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The Second Anglo-Chinese War (1856-58) arose out of disputes over the
interpretation of the earlier treaties and over the boarding by Chinese
in search of suspected pirates of the Arrow, a British lorcha (a vessel
with a European hull and Chinese rig). The Treaty of Tientsin (Tianjin)
in 1858, which ended the war, gave the British the privilege of diplomatic
representation in China. The first British envoy, Sir Frederick Bruce,
who had been the first Colonial Secretary in Hong Kong, was fired on at
Taku (Dagu) Bar on his way to Peking to present his credentials, and hostilities
were renewed from 1859-60.
Troops serving on this second expedition camped on
Kowloon Peninsula, as Hong Kong's earliest photographs show. Finding it
healthy, they wished to retain it as a military cantonment, with the result
that Sir Harry Parkes, Consul at Canton, secured from the Viceroy a lease
of the peninsula as far north as Boundary Street, including Stonecutters
Island. The Convention of Peking in 1860, which ended the hostilities,
provided for its outright cession.
Other European countries and Japan subsequently demanded
concessions from China, particularly after Germany, France and Russia
rescued China from the worst consequences of its defeat by Japan in 1895.
In the ensuing tension, Britain felt that efficient defence of Hong Kong
harbour demanded control of the land around it.
By a convention signed in Peking on June 9, 1898,
respecting an extension of Hong Kong territory, the New Territories —
comprising the area north of Kowloon up to the Shum Chun (Shenzhen) River
and 235 islands — was leased for 99 years. The move was directed
against France and Russia, not against China, whose warships were allowed
to use the wharf at Kowloon City. There, Chinese authority was permitted
to continue 'except insofar as may be inconsistent with the military requirements
for the defence of Hong Kong'. However, an order-in-council of December
27, 1899, revoked this clause and the British unilaterally took over Kowloon
City. There was some opposition when the British took over the New Territories
in April 1899, but this eventually dissipated. The area was declared to
be part of the overall territory of Hong Kong but was administered separately
from the urban area. |
