British troops attack the Kowloon Walled City

Background. The Kowloon Walled City was a de jure Chinese enclave within British Hong Kong, originally a military fort. The 1898 Convention for the Extension of Hong Kong Territory leased the New Territories to Britain but excluded the Walled City. Governor Henry Blake, appointed in November 1898, suspected the Canton viceroy was using troops to aid resistance to these new arrangements.

The Attack. On 14 April 1899, British forces attacked the Walled City. The operation was based on intelligence regarding Chinese troops stationed behind the walls to subvert the lease. Upon entering, the British discovered the viceroy's soldiers had already departed. Only the mandarin and approximately 150 residents remained in the city.

Immediate Outcome. The attack resulted in the discovery that the military garrison had withdrawn. The remaining population consisted of a mandarin and 150 residents. This outcome contradicted the initial intelligence that prompted the military action, as the anticipated resistance forces were absent.