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23 The Walled City ow that we were on speaking terms with China and before th e arrival o f Davi d Wilso n ther e wa s a n opportunit y t o solve , thankfully for the last time, the vexed question of the Kowloon Walled City. Before the signing of the lease of the new territory in 1898 , th e norther n hal f o f th e Kowloo n Peninsul a wa s governed and administered by the Chinese. So, too, were the surrounding hills, the spectacular rocky feature resembling a crouching lion, Lion Rock, and the land and villages surrounding the bays to the east and west of the peninsula. This farmland was dotted with tightly clustered grey-tiled roofs and whitewashed walls of Chinese villages and their accompanying an d numerous temples . In the east of Kowloon a walled and fortified village , which becam e grandiosely known as the Kowloon Walled City, was the seat of Chines e officialdom an d house d a garrison o f a few hundre d Chines e troops . A paved granite track led down from its gatehouse to a simple landing place in Kowloon Bay where Chinese fighting ships could anchor. It was agreed, when the lease of the New Territories was negotiated, that within the city of Kowloon Chinese officials should continue to exercise jurisdiction and that the y coul d continu e t o us e th e roa d fro m Kowloo n t o Sa n O n i n Guangdong, an d tha t th e landin g nea r Kowloo n coul d continu e t o b e used for the convenience of Chinese men-of-war, merchant and passenger vessels. However, this accommodating attitude did not persist. It was only a shor t whil e afte r th e leasin g i n 189 8 tha t th e continue d presenc e o f h 23 The Walled City ow that we were on speaking terms with China and before the arrival of David Wilson there was an opportunity to solve, thankfully for the last time, the vexed question ofthe Kowloon Walled City. Before the signing of the lease of the new territory in 1898, the northern half of the Kowloon Peninsula was governed and administered by the Chinese. So, too, were the surrounding hills, the spectacular rocky feature resembling a crouching lion, Lion Rock, and the land and villages surrounding the bays to the east and west of the peninsula. This farmland was dotted with tightly clustered grey-tiled roofs and whitewashed walls of Chinese villages and their accompanying and numerous temples. In the east of Kowloon a walled and fortified village, which became grandiosely known as the Kowloon Walled City, was the seat of Chinese officialdom and housed a garrison of a few hundred Chinese troops. A paved granite track led down from its gatehouse to a simple landing place in Kowloon Bay where Chinese fighting ships could anchor. It was agreed, when the lease of the New Territories was negotiated, that within the city ofKowloon Chinese officials should continue to exercisejurisdiction and that they could continue to use the road from Kowloon to San On in Guangdong, and that the landing near Kowloon could continue to be used for the convenience of Chinese men-of-war, merchant and passenger vessels. However, this accommodating attitude did not persist. It was only a short while after the leasing in 1898 that the continued presence of Feeling the Stones Chinese officials withi n the Kowloon Walled City created an anomalou s and unacceptabl e situatio n fo r Hon g Kong' s ruler s an d wa s see n a s 'inconsistent with the military requirements for the defence of Hong Kong'. British jurisdiction ha d been extended t o the whole of the new territor y by an Orde r i n Counci l give n by the Queen, s o why should th e Walled City be excluded? Contrar y to previous understandings and agreements, it was peremptorily taken over on the 16 May 1899 and the Chinese troops and officials wer e told to pack their bags and depart . Following it s seizure , thi s walle d 'city ' o r villag e wa s treate d n o differently fro m othe r villages in the leased territory. As it was owned by the villagers it was left alone. Development of surrounding farmland too k place...

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