Qieremony of Rendition of Belgian Tientsin Area Completed with Eclat Tientsin, Jan. 15.
The Belgian concession here was formally handed back to China at 11 o'clock this morning. Baron de Warzee, the Belgian Minister, was. unfortunately prevented by illness from attending. His place as representative of the Belgian Government was taken by the, Belgian Consul-General, Mr. Snyers.
'The ceremony took place just out-fide the concession at a Police ation, in the presence of a gather {ng of prominent Chinese and foreign residents. 'Those present included Dr. C, 'T. Wang, Consul-Gen-feral Snyers,, Mr. Hsu' Moh, of the foreign office, Mir, H. Carton de Wiart, secretary of the Belgian Legation, Dr. M. T. Z, Tyau of the foreign office, Mayor Tsang Chi-fang, Chang Hsueh-ming, and Wan-Hsucchang.
The proceedings opened with an address by Consul-Geneval Snyers who expressed his pleasure at giving effect to the retrocession in the presence of Dr, C. T. Wang, who had been closely associated with the negotiations which led to the rendition agreement, He profoundly regretted the absence of the ian Minister, At the conclusion of his remarks" the Consul-Gen-feral handed to Mayor Tsang Chi-bang the documents appertaining to the concession.
The Belgian flag was then lowered while the band played. the Bel-inn. national anthem. Then beth Belgian and Chinese flags were ran up together while the Chinese national anthem was played and all present bowed to the Mayor Tsang Chi-fang then appropriately replied to the Belgian Gonsul-General's speech, He for ally accepted control of the concession on behalf of the Chinese government and felicitated those conered on the successful outcome of their negotiations Photographs were taken lo but. impressive ceremony.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.