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(4.) Under the Agreement of 1886, the Commissioner of Customs for the Kowloon District has supreme charge of the Revenue Cruisers of the Chinese preventive Service, and this Government corresponds direct with him on questions arising out of the administration of that service.
In future are such communications to be addressed to the Consul?
These are the principal points that occur to me on the moment on which are required definite instructions for the guidance of this Government.
5. I notice that the appointment of the Consul is to be on probation as it were for one year. With due deference I would suggest for Your Lordship's con- . sideration whether it would not be more satisfactory to omit the mention of any limit to the time within which the appointment may be cancelled should it be found to be desirable that the Consul shall be withdrawn.
HONGKONG. No. 235.
SIR,
I have the honour to be,
My Lord.
Your Lordship's most obedient
humble Servant,
G. DIGBY BARKER.
Secretary of State to Officer Administering the fovernment.
DOWNING STREET,
1st October, 1891.
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your despatch No. 229 of the 15th of July last, as to the proposed appointment of a Chinese Consul at Hongkong.
You are aware that the request for this appointment has at present been withdrawn by the Chinese Government, but I may state, in reply to the questions raised by you, that the duties and powers of any Chinese Consul would have been generally similar to those of the Consuls of other Nations; that the inhabitants of the Colony would still have been expected to look upon the Registrar General as the Protector of Chinese, and that the Colonial Government would have continued to communicate with the Chinese Authorities through Her Majesty's Consular Officers.
I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your most obedient
The Officer Administering the Government of
HONGKONG.
humble Servant.
KNUTSFORD.