ENG-1960 — Page 367

HISTORY

307

Interest in the China trade had been steadily growing in Great Britain, and news of the siege at Canton, when it eventually reached London, aroused public opinion to demand that the Government take measures to safeguard British lives and property in China. Relations between Elliot and Lin deteriorated, the Commissioner reiterating his demand for the signature of bonds. After the Portuguese Governor of Macau had warned Elliot that he could no longer be responsible for the safety of any British family remaining there, the entire British community led by Elliot removed. The Chinese, who were erecting fortifications on Kowloon peninsula, attempted to prevent local supplies of food from reaching their shipping assembled in the surrounding harbour. Finally, after several incidents in and around Hong Kong waters and the breakdown of all negotiations between Elliot and Lin, hostilities broke out in November 1839.

-

The arrival, in June 1840, of a powerful British expeditionary force, without engaging in any operations of military significance, reopened the door to discussion. Elliot, as plenipotentiary, de- manded, according to his instructions, either the cession of an island to the British Crown or a treaty allowing British traders the rights normally enjoyed by foreigners in civilized countries. Elliot demanded the cession of the island of Hong Kong, and Ke-shen, the Manchu negotiator, to the anger and shame of his own countrymen, had to agree. On 20th January 1841 the preliminaries of a Sino-British treaty, the Convention of Chuenpi, were announced, and without more ado, on the 26th, the island was formally occupied without any resistance on the part of the few Chinese inhabitants, who were in any case by now familiar with British ships anchoring in their waters.

THE ISLAND COLONY, 1841-60

Elliot also suffered the contempt of his countrymen; his acquisition for the Crown of a barren island rock was ridiculed not only by British merchants in China but also in London. He was dismissed for his ineptitude in dealing with the Chinese, and was replaced by Sir Henry Pottinger, who reached the coast in August 1841.