determined that in
any
state of
and
things, the Island of Hongkong shall be a British Possession be retained as such. Accordingly if the Emperor should delay, decline altogether to place in Your Hands his Ratification of The Treaty in exchange for that of her Majesty's, you will proceed to Carry into effect all previous Arrangements for the occupation and settlement of the Island, in the manner pointed out in my other despatch of this day's date. Only you will modify the Proclamation which you are directed to issue assuming the government of the
Island
on
KAT KEMENYAM
45
Island,
so as to make it correspond
with the existing state of things.
I am
(signed) Aberdeen