HONGKONG
SEPARATE.
233
No.
3
87.
HONGKONG.
CORRESPONDENCE RESPECTING THE NOMINATION OF A REPRESENTATIVE TO TAKE PART IN A CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN LONDON FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING CERTAIN QUESTIONS OF COMMON INTEREST TO ALL PARTS OF THE EMPIRE.
Presented to the Legislative Council, by Command of His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government, on the 7th January, 1887.
SIR,
(1.)
The Secretary of State for the Colonies to the Officer Administering
the Government of Hongkong.
DOWNING STREET,
25th November, 1886.
I have the honour to enclose a copy of a despatch which I have addressed to the Governors of the Colonies under Responsible Government, inviting the Governments of those Colonies to nominate a representative, or represeutatives, to take part in a Conference which it is proposed to hold next year for the purpose. of discussing certain questions of common interest to all parts of the Empire
It is the wish of Her Majesty's Government that, in the consideration of these questions, the interests of all the Colonies should be duly considered at the Conference; and in the case of any Crown Colony which may not send a special representative, I shall take care that proper provision is made for securing such consideration.
If, however, you are in a position to furnish me with the name of any high officer or leading public man connected with your Colony who is likely to be in London during the spring of next year, I shall be able, should circumstances render it desirable, to arrange for his presence at the Conference on any occasion on which matters specially affecting your Colony are likely to come under discussion.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient humble Servant,
EDWARD STANHOPE.
The Officer Administering the Government of
HONGKONG.
(2.)
The Secretary of State for the Colonies to Governors of Colonies under
Responsible Government.
DOWNING STREET,
25th November, 1886.
SIR,
You will no doubt have remarked that in the Queen's Speech on the proro- gation of Parliament, Her Majesty was pleased to refer to Her Colonial and Indian Possessions in the following terms:-"I have observed with múch satisfaction the "interest which, in an increasing degree, is evinced by the people of this country "in the welfare of their Colonial and Indian fellow subjects; and I am led to the "conviction that there is on all sides a growing desire to draw closer in every "practicable way the bonds which unite the various portions of the Empire. I have authorised communications to be entered into with the principal Colonial "Governments with a view to the fuller consideration of matters of common “interest."
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