the Chinese authorities failed and he died in Macau in October 1834. Eventually Captain Charles Elliot, R.N., succeeded him as Chief Superintendent and for five years negotiations were intermittently continued while the position of the British merchants became more and more difficult.

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On January 20th, 1841, Captain Elliot announced "the conclusion of preliminary arrangements between the Imperial commissioner and himself involving the cession of the island and harbour of Hong Kong to the British Crown. Hong Kong Island was then occupied by a few fishermen and farmers and in common with a few other islands provided a notorious retreat for smugglers and pirates. He declared further that "Her Majesty's Government has sought for no privilege in China exclusively for the advantage of the British flag to the exclusion of the subjects, citizens, and ships of foreign Powers that may resort to Her Majesty's possession."

Hong Kong was formally occupied, and on January 29th Captain Elliot issued another proclama- tion declaring that Chinese resorting to the Colony "shall be governed according to the laws and customs of China, every description of torture excepted," being promised the free exercise of religious rites, social customs, and private rights.

Denounced by the Chinese and objected to by the London authorities the arrangements were not imple- mented. Sir Henry Pottinger replaced Captain Elliot as Britain's representative and hostilities were renewed, until the Chinese agreed to negotiate terms.

The

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