3-086-453 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

The Chinese Question: British, American, German, and Russian war-vessels at Hong-Kong, 1898. 'British defences at Hong-Kong have been strengthened by a considerable acquisition of territory opposite the island. On June 9 Sir Claude Macdonald signed a Convention with the Tsung-li-Yamen leasing to Britain a portion of the territory on the mainland behind Kowloon. The line of demarcation is drawn from Deep Bay on the west to Starling Inlet, a portion of Mirs Bay, on the east. The new concession also includes the island of Lan-tao. The lease is for ninety-nine years...Formerly our rights on the mainland opposite Hong-Kong, secured by the Convention of 1860, covered only the Kowloon Peninsula, the extent of which barely reached six square miles. In terms of the Convention, China continues to hold the north shores of Mirs Bay and Deep Bay, but the waters of both are leased to Great Britain. China, however, reserves right of entrance for her own ships.' From Illustrated London News, 1898.