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Thence following the north shore of Mirs Bay to the meridian of 114° 30′ east. Thence southward along that meridian to latitude 22° 9′ north.

Thence along that parallel to the meridian of the easter extreme of A-chau Island.

Thence to the southern point of Lantau Island, and northward along the shore of that island to the meridian of 113° 52′ east.

Thence northward to the parallel of 22° 32′ north, and eastward along that parallel to the shore of Lankao Bay.

Thence along the shore of Lankao Bay to the starting point.

4. The Committee do not consider the absolute administration of the territory within this larger boundary to be essential to the protection of Hong Kong, nor do they think it advisable to make permanent arrangements for its defence, as such arrangements would involve not only a large outlay on fortifications and guns, but would also require a very considerable addition to the garrison of Hong Kong. They desire to secure round the British possessions of Hong Kong a sphere in which no military action should be taken or allowed by China without the consent of England.

5. It will be seen that the limits of the area over which it is recommended in paragraph 2, that sovereign rights should be exercised, do not include the island of Lantau, which commands the Lantau channel, one access to the Treaty port of Canton, and so preclude the barring of this channel by forts erected on the island; also that the limits of the sphere of influence as defined in paragraph 3 have been drawn to exclude the navigable channels giving access to Canton. The command over these channels is not in the opinion of the Committee essential to the protection of Hong Kong, and the acquisition of such command over the access to Canton might serve as an excuse for similar action by foreign Powers, with regard to other Treaty ports, which action would prove prejudicial to British interests.

6. A chart to illustrate the proposals contained in this Memorandum is attached to it.

April 28, 1898)

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(Signed) M. NATHAN, Secretary,

Colonial Defence Committee.

S. of S for M. 6/3/98 stated that alwa recommendation. 15 would relive his most careful consideration.

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APPENDIX.

(Confidential.) Sir,

Foreign Office, April 14, 1898.

I AM directed by the Secretary of State to inform you that Her Majesty's Minister at Peking, in reporting the concession by the Chinese Government of certain demands made by France, states that the Chinese Government are willing to lease to Great Britain an extension of the land now held on the promontory of Kowloon, but not including Kowloon city. Sir C. MacDonald has been instructed by telegraph to inform the Tsung-li Yamên that it is necessary that negotiations should at once be concluded for the cession of all the land required for the military defences of Hong Kong, whether this definition includes the town of Kowloon or not, and I am to request that you will move Mr. Secretary Chamberlain to consult the military authorities as to the exact boundary which it may be considered essential to acquire for the proper protection of Hong Kong.

The Under-Secretary of State, Colonial Office.

I am, &c. (Signed)

FRANCIS BERTIE.

PRINTED AT THE FOREIGN OFFICE BY J. W. HARRISON.-----

--3/5/98.

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