LEASE OF KOWLOON

LEASE OF KOWLOON

3.-LEASE OF KOWLOON.
A DEED OF LEASE
20th March 1860.

Between Laou, svearing a decoration of the first rank, a Director of the
Poard of War, Censor of the right Governor General of the Province.,
of Kwang-tung and kwang-se, adn commander-in-chief of the same, on
the part of the Chinese Government, and harry smith parkers, esquire.
one of the Allied Commissioners for the Gkoverninent of the, City of Canion
on the part of the British Government, to hold in proof of the under-
mentioned agreement.
WHEREAS Tseem-sha-tsuy, and its neighbourhood situated in the
sub-district of Kowloon. in the District of Sun-on and consisting for the
most part of barren hills that cannot be cultivated, has hitherto formed
a place of resort for thieves and outlaws, who, avalling themselves of the
immediate proximity of the City of Victoria, constantly cross to Hongkong,
and commit depredations in that settlement to the serious injury of British
Subjects who can obtain no redress against these marauders, THERE-
FORE Laou, the Governor Gencral, and Harry Smith Parkes, the Com-
missioner, aforesaid, have agreed and determined that all that

part of the Kowloon peninsula lying Smith of the kowloon Fort to the
Northern-most point of Stone-cutters Island, toether with that island,
as shewn in the accompanying shall be, leased, as a preliminary
measure, to harry smith Parkes, the Commissioner aforesaid, acting, on-
behalf of the British Goverament, in order that the latter may exercise
complete control over the saine, and take measurcs for the protection of
the good population, and the expulsion or punishment of the bad, as well
as for bringing the whole locality into order, and preventing becoming
a resort for thieves. It is further STIPULATED and agreed that a

Relital of Five hundred Taels of Silver shall bc annually paid for the
same to the local Chinese Authorities, and that no claim can ever be made
bY the Chinese Government for the return of the said -roulld so long as
the british Government punctually pay to thein the said amount of
Rent. And this agreement will continue in force until on due repre-
sentation to be made by the Governor General Liou aforesaid to the
Suprenie Government of China, the Commands of his Imperial Majesty
shall be received authorising the of ptjer arrangments of
more permanent character.

Thus done in Duplicate, each of the parties aforesaid retaining one
copy, at Canton, this 20th day of March in the year of the Christian
Era one thousand eight hundred and sixty, being the 28th day of the
2nd month of the 10th year of the Reign of the Emperor heen-fung.

https://oelawhk.lib.hku.hk/items/show/1014

1912

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