No. 11.

FRANCE.

CONVENTION FOR THE LEASE OF KUANG-CHOU WAN.a

SUBMITTED TO THE TSUNG-LI YAMEN, MAY 27, 1898.
RATIFIED BY CHINA, JANUARY 5, 1900.

[Translation.]

ARTICLE I.

The Chinese Government, in consideration of its friendship for France, has given by a lease for 99 years Kuang-chou Purpose of lease. wan to the French Government to establish there a naval station with coaling depot, but it is understood that this shall not offset the sovereign rights of China over the territory ceded.

ARTICLE II.

The leased territory shall include the waters and ground necessary for the security, the provisioning and the normal development of the naval station and of the coaling depot, that is to say:

Extent of territory leased.

(a) The island of Tong-hai;

(b) The island of Nao-chou;

(c) At Lei-chou, a strip of land connecting a point of the coast south of Kiu-man sien (Tiao-man) and situated in 20° 50′ north latitude, with She-men in 21° 25′ north latitude along a strip roughly indicated on the annexed map.

(d) At Kao-chou, a strip of land comprised between 21° 25′ north latitude and 21° 04' north latitude, along a strip roughly indicated on the annexed map.

(e) The small islands situated inside of Kuang-chou wan, as well as the interior and exterior waters of the bay, and the exterior waters of Nao-chou and of Tong-hai, within the limits recognized in international law (six marine miles).

a Documents Diplomatiques, Chine, 1898–1899, pp. 2-4. This lease was agreed to by China on April 10, 1898. (See infra, No. 36.) On the organization of the leased territory, see Arrêtés Ministériels, 27th and 31st January, 1900, in Situation de l'Indo-Chine (1897-1901), p. 117. Kuang-chou was made a free port in 1900.

The exact limits on the continent of Lei-chou and of Kao-chou shall be fixed, after the signing of the present convention, when special surveys shall have been made by officials designated by the two GovernSaid officials shall begin their work without delay, so that all possible misunderstanding between the two countries shall be obviated.

ments.

ARTICLE III.

The territory shall be governed and administered during the 99 years of the lease by France alone, so that all possible Administration. misunderstanding between the two countries shall be obviated.

inhabitants.

The inhabitants shall continue to enjoy their property; they may continue to inhabit the leased territory and pursue Rights of native their labors and occupations, under the protection of France, so long as they respect its laws and regulations. France shall pay an equitable price to the native property owners for the land which it may wish to acquire.

ARTICLE IV.

France may erect fortifications, place garrisons of troops or take other defensive measure on the leased land.

Right to garri

son and to insure navigation.

any

She may erect lighthouses, set buoys and signals useful for navigation on the leased territory, along the islands and coasts, and, in a general way, take all measures and adopt all plans to insure the freedom and safety of navigation.

ARTICLE V.

Steamers of China as well as the ships of the Powers having diplomatic and commercial relations with her, shall be treated within the leased territory in the same manner as in the opened part of China.

Rights of treaty power vessels in

leased territory.

France may issue all regulations she may wish for the administration of the territory and of the ports and particularly Light-house and levy lighthouse and tonnage dues destined to cover the expense of erecting and keeping up lights, beacons and signals, but such regulations and dues shall be impartially used for ships of all nationalities.

tonnage dues.

ARTICLE VI.

If cases of extradition should occur, they shall be dealt with according to the provisions of existing conventions between France and China, particularly those regulating the neighboring relations between China and Tongking.

Extradition.

ARTICLE VII.

The Chinese Government authorizes France to construct a railway · connecting a point on the bay of Kuang-chou wan, by Railway to be Lei chou, with a point to be designated on the west coast of Lei-chou, in the neighborhood of On-pu. This latter point shall be precisely designated later on.

built.

China will give the land, but the expenses of building and working shall be borne by France. Chinese shall have the right to travel and trade on the railway, in accordance with the general tariff in force.

The mandarins must see to the protection of the railway and the stock, but the repairs and maintenance of said road and its stock shall be at the expense of France.

On-pu.

ARTICLE VIII.

France may also, at the end of the line about On-pu, build landing stages, wharves, storehouses and hospitals, put up Improvements at lights, buoys and signals. The nearest deep water anchorage to this terminus (territorial waters) shall be exclusively reserved for French and Chinese ships of war, those of the latter nationality only when neutral.

The present convention shall come into force at once. It shall be ratified at once by the Emperor of China, and when it shall have been ratified by the President of the French Republic, the exchange of ratifications shall take place at within the briefest delay.

Done at Peking in eight copies, of which four are in the French language and four in Chinese, the

1898.

No. 12.

GREAT BRITAIN.

CONVENTION BETWEEN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND CHINA RESPECTING AN EXTENSION OF HONG KONG TERRITORY.a

SIGNED AT Peking, June 9, 1898.

RATIFICATIONS EXCHANGED AT LONDON, August 6, 1898.

Whereas it has for many years past been recognized that an extension of Hong Kong territory is necessary for the proper defence and protection of the Colony,

It has now been agreed between the Governments of Great Britain and China that the limits of British territory shall be Territory leased. enlarged under lease to the extent indicated generally on the annexed map. The exact boundaries shall be hereafter fixed when proper surveys have been made by officials appointed by the two Governments. The term of this lease shall be ninety-nine years. It is at the same time agreed that within the city of Kowloon the Chinese officials now stationed there shall continue to exercise jurisdiction except so far as may be inconsistent with the military requirements for the defence of Hong Kong. Within the remainder of the newly-leased territory Great Britain shall have sole jurisdiction. Chinese officials and people shall be allowed as heretofore to use the road from Kowloon to Hsinan.

Jurisdiction in leased territory.

nese ships.

It is further agreed that the existing landing-place near Kowloon city shall be reserved for the convenience of Chinese Rights of Chi-men-of-war, merchant and passenger vessels, which may come and go and lie there at their pleasure; and for the convenience of movement of the officials and people within the city.

When hereafter China constructs a railway to the boundary of the Kowloon territory under British control, arrangements shall be discussed.

Railway.

It is further understood that there will be no expropriation or expulsion of the inhabitants of the district included within Expropriation the extension, and that if land is required for public offices, fortifications, or the like official purposes, it

of natives.

shall be bought at a fair price.

a British Treaty Series. No. 16, 1898.